Doing a swap in my 76 wagon. Currents has the 2.8 v6 and am going to be swapping it with a 2.8 out of a ranger. What changes or complications could I run into. I'm assuming not much sice it's pretty much the same engine.
Not having done that swap, I do know that the water pump and housing are different. The radiator inlet and outlet might be different. There might a difference in alternator and/or power steering pump bracket mounts. Exhaust manifold angles also might be a bit different. The Ranger had a bit more room for everything in the engine bay. Oh, I read at RangerStation.com that there were two different distributors used. I would use the early DuraSpark distributor, as it will match the Pinto wire harness. Go to their site for more info. Everything else should be straight forward.
Enzo is right on the timing cover and water pump, which are better , the water pump has a much bigger bearing , and a fan clutch that screws on, a big plus , also has the extra pulleys on the water pump, only the feedback carb had the different distributor , your exhaust manifolds will fit, the block is thicker and stronger, (hey it's going into a truck) and the cam bearings are larger, also a pluss, order a comp cam for that year ranger/bronco II , use the lower tube that comes with the ranger for the heater hose , it crosses under the crank pulley and not in the way of the A/C compressor,
So if you just dump it in I'm thinking that the only hard part will b the mounts good luck!:)
Engine mounts will swap over to the newer 2.8 block, and the 2.9 along with the early 4.0 , whatever transmission bolts to the 2.8 will bolt to the 2.9 and 4.0 also, same flywheel too,