2.8 V6 longevity? Possible Mods?

[Tinker1980]

I have a Trooper that is sitting in the shop at the moment, getting freeze plugs replaced. It has the 2.8 V-6, which is an engine I am not familiar with, myself having more experience with the TBI 350 V8, TBI 4.3 V6, and 3800 Supercharged engines.

My big question is this: What can I expect out of my 2.8, as far as longevity? This will not be a daily driver, it's mostly going to be a trail truck. Also, what mods should I consider for a 2.8 that's going to spend a lot of time moving at a blazing 5-10 MPH and some more time driving at weird angles? This vehicle is far heavier than the very nice cars I've seen on this site, but the engine doesn't seem to struggle much with it.

[TechRod]

The popular swap for Troopers is the 3.4L from a 93-95 Camaro/Firebird (160HP), which would also open up the possibility of the 3500 top-swap (200+HP).

[geoffinbc]

For a trail engine it will work fine. The TBI system is identical to the V8 and 4.3L system you are use to. I would do whatever I could do to increase torque. COMPS 1.6:1 roller rockers are a bolt on bargain and are under $150. After the shop fixes the freeze plugs then do a tune up on it if you have not done it already. One thing that I have learned with the Trooper versus my S-10 is it does not cool nearly as well. But the Trooper is much heavier, the rad is smaller and like you said your driving really slow. So make sure your cooling system is working well including the fan.

[Tinker1980]

I might look at adding a larger radiator, and a helper fan. The air conditioning doesn't work, I may strip it out, that would give me room to mount a fan on the front of the radiator. I don't have the truck sitting right here so I can look, but I think there is room to put a wider radiator in... I can certainly do a thicker one (More cores) since the V6 is shorter than the I-4. It looks to have the same radiator as the I-4, actually. An oil cooler would help too.

Hope the shop hurries up, so I can get to work on my own mods for it: I'm doing all the things I didn't get to do to my 2.6 trooper: 3" lift, axle drop, sway bar removal, ball joint flip, I've got a 5 speed trooper located so I can do the swap to a 5 speed. Already have the manual hubs installed, rebuilt the CV shafts and put on new boots. Going to be a great trail rig.

[pocket-rocket]

If it's not getting trailered to the trails, a lot of the Ranger guys put pins in place of the bolts on the sway bar end links making them disconnectable.

[geoffinbc]

I went with a thicker core. Works well. You should not need any extra fans if you have the stock clutch fan and shroud in place. Removing the AC condenser will allow a lot more air to travel through the rad when driving. I doubt there will be any need to augment the cooling system. Just make sure all the parts are in good order.

Make sure to check all the hoses especially the ones behind the engine that go to the heater core. AC Delco sells the replacements so they are easy to get locally. If they feel squishy then replace them. Mine blew on me and I lost all my coolant and it lead to a cracked head.

[Z3500]

My 2.8 with 88,000 miles.



Draw your own conclusion

[Tinker1980]

My 2.8 with 88,000 miles.



Draw your own conclusion

Looks like a bit of rust in one of those chambers... Was there a head gasket failure?

The valves look like they're all still there. My other 'Zoo had a badly cracked exhaust valve, but that's what happens when the PO doesn't adjust the valves.

[Z3500]

Cracked head. Lost coolant but didn't know where it was going as you couldnt see it in the exhaust. It would pressurize the coolant system so much it blew out the heater core.

[geoffinbc]

Yea thats a failed gasket or a crack between the valves. Overheating caused that.

[HOYS]

My 2.8 with 88,000 miles.



Draw your own conclusion

Iron heads, its still so weird for me to see 60deg's with them :P