Ranger timing cover swap

[Cleat]

<Edited Subject heading 8/22>

My timing cover is badly corroded where the bypass and heater hoses connect.

I guess another question would be is the bypass hose even needed. The 2.9 in the ranger does not have one and relies on the heater core to be the bypass.

The heater control valve has been removed so there is always coolant flowing through the heater core.

If that is the case, I could get the two hose fittings welded shut along with the fitting on the lower intake and be done with all those possible leak points.

Thanks for your time, Cleat

I am in Canada but also have a US shipping address.

[blugg]

Older post, yet I saw one on eBay this week if its still a need. was under "Merkur Scorpio timing cover".

[DPDISXR4Ti]

If the Ranger 2.9 doesn't have this hose, I presume it also doesn't have the hose fitting, yes? Could the Ranger cover just be used instead?

Here's a pic of the Ranger cover for reference...

Ranger29TimingCover.jpg (57.42 KiB) Viewed 5922 times

[Cleat]

I did indeed use a Ranger cover and got rid of the bypass hose.

Car cools well and heater works well.

I don't know why Ford used two different setups with the same engine.

[DPDISXR4Ti]

I did indeed use a Ranger cover and got rid of the bypass hose.

Thanks for replying. I stumbled across a ~1990 Ranger 2.9 at the junkyard last summer and since it was already half disassembled I was able to liberate the front cover from it. It sits in the garage as I type this. If I don't go for the 4L swap I'll certainly do the Ranger 2.9 front cover when I re-freshen things.

[Ed Lijewski]

I did indeed use a Ranger cover and got rid of the bypass hose.

Car cools well and heater works well.

I don't know why Ford used two different setups with the same engine.

I have an '88 and an '89. Believe the difference might have been a running production line change that eliminated the '88curved coolant connecting hose at the lower rear passenger side of the engine that hung down and is exposed somewhat to road hazards. On my '88 that hose developed a leak.

YMMV

[DPDISXR4Ti]

I have an '88 and an '89. Believe the difference might have been a running production line change that eliminated the '88curved coolant connecting hose at the lower rear passenger side of the engine that hung down and is exposed somewhat to road hazards. On my '88 that hose developed a leak.

Cleat is referring to the differences between the Ranger setup and the Scorpio, NOT the difference between the early and late Scorpio. Take note of the image of the Ranger front cover I posted above. There is no coolant fitting at all on the Ranger cover. If you want to reduce hoses and the resultant potential for coolant leaks, go with the Ranger front cover.

I'm attaching below a pic of my Ranger 2.9 front cover. I took it from an angle where you can better see the "dead end" that the Scorpio cover has as a thru-hole.

Cologne29FrontCover.JPG (1.16 MiB) Viewed 4990 times

[DPDISXR4Ti]

And just for reference, here's a pic of a Scorpio cover that I just pulled off UK eBay...

Cologne29FrontCoverScorpio.JPG (261.43 KiB) Viewed 4988 times

[Cleat]

Here is the engine installed with the Ranger front cover installed and heater bypass removed.

Just 2 rad hoses and 2 heater hoses (except for the coolant bottle that has a hose running to the bottom of the rad and 2 little hoses for vents connected to the top of the rad and to the thermostat housing).

[DPDISXR4Ti]

Here is the engine installed with the Ranger front cover installed and heater bypass removed.

Nice clean install!

[DPDISXR4Ti]

Just 2 rad hoses and 2 heater hoses (except for the coolant bottle that has a hose running to the bottom of the rad and 2 little hoses for vents connected to the top of the rad and to the thermostat housing).

Hopefully you're still following this thread Cleat! I'm in elbows-deep working on this project and have a couple questions...
1) I assume you're using something other than a stock radiator since the stock one doesn't have a small vent fitting, yes? Maybe I could plumb in a fitting to the upper rad hose.
2) What did you do with this water fitting/hose that comes off the intake on the driver's side? Is that the one that you've got coming around to the bottom of the coolant bottle, or do you have it do a U-turn and that's the one coming across the top of the valve cover, just to the right of the oil fill in the picture of your engine bay?

Cologne29-Hose.jpg (195.85 KiB) Viewed 4064 times

[Cleat]

https://imgur.com/gallery/EhETvEI

I hope this helps.
I just have 2 heater hoses.
one from intake behind T-stat housing to heater core and one from water pump to heater core.

The bypass hose just simply does not exist any more.

[DPDISXR4Ti]

https://imgur.com/gallery/EhETvEI

I hope this helps.
I just have 2 heater hoses.
one from intake behind T-stat housing to heater core and one from water pump to heater core.

The bypass hose just simply does not exist any more.

Thanks very much for replying and linking the pics. I'll post them here for reference...

CleatCologne29-1.jpeg (773.71 KiB) Viewed 4021 times

CleatCologne29-2.jpeg (765.51 KiB) Viewed 4021 times

CleatCologne29-3.jpeg (780.11 KiB) Viewed 4021 times

CleatCologne29-4.jpeg (782.8 KiB) Viewed 4021 times

CleatCologne29-5.jpeg (775.65 KiB) Viewed 4021 times

[DPDISXR4Ti]

The bypass hose just simply does not exist any more.

What did you do about the fitting off the intake manifold? Pictured below, now with the hose removed. As you can see from the screen-grab of a video on the Ranger 2.9, that fitting doesn't even exist in that application.

20220709_115636.jpg (241.85 KiB) Viewed 4017 times

Ranger29-CoolantHose.png (1.13 MiB) Viewed 4019 times

[Cleat]

I used a ranger lower intake manifold that did not have the hose fitting.

I believe you can purchase a 5.8" rubber cap for your nipple as well.