newer 2.3 in ranger?

Blackdog455 · 11-09-2008, 05:01 PM

today i just picked up an '89 2.3 out of a mustang. It has 79,000 miles on it while the current 2.3 in my '88 ranger has 160,000 miles on it. Now i bought the engine for $300 which is cheep (in my case) for this engine.

Im at a dilemma though. What should i do with this engine and the one currently in my ranger? which one should i rebuild? Any ideas would be great. Cause my dad just wants to drop the engine i just bought into my ranger and call it good while i want to rebuild one of the engines and try and get some more power out of it.

edit: also, would it be a good idea to not rebuild the '89 engine and just put a new cam in it, header and exhaust then call it good? or should i do a complete rebuild on one of the engines?

Mirage · 11-10-2008, 06:54 AM

If you plan on using the rig for a daily driver, you're looking for reliability. So you have to ask yourself the following:
A: Do you know the history of the Mustang engine?
B: Do you trust the integrity of the Mustang engine?

If the Mustang engine came from a wrecking yard than chances are the answer to the first question is "no". Which means you probably have no idea about the internals of the engine either. Does is blow oil?, bent/broken valves?, head gasket?, etc.

While the engine may be fine, you just never know for sure. So, if it were me in this situation, and it wasn't a big emergency to get the engine swapped out, I would start by taking the Mustang engine apart, mic things, check specs, etc. Then when I had a real good handle on things, decide whether to rebuild it or not. Personally I would rebuild it anyway, just to be sure. Then drop in the new rebuilt engine, and drive for a long time knowing that I've got fresh steel under the hood. Then I'd start worrying about the suspension, the window seals, the transmission, the rear end.... I worry a lot.

Have fun!

**Mark_88** · 11-10-2008, 08:04 AM

Yeah, if your current engine is working...overbore the mustang block about .30, put in forged pistons, mill and port the head with new valves and a mild cam, maybe larger valves if possible...then you can turbo charge it...

Or...just overbore the engine and do a bit of porting on the head...have the head magnaflux tested and replace valves et al...and you'll probably be good to go for many years to come...along with saving money on gas if you don't turbo it...not that a turbo charged engine is harder on gas, but the temptation to wind it up and blow it out is too much for most people to not "honk on it"...

Blackdog455 · 11-10-2008, 10:20 AM

well it came out of an '89 mustang cause the guy wanted to put put a 302 in the mustang. he said the engine ran just fine when he pulled it.

ejholmgren · 11-10-2008, 05:15 PM

Pull the head and look at the cylinder walls?

Blackdog455 · 11-10-2008, 05:41 PM

ya i got the engine almost all the way torn down today. ill have to wait and see whats going on it side of it though.

11-09-2008, 05:01 PM	#1
Blackdog455 Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Maple Valley, WA Year: 1988 Make: Ford Ranger Model: XLT, short bed. Engine: 140 4 banger Class: 4x4 Used For: everyday use Posts: 286 Rep Power: 10 iTrader: (0)	newer 2.3 in ranger? today i just picked up an '89 2.3 out of a mustang. It has 79,000 miles on it while the current 2.3 in my '88 ranger has 160,000 miles on it. Now i bought the engine for $300 which is cheep (in my case) for this engine. Im at a dilemma though. What should i do with this engine and the one currently in my ranger? which one should i rebuild? Any ideas would be great. Cause my dad just wants to drop the engine i just bought into my ranger and call it good while i want to rebuild one of the engines and try and get some more power out of it. edit: also, would it be a good idea to not rebuild the '89 engine and just put a new cam in it, header and exhaust then call it good? or should i do a complete rebuild on one of the engines? Last edited by Blackdog455; 11-09-2008 at 05:05 PM. Reason: forgot something.
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11-10-2008, 06:54 AM	#2
Mirage Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Year: 1996 Make: Mazda Model: B2300 SE Engine: 2.3L Class: 2WD Posts: 124 Rep Power: 11 iTrader: (0)	If you plan on using the rig for a daily driver, you're looking for reliability. So you have to ask yourself the following: A: Do you know the history of the Mustang engine? B: Do you trust the integrity of the Mustang engine? If the Mustang engine came from a wrecking yard than chances are the answer to the first question is "no". Which means you probably have no idea about the internals of the engine either. Does is blow oil?, bent/broken valves?, head gasket?, etc. While the engine may be fine, you just never know for sure. So, if it were me in this situation, and it wasn't a big emergency to get the engine swapped out, I would start by taking the Mustang engine apart, mic things, check specs, etc. Then when I had a real good handle on things, decide whether to rebuild it or not. Personally I would rebuild it anyway, just to be sure. Then drop in the new rebuilt engine, and drive for a long time knowing that I've got fresh steel under the hood. Then I'd start worrying about the suspension, the window seals, the transmission, the rear end.... I worry a lot. Have fun!
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11-10-2008, 08:04 AM	#3
Mark_88 Einstein I'm NOT Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Uxbridge, Ontario Year: 1988 Make: Ford Model: Multi-year Ranger Engine: 2.3 Carbureted Class: 2wd Used For: Space travel Posts: 13,409 Rep Power: 76 iTrader: (0)	Yeah, if your current engine is working...overbore the mustang block about .30, put in forged pistons, mill and port the head with new valves and a mild cam, maybe larger valves if possible...then you can turbo charge it... Or...just overbore the engine and do a bit of porting on the head...have the head magnaflux tested and replace valves et al...and you'll probably be good to go for many years to come...along with saving money on gas if you don't turbo it...not that a turbo charged engine is harder on gas, but the temptation to wind it up and blow it out is too much for most people to not "honk on it"... __________________ Rome and my Ranger were not built in a day...
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11-10-2008, 10:20 AM	#4
Blackdog455 Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Maple Valley, WA Year: 1988 Make: Ford Ranger Model: XLT, short bed. Engine: 140 4 banger Class: 4x4 Used For: everyday use Posts: 286 Rep Power: 10 iTrader: (0)	well it came out of an '89 mustang cause the guy wanted to put put a 302 in the mustang. he said the engine ran just fine when he pulled it.
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11-10-2008, 05:15 PM	#5
ejholmgren Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Year: 1993 Make: Ford Model: Ranger Engine: 2.3L Class: 4x4 Used For: DD Posts: 314 Rep Power: 12 iTrader: (0)	Pull the head and look at the cylinder walls?
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11-10-2008, 05:41 PM	#6
Blackdog455 Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Maple Valley, WA Year: 1988 Make: Ford Ranger Model: XLT, short bed. Engine: 140 4 banger Class: 4x4 Used For: everyday use Posts: 286 Rep Power: 10 iTrader: (0)	ya i got the engine almost all the way torn down today. ill have to wait and see whats going on it side of it though.
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