newby 2.3 questions

[agrezy1]

son bought a 1990 2.3 mustang that he is striping for a drag car. im going to take the 2.3 and put it into my vw ghia.couple of questions i have are esslinger shows a adapter to take upper plenum of fuel injection off manifold and be able to run a holley 350.but there description says for mid 80s cars are the intakes different? second question the only belt i will use will be for crank,water pump and altenator and the current setup on the engine is less than appealing.any suggestions? been wanting to do this conversion for awhile and then this just kinda falls into my lap.

 

[Mark_88]

Howdy and welcome to TRS~!

I believe there is an adaptor for the fuel injected intake that allows a carb to be mounted...but not sure what years it works with. They changed a few times over the years...but the mustang head from a 1990 will take an older carb intake...I know this because I ran a 91 Mustang head on my 87 Ranger block with the intake and carb from a 1987 Mustang II.

The distributor would need to be installed but the workings are there for it...and then the wiring for the carb setup and you're ready for the EMP strike...

The water pump/alternator belt is all you really need if you take out the power steering and AC...but depending on what side the alternator is mounted...you can also get a driver side mount if you have the passenger side mount currently...so it might help us if you post a pic of what you have...I would look it up but my source of information is currently out of action...

 

[RonD]

Welcome to TRS

+1 to what Mark_88 said

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-2-3-23...c08fe2e&pid=100005&rk=2&rkt=6&sd=252435871900

Is this what you have now?
https://cfc7329ad537523a5de1-b21544d490ba797ec9de9d17e947de3d.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/os-df0721_4277.jpg

Just for reference, you are using a Lima 2.3l Single Over Head Cam(SOHC) engine, built in Lima, Ohio Ford engine plant, there were 3 engines that shared the same block and most parts
2.0l, under bored 2.3l
2.3l
2.5l, stroked 2.3l

Used from 1974 to 2001, nick named "Pinto engine"
More info here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Pinto_engine#Lima_OHC_.28LL.29

 

[tomw]

For some reason, I thought it was nick'd the Lima. Just as the 2000 was called the Cologne. The alternator & water pump pulley & belt were more likely to be used on a Ranger with 'no options'. Many were used by meter readers, and they were not equipped with much. The alternator on my truck was on the drivers side. If you want serpentine, check the 85 models with no A/C or power steering. Simple. Might have to change the pulleys, but they are available at boneyards.
tom

 

[agrezy1]

yes that is the belt style setup i have so i will hit pick a part yards see if i can find something more simple.just dont like the looks of that big ole alt power steering bracket because im gonna be little cramped for room. just want clean and simple.
other question on the 90 model distributor can you wire it up as a stand alone or does it run through the pcm? and will the early dura spark distributors work on this 2.3?

 

[RonD]

1990 will be Ford ICM/distributorless spark system, needs computer to advance spark

Yes, Duraspark distributor will work, it uses vacuum advance, and can be used with GM's HEI module instead of the less reliable Duraspark module.
Also less wiring needed

Google: Duraspark HEI conversion


They were called Lima engines, pinto was the nick name

Cologne engines were V6 engines, originally designed and built in Cologne, Germany, first used in 1964 and built until 2011(4.0l SOHC), engine sizes were 1.8, 2.0, 2.3, 2.4, 2.6, 2.8, 2.9 and 4.0 engines, all V6's even the 1.8l, 2.0l and 2.3l.
2.8l, 2.9l and the two 4.0ls were all used in Rangers over the years

There is a new group of engines built in Lima, Ohio Plant now, all V6 models, ecoboost 2.7, and the Duratec 30, 35 and 37, 3.0l Vulcan was also built there, these are usually not called Lima engines but could be.

 

[Mark_88]

yes that is the belt style setup i have so i will hit pick a part yards see if i can find something more simple.just dont like the looks of that big ole alt power steering bracket because im gonna be little cramped for room. just want clean and simple.
other question on the 90 model distributor can you wire it up as a stand alone or does it run through the pcm? and will the early dura spark distributors work on this 2.3?

The bracket is actually very light as it is made of aluminum...but it is bulky and takes up more room than I cared to give up. The Mustang engine used a similar bracket but there was also an earlier style that was smaller and supported just the alternator.

Problem is sometimes the alternator used does not have the same connectors...also you may need to extend the wiring harness to get it to reach the other side...more than likely since it is about two feet from where it originated...there is a bit of play in the harness sometimes but just as a heads up...it can become quite involved and more chance for mistakes (like wires not connected properly or connections that are not good causing power supply issues)...

Take your time and make sure you get not only the bracket but any wire harness extensions if you can find them...like cutting off the wires from the donor vehicle to be spliced into yours...

 

[YungICY]

I'll just drop this here. If you have any questions about my setup just let me know. The quick low down on mine is, 85 ranger 2.3, originally fuel injected but now has holley 350 mounted to esslinger adapter on stock lower efi intake. Stock alt bracket, stock ran serp belt (no a.c. (had a.c. but I think it was added after the fact by PO)) and no power steering. Running dizzy from 84 ranger 2.3 with stock 85 coil and gm hei module.

Pics are a little old and outdated. I can get new ones tomorrow if you need any picture references.

Sent from my LGMS345 using Tapatalk

 

[Mark_88]

I'll just drop this here. If you have any questions about my setup just let me know. The quick low down on mine is, 85 ranger 2.3, originally fuel injected but now has holley 350 mounted to esslinger adapter on stock lower efi intake. Stock alt bracket, stock ran serp belt (no a.c. (had a.c. but I think it was added after the fact by PO)) and no power steering. Running dizzy from 84 ranger 2.3 with stock 85 coil and gm hei module.

Pics are a little old and outdated. I can get new ones tomorrow if you need any picture references.

Sent from my LGMS345 using Tapatalk

Nice looking setup!

Reminds me of my original 2.0 engine config...although that paint would be a bit of a shock initially I'm sure it provides good backlight when looking at things under there...I used to hate the rust brown on mine because everything just blended in and it was hard seeing things...

Part of the reason I painted the inside of my frame rails bright yellow...it helped quite a bit with finding things under there...

 

[YungICY]

Nice looking setup!

Reminds me of my original 2.0 engine config...although that paint would be a bit of a shock initially I'm sure it provides good backlight when looking at things under there...I used to hate the rust brown on mine because everything just blended in and it was hard seeing things...

Part of the reason I painted the inside of my frame rails bright yellow...it helped quite a bit with finding things under there...

Thanks Mark. I think you actually answered most of my questions while I was putting it all together haha. Yeah that green does definitely make it easy to see things in there.

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[Mark_88]

Thanks Mark. I think you actually answered most of my questions while I was putting it all together haha. Yeah that green does definitely make it easy to see things in there.

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I do recall you wanting information on how to go about it or something...but can't remember the actual thread...I have offered my opinion on many configs and some have found it helpful...others went with what was available.

I wanted to ask about the alternator bracket because that is the style I had. My bracket broke and I managed to keep it working but it was just barely holding on with one bolt and a second one holding a broken hole...anyway...lol...

Is that the original bracket or did you score that from another truck?

I searched everywhere and the only one I could find was in Texas and they wanted $100 for it...plus shipping.

So I decided to hang onto a bunch of other parts and try to sell them but no buyers so far...if you see another one you might want to snag it if you can...always good to have a spare...

Oh, and I kept the alternator to sell because I just bought it not too long before the engine died..paid $200 Cdn for it so I was not keen on just letting it go to the scrap yard...no takers on it yet but I'm sure I will sell it eventually...

 

[YungICY]

I do recall you wanting information on how to go about it or something...but can't remember the actual thread...I have offered my opinion on many configs and some have found it helpful...others went with what was available.

I wanted to ask about the alternator bracket because that is the style I had. My bracket broke and I managed to keep it working but it was just barely holding on with one bolt and a second one holding a broken hole...anyway...lol...

Is that the original bracket or did you score that from another truck?

I searched everywhere and the only one I could find was in Texas and they wanted $100 for it...plus shipping.

So I decided to hang onto a bunch of other parts and try to sell them but no buyers so far...if you see another one you might want to snag it if you can...always good to have a spare...

Oh, and I kept the alternator to sell because I just bought it not too long before the engine died..paid $200 Cdn for it so I was not keen on just letting it go to the scrap yard...no takers on it yet but I'm sure I will sell it eventually...

Yeah I have a handful of threads that are usually pretty specific questions on Frankenstein setups haha. When it comes to fixing things on a 30+ year old weekend play truck I find it usually cheaper and easier to mix and match parts.

That bracket is the stock bracket that came with my truck. I'm not a huge fan of it due to the weak upper bracket. The one on there now is actually off an 88 that I believe had an 87 motor in it that I picked up as a donor truck. I had to keep that bracket cuz my 85 was broken.

If I'm not mistaken I believe I can get a mount to put it on the bottom of the other side of the motor. I'd like to do that but I haven't put any effort into looking up that info or sourcing parts.

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