Did ford ever make a 2.3 ext cab?

[ri06667]

Hey I was just wondering if ford ever actually made an extended cab ranger with the 2.3 engine?
I just swapped a 2.3 into a 2.9 ext cab and I see now that the driveshaft yokes are different.

Thanks!

 

[chvlfrk]

Yes!

Hey I was just wondering if ford ever actually made an extended cab ranger with the 2.3 engine?
I just swapped a 2.3 into a 2.9 ext cab and I see now that the driveshaft yokes are different.Thanks!

================================================
I sold one last year as a matter of fact...........87 Ranger XLT Supercab w/2.3L, auto..............here's pics of it when sold:

 

[Mark_88]

I've swapped a 2.3 into an Xtended cab that had the 2.9 too...and, yes, the shafts and connectors are different...

Took me three tries to get it right, and ended up having a shop weld the back connector onto the shaft...it was an expensive endeavor...because I actually bought two different drive shafts at $100 a pop...and then paid another $50 for the weld...then had to replace a U-joint...

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

Ouch! 2.3+auto+extended cab = one slow ranger!

But yes, ford made lots of extended cab 2.3s over the years. I see alot of 93-97 2wd extended cab 4 bangers. However, you'll never find a 2.3 4x4 extended cab.

 

[Bryan22]

never say never! i have a 94 2.3l extended cab. it's got a maunal and it does allright.

 

[ri06667]

I've swapped a 2.3 into an Xtended cab that had the 2.9 too...and, yes, the shafts and connectors are different...

Took me three tries to get it right, and ended up having a shop weld the back connector onto the shaft...it was an expensive endeavor...because I actually bought two different drive shafts at $100 a pop...and then paid another $50 for the weld...then had to replace a U-joint...

So Mark what exactly should I do? pull just the transmission yoke off a 2.3 and have it put onto the 2.9 extended driveshaft? Length looks to be the same but I'd like some reassurance there, but I could just disconnect and reconnect at the ujoint couldnt i? i dont really see where the welding would come into place unless it needed a different length.

the reason i asked about this thread in the first place is that I figured if one was out there, i could just get the shaft out of an extended 2.3 and it'll just drop right in.

 

[Mark_88]

The transmission in mine was the M5OD (manual 5 speed) so if you are using that transmission, what you can do is go to the wreckers and find an extended cab with the same transmission but uses a two piece drive-shaft...You can use the whole thing up to the back connector to the rear end, usually, but you will probably need to change the back connector on the drive shaft to match the rear end...

That's if you can find one with the same transmission...the big thing here is there are many variations of the drive shaft with connectors and splines that look like they fit...but don't actually work...

You may need to measure and count the ribs on the transmission end of the shaft to make sure you get one that fits the back end of the tranny...and then measure the length to the rear end (they should just work because there was no variation in the wheel base in most cases) just to make sure...

Once you have a two piece shaft you will then need to match the connector that bolts onto the rear end.

NOTE: I found only a single one-piece shaft for this, but it was either broken or wouldn't fit my tranny (not sure...can't remember) so they are out there if you look...maybe one from an F-150 might work but you will probably need to weld both the spline for the transmission and the connector for the rear end to fit your truck. Best to use the two-piece because there is a yoke mount that sits just behind the transmission on a cross-member that helps keep things in line.

Because the rear end mount/connectors can vary between years and rear ends it is best to simply cut the one off the current driveshaft that connects to your current rear end and get it welded onto the end of the new two-piece shaft...

Another option would be to simply swap in the rear end of a later model and just use the entire two piece drive shaft from one that has the same transmission as your current transmission...

Hope that all makes sense because it had me scratching my head and making extra trips all over the place to get it right...and if you don't know how to weld it yourself try to find a shop that knows how to weld drive-shafts...if the cut is off even slightly and the shaft is not straight you're in for a rough ride...as I'm sure you can appreciate...

 

[Derek The Great]

I've got a 94 ext. cab with a 2.3 & M50DR1 trans, wouldn't have bought it any other way!

 

[Kenneth S]

My 88 ranger super cab (see my avatar) came from the factory with a 2.3, & 5 speed.

 

[Mark_88]

Not sure if this was mentioned, but as you've probably found out the 2.9 auto or manual uses a different drive shaft than the 2.3 auto or manual...so my above suggestion should have clarified that I took the driveshaft out of a 2.3 extended cab from a later model (I think it was a 93-97)...and if you want to use the rear end from one of those years then the entire drive shaft will work without any modifications...it's only when you try to use the 80s series rear end with the later model drive shaft that you may need to change the rear coupling (connector to rear end)...

 

[Plum Ranger XLT]

Factory 2.3L 5 speed extended cab right here.

 

[98mazdaman]

You can buy a 2009 4 banger super cab.

 

[rurouni20xx]

just bought my green 92 ext cab 2.3 m50d the other day, it was a fixer upper but its going along nicely and fun to drive, specially when i accidentally chirp 2nd...lol