2.3L ('83-'97) 1988 XLT Carb Swap Questions

[TimWick]

Hey all,

Recently got my hands on a 2.3 that’s currently fuel injected but the engine wiring harness is toasted. Edward scissor hands got into the engine bay and went to town.

Currently piecing together the conversion for carb based off posts here and other places.

Here’s what I have so far:
- [ ] Weber 32/36

- [ ]

- [ ] Adapter for lower intake

- [ ] Distributor

- [ ] Gm hei

- [ ] PC 91 e coil

- [ ] Freeze plugs for injector holes

- [ ] Fuel pressure regulator

- [ ] Fuel lines

- [ ] New spark plugs

My only concern is this distributor and e coil I got:

Speedmaster PCE376.1148: PCE376.1148 Pro-Billet 8000-Series Distributor for 1974-1984 Ford 2.3L 4-Cylinder Engines [Red] - JEGS

Get the Best Performance with Speedmaster PCE376.1148 Pro-Billet 8000-Series Distributor for 1974-1984 Ford 2.3L 4-Cylinder Engines [Red] PCE376.1148 parts at JEGS. Shop Now at the Guaranteed Lowest Price!

www.jegs.com

E coil:

Speedmaster PCE382100701: PC-91 High Output E-Core Ignition Coil Red - JEGS

Universal Pc91 12V High Output External Male E-Core Ignition Coil - Red

www.jegs.com

I am not sure if that setup would work with the gm hei system. Or if I may have gotten the wrong distributor. I tried to search for ones from older pintos and mustang II but no place, along with rock auto, has any in stock with the vacuum advance.

Any help/insigits would be appreciated. Want to get this old girl back on the road.

 

[franklin2]

The 8000 series is called a "magnetic pickup" style distributor. So the HEI module should work with it. That is what the GM HEI distributor uses, and is also what the Ford Duraspark II distributor uses. It generates a A/C signal when the distributor turns.

 

[TimWick]

The 8000 series is called a "magnetic pickup" style distributor. So the HEI module should work with it. That is what the GM HEI distributor uses, and is also what the Ford Duraspark II distributor uses. It generates a A/C signal when the distributor turns.

Okay thank you. I had thought it would since according to the other listings I had seen it shows up as a replacement part for the older engines I was mostly concerned since on the listing description it also said a cd type distributor.

 

[TimWick]

An update:

Got the adapter in today and managed to get the top intake off and I ran into my first issue.

The lower intake is a 4 barrel but the adapter I got seems to be setup for a two barrel.

Not sure if I need to get an adapter for an adapter or find another setup to use.

here’s the adapter I went with:

Weber by Number | Carbs Unlimited

 

[Cowboy Jim]

Hey all,

Recently got my hands on a 2.3 that’s currently fuel injected but the engine wiring harness is toasted. Edward scissor hands got into the engine bay and went to town.

Currently piecing together the conversion for carb based off posts here and other places.

Here’s what I have so far:
- [ ] Weber 32/36

- [ ]

- [ ] Adapter for lower intake

- [ ] Distributor

- [ ] Gm hei

- [ ] PC 91 e coil

- [ ] Freeze plugs for injector holes

- [ ] Fuel pressure regulator

- [ ] Fuel lines

- [ ] New spark plugs

My only concern is this distributor and e coil I got:

Speedmaster PCE376.1148: PCE376.1148 Pro-Billet 8000-Series Distributor for 1974-1984 Ford 2.3L 4-Cylinder Engines [Red] - JEGS

Get the Best Performance with Speedmaster PCE376.1148 Pro-Billet 8000-Series Distributor for 1974-1984 Ford 2.3L 4-Cylinder Engines [Red] PCE376.1148 parts at JEGS. Shop Now at the Guaranteed Lowest Price!

www.jegs.com

E coil:

Speedmaster PCE382100701: PC-91 High Output E-Core Ignition Coil Red - JEGS

Universal Pc91 12V High Output External Male E-Core Ignition Coil - Red

www.jegs.com

I am not sure if that setup would work with the gm hei system. Or if I may have gotten the wrong distributor. I tried to search for ones from older pintos and mustang II but no place, along with rock auto, has any in stock with the vacuum advance.

Any help/insigits would be appreciated. Want to get this old girl back on the road.

Hey I have a solution! You could just drop this in it and call it a day! I just pulled this out of a lifted Suzuki Samurai I had built that was lifted with a crap ton of mods. No, not kidding, it really was in a Zuk. You may or may not notice a "slight" increase in performance. Oh and that hole in the hood, thats all ok. It lets pretty and shiny things stick up and make noise!! LOL

 

[franklin2]

An update:

Got the adapter in today and managed to get the top intake off and I ran into my first issue.

The lower intake is a 4 barrel but the adapter I got seems to be setup for a two barrel.

Not sure if I need to get an adapter for an adapter or find another setup to use.

here’s the adapter I went with:

Weber by Number | Carbs Unlimited

That is not a 4 barrel lower intake. That is a 4 hole EFI lower intake. Even though it looks like a 4 barrel intake, you will never find a 4 barrel adapter that will fit. For a bolt on solution, you most likely need to find a earlier engine that had a carb from the factory and use that manifold. IF, it will fit your cylinder head. I have not experimented much with the 2.3, though my turbo SVO had a intake on it just like yours.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I have this efi manifold that has a homemade phenolic adapter to fit a 2bbl. The efi ports were welded shut. I've never used it yet so don't know how well it will work.

 

[TimWick]

That is not a 4 barrel lower intake. That is a 4 hole EFI lower intake. Even though it looks like a 4 barrel intake, you will never find a 4 barrel adapter that will fit. For a bolt on solution, you most likely need to find a earlier engine that had a carb from the factory and use that manifold. IF, it will fit your cylinder head. I have not experimented much with the 2.3, though my turbo SVO had a intake on it just like yours.

Yeah I was hopeful but you're right.

I have this efi manifold that has a homemade phenolic adapter to fit a 2bbl. The efi ports were welded shut. I've never used it yet so don't know how well it will work.

Was that a 3d printed adapter you made? Or how is it made?

I managed to find this one:

Amazon.com

Which is referenced on this website:

https://www.powerbyace.com/Catalog%20page/Ford%202_3L%20SOHC.htm

	Ford 2.3l SOHC EFI Intake Manifold Adapter
	Install Holley, Weber or Ford 4 cyl 2-Barrel. CNC machined from billet aluminum. 1" thick, full stepped plenum, increased fuel atomization and optimized carburetor position. Clear Hard Anodized. This adapter is designed for stock EFI manifolds, and can be ported. Complete with instructions, bolts and gaskets.

I believe this one might fit and work for what i'm looking for.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Yeah I was hopeful but you're right.


Was that a 3d printed adapter you made? Or how is it made?

I managed to find this one:

Amazon.com

Which is referenced on this website:

https://www.powerbyace.com/Catalog%20page/Ford%202_3L%20SOHC.htm

	Ford 2.3l SOHC EFI Intake Manifold Adapter
	Install Holley, Weber or Ford 4 cyl 2-Barrel. CNC machined from billet aluminum. 1" thick, full stepped plenum, increased fuel atomization and optimized carburetor position. Clear Hard Anodized. This adapter is designed for stock EFI manifolds, and can be ported. Complete with instructions, bolts and gaskets.

I believe this one might fit and work for what i'm looking for.

I never made it. It came with an engine I got in trade for some work. It looks to be custom made as the engine was custom built for salt flats racing.

The link you show looks like it will work to me too.

 

[franklin2]

Yeah I was hopeful but you're right.


Was that a 3d printed adapter you made? Or how is it made?

I managed to find this one:

Amazon.com

Which is referenced on this website:

https://www.powerbyace.com/Catalog%20page/Ford%202_3L%20SOHC.htm

	Ford 2.3l SOHC EFI Intake Manifold Adapter
	Install Holley, Weber or Ford 4 cyl 2-Barrel. CNC machined from billet aluminum. 1" thick, full stepped plenum, increased fuel atomization and optimized carburetor position. Clear Hard Anodized. This adapter is designed for stock EFI manifolds, and can be ported. Complete with instructions, bolts and gaskets.

I believe this one might fit and work for what i'm looking for.

Good find, though not cheap is it?

 

[TimWick]

Good find, though not cheap is it?

Unfortunately not no. So far the most expensive part of the swap. Everything else so far has been around 100 or less. So far with the cost of the truck and parts I am about 950 into the project.

 

[superj]

You got a weber for 100 or less? Wow, prives have dropped, or its not a real weber.

 

[TimWick]

You got a weber for 100 or less? Wow, prives have dropped, or its not a real weber.

Trying out the chyna version of a 32/36

Amazon.com

a.co

So just around 95 with a discount I had from a gift card.

I’ve heard negative things about them but in the motorcycle world I’ve used china replacement carbs and parts and so far haven’t had any issues

Today I also managed to un spaghetti the engine harness and yank it out.

Still need to move some things around but it’s getting there.

 

[franklin2]

Do you have any woodworking tools? You could possibly make your own spacer/adapter out of phenolic. Problem is, it's not that cheap either. You can get a 6 inch by 6 inch by 3/4 inch thick piece for $76.14 from McMaster Carr.

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

www.mcmaster.com

A scroll saw would probably do a decent job of it.

 

[TimWick]

Do you have any woodworking tools? You could possibly make your own spacer/adapter out of phenolic. Problem is, it's not that cheap either. You can get a 6 inch by 6 inch by 3/4 inch thick piece for $76.14 from McMaster Carr.

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

www.mcmaster.com

A scroll saw would probably do a decent job of it.

For the cost of getting the tools and the material, plus being inexperienced with woodworking and fabrication, I’ll just spend the 130 for this bracket for now and see if it works. I’m pretty hopeful with this one. Won’t come in till the weekend though.