- Joined
- Nov 28, 2023
- Messages
- 21
- Reaction score
- 14
- Points
- 3
- Location
- Pennsylvania
- Vehicle Year
- 1988
- Make / Model
- Bronco 2
- Transmission
- Manual
Ok I don’t want to be “that guy” talking about all these different swaps and not accomplishing any of them, but here’s the deal…
For the last 15 years I’ve planned on swapping a 2.3turbo out of a thunderbird turbo coupe into a bronco 2 for the type of racing we do (I had started a thread on it a few months ago in the B2 section). I have the engine, the proper trans, and the 2.3 to FM 145 bell housing. I got looking further into the condition of the bronco a couple weeks ago and it got rough!! It’s been sitting since about 2009-2010 without being raced or moved. Bad enough to the point I decided it wasn’t worth the effort to use that vehicle, but can use parts off of it. In the ast week I found a good deal on a 99 ranger ext cab with the 3.0 and auto 4x4. Bad rockers, nice frame! Yes it’s starting from scratch since it isn’t already set up with a cage etc, but it’ll be worth it for the good bones (I’m going to make a separate thread regarding cage options fyi).
I can swap in the 2.3 and FM145 into this truck and get this thing rolling in the next few months possibly, but another option is get the cage in it race ready and still run it with the 3.0 Vulcan in it in a much lower class and just see how she does. While pondering the option with my buddy I race with, I casually mention that the only engine I know of that shares a bell housings pattern with the 3.0 is the 3.0/3.2 Yamaha SHO engine. He reminds me (I had long forgotten this) he has a 3.0 SHO engine on a crate in the garage that he believes is good running condition that I can have. Now I know it’ll bolt to the trans, and the engine would scream, and it’ll only be like one class higher than the 3.0 Vulcan, but is there any other concerns?
I’m not worried about electronics as I’d either look for the appropriate harness and EEC to run it, or run megasquirt since that was the plan for the 2.3 anyway and I have one already. I know about the magazine ranger sho from 30 years ago, but I’m not certain what all had to be done. Keep in mind this is strictly a race truck. Don’t care about AC accessories, emissions, or even longevity of the trans. Would the oil pan need to be custom? I assume the engine mounts are in the same location? I appreciate input and feedback. I’d still like to do the 2.3 someday because it’s been on my mind so long, it just seems like this is begging for it since the truck happens to have the right trans to bolt to it and the engine could be had for free
P.S. I have an above average equipped shop and good (not claiming great) fabrication skills) . Welders, lathe, Bridgeport, CNC plasma table, etc.
For the last 15 years I’ve planned on swapping a 2.3turbo out of a thunderbird turbo coupe into a bronco 2 for the type of racing we do (I had started a thread on it a few months ago in the B2 section). I have the engine, the proper trans, and the 2.3 to FM 145 bell housing. I got looking further into the condition of the bronco a couple weeks ago and it got rough!! It’s been sitting since about 2009-2010 without being raced or moved. Bad enough to the point I decided it wasn’t worth the effort to use that vehicle, but can use parts off of it. In the ast week I found a good deal on a 99 ranger ext cab with the 3.0 and auto 4x4. Bad rockers, nice frame! Yes it’s starting from scratch since it isn’t already set up with a cage etc, but it’ll be worth it for the good bones (I’m going to make a separate thread regarding cage options fyi).
I can swap in the 2.3 and FM145 into this truck and get this thing rolling in the next few months possibly, but another option is get the cage in it race ready and still run it with the 3.0 Vulcan in it in a much lower class and just see how she does. While pondering the option with my buddy I race with, I casually mention that the only engine I know of that shares a bell housings pattern with the 3.0 is the 3.0/3.2 Yamaha SHO engine. He reminds me (I had long forgotten this) he has a 3.0 SHO engine on a crate in the garage that he believes is good running condition that I can have. Now I know it’ll bolt to the trans, and the engine would scream, and it’ll only be like one class higher than the 3.0 Vulcan, but is there any other concerns?
I’m not worried about electronics as I’d either look for the appropriate harness and EEC to run it, or run megasquirt since that was the plan for the 2.3 anyway and I have one already. I know about the magazine ranger sho from 30 years ago, but I’m not certain what all had to be done. Keep in mind this is strictly a race truck. Don’t care about AC accessories, emissions, or even longevity of the trans. Would the oil pan need to be custom? I assume the engine mounts are in the same location? I appreciate input and feedback. I’d still like to do the 2.3 someday because it’s been on my mind so long, it just seems like this is begging for it since the truck happens to have the right trans to bolt to it and the engine could be had for free
P.S. I have an above average equipped shop and good (not claiming great) fabrication skills) . Welders, lathe, Bridgeport, CNC plasma table, etc.