2.3L ('83-'97) '90 EFI 2.3 into '86

[mapcowboy]

Hello, I have a bad carbureted '86 2.0 (cracked head, worn out). I recently acquired a complete, 8-plug 2.3 from a '90 Ranger with everything - AC compressor, alternator, coils, sensors - everything that was attached to the engine came attached, including the entire wiring harness up to the firewall. It was a running, driving unit with a bad transmission so they parted it out.

Aside from a different fuel tank/pump/lines, what other electronic (or other) pieces am I missing to swap this into my '86? Or should I try to find a marine intake and go to a carb/distributor? That was my initial plan but EFI would sure be nice. This will be in front of a manual transmission, so I'll need to swap flywheel/flex plate). Thanks in advance for any insight. I don't know what I don't know about EFI.

The '86

The '90 2.3 on the way home

 

[SenorNoob]

I agree. EFI is nice. 90 2.3 Ranger is about as simple as it gets too. And it sounds like you got everything you need. Is the EEC connector still on the harness? It would've been just inside the firewall on the passenger side.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I agree, should be doable, '90 is fairly simple, hopefully you got the engine computer out of the cab...

 

[mapcowboy]

Thank you SenorNoob and scotts90ranger. Unfortunately no, I didn't get the computer and the harness does not have the rectangular connector. BUT - The person who sold the engine still has what's left of the Ranger, so there's a chance I can still get it and piece things back together. Wish I'd planned better for this!

 

[SenorNoob]

That sucks. roughly 60 wires to splice then. And a couple of them are sensitive to that. It's definitely fixable. Just have to have clean splices.