1984 ranger 2.3 carb help!

[mattt509]

hi I have a 84' ranger 2.3, I'm having some carb issues with starting and what not, the PO has made a serious mess of vacuum lines and wiring and I have no idea where to even begin to sort this mess out, so I would like to pull the feedback carb off and put and older more simple carb on it.
I've read some posts on the ordeal but still left with fitment issues, don't want to pick up intake and carb that doesn't work so I figured I would ask here.
I've found an offenhauser intake and 2 barrel carb off a pinto 2000cc on ebay it appears that it should work but not sure here is some pictures of it. also could anyone tell me if it will work would I be able to mount a holley 350 on the intake?







Thanks in advance

 

[Mark_88]

Not sure from the images...maybe someone who has used this carb can confirm fit...Mutant Pony was on here quite a bit when I first joined and he was knowledgable about the interchanging of the carbs and intakes...like KennethS...and a few others.

Short of them coming on or you contacting them I would say the next best thing would be to get the intake manifold gaskets for the one you have now and lay it over the intake you want to use (if you have it already). If the bolt holes and intake holes line up (as well as the center coolant port) then you have a match...

This looks very much like the carb I have...Motorcraft 5200...but it could be a similar model or Holley knockoff (if not a Holley). There should be a tag on the carb with numbers on it...that will get you the information as to what it is if not known...and allow you to buy rebuild kits.

As for fitting a Holley 350...it might be a drop on fit...get the gaskets and test the layout...

I have an original Ford intake for the 2.3 (same as later 2.0) and it will take a Holley 350 with the adaptor that I have on it now...and it looks like you have an adaptor on yours but the images are not clear enough to tell...I tried to blow the image up but PB wouldn't let me and it jumped all over the place.

So...if you can round up the gaskets you need you can see if the parts will fit using the gaskets to align things.

You might also find information on various and assorted Mustang sites as I have done over the years when the information is not available on TRS.

 

[RangerFabWorks]

i have that intake with 3 carbs. all need to be rebuilt. intake is off a pinto and will work fine. ill make you a good deal on it

 

[colefouche13]

The intake bolt pattern on the ford 2.0 is different than the 2.3, so no, that carb and intake will not work. I am running the 1 barrel without any emissions systems on it. It was free because I didn't buy nothin!

Another pain is that ford used four different cylinder heads with the 2.3 so there are different intake manifold patterns available. It's a pain trying to find an intake manifold that fits the ranger round port cylinder head so I just modified the stock systems. ha.

2.0 intake: http://static.summitracing.com/global/images/prod/mediumlarge/ofy-6001-dp_ml.jpg

2.3 intake: http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2373&pictureid=9302

If you really want an older carb I would suggest switching to an older cylinder head, the oval port head. You could find it on 2.3's out of pintos and couriers. If you can't find one I would be willing to pull one off of a courier but you would need to pay me for shipping and a little bit for labor, haha. I also have an intake manifold for the oval port head I would be willing to sell, it's a standard 2 barrel carb mount, It originally came with a Hitachi carb but I need the Hitachi for the Subaru brat.


If you want to know how to modify the stock system and remove the MCU and all the vacuum lines I would be happy to explain how I did it, it is very simple.

 

[mattt509]

The intake bolt pattern on the ford 2.0 is different than the 2.3, so no, that carb and intake will not work. I am running the 1 barrel without any emissions systems on it. It was free because I didn't buy nothin!

Another pain is that ford used four different cylinder heads with the 2.3 so there are different intake manifold patterns available. It's a pain trying to find an intake manifold that fits the ranger round port cylinder head so I just modified the stock systems. ha.

2.0 intake: http://static.summitracing.com/global/images/prod/mediumlarge/ofy-6001-dp_ml.jpg

2.3 intake: http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2373&pictureid=9302

If you really want an older carb I would suggest switching to an older cylinder head, the oval port head. You could find it on 2.3's out of pintos and couriers. If you can't find one I would be willing to pull one off of a courier but you would need to pay me for shipping and a little bit for labor, haha. I also have an intake manifold for the oval port head I would be willing to sell, it's a standard 2 barrel carb mount, It originally came with a Hitachi carb but I need the Hitachi for the Subaru brat.


If you want to know how to modify the stock system and remove the MCU and all the vacuum lines I would be happy to explain how I did it, it is very simple.

thanks, yes I would like to know how you removed everything with the stock carb if you wouldn't mind. I would rather not have to change the head, was just wanting to switch out intake and carb. But if there is a way to do it with the stock system I'm all ears. I'm also wondering if anyone has been able to put a 2 barrel holley, etc on the stock intake manifold been looking for an adapter but cant find one for a round carb/intake mount.
this is my intake

 

[Mark_88]

You don't need to change the head...just find a different intake that bolts right on and takes a 2 bbl carb. As I mentioned previously, the carb you have (shown, not the 1 bbl) will fit the stock 2.3 intake from the 78 mustang II 2.3 with the stock adaptor. If you want to use the Holley 350 I'm pretty sure it will fit the same intake...(the same footprint as the carb you have).

The intake you have is obviously a 1 bbl and I have not seen an adapter for the 2 bbl anywhere...although someone may have one already built...it just makes more sense to use one designed for the 2 bbl.

The one you showed for the older 2.0 (Pinto 2.0 is not he same as Ranger 2.0) would require the entire engine to be swapped because they are not the same engine and the blocks do not interchange...they are also far less common and may be hard to find if at all these days.

Look for an older 2.3 Mustang II engine...the intake will fit your head without anything more than swapping the intake...

There is more to this but you can answer to the desire for more HP when the time comes...I would try to spare you the time wasted when you realize that the carb intake upgrade will only give you moderate HP gains...and nothing to write home about...

But I'm not as keen on writing novels as I was years ago...

 

[mattt509]

You don't need to change the head...just find a different intake that bolts right on and takes a 2 bbl carb. As I mentioned previously, the carb you have (shown, not the 1 bbl) will fit the stock 2.3 intake from the 78 mustang II 2.3 with the stock adaptor. If you want to use the Holley 350 I'm pretty sure it will fit the same intake...(the same footprint as the carb you have).

The intake you have is obviously a 1 bbl and I have not seen an adapter for the 2 bbl anywhere...although someone may have one already built...it just makes more sense to use one designed for the 2 bbl.

The one you showed for the older 2.0 (Pinto 2.0 is not he same as Ranger 2.0) would require the entire engine to be swapped because they are not the same engine and the blocks do not interchange...they are also far less common and may be hard to find if at all these days.

Look for an older 2.3 Mustang II engine...the intake will fit your head without anything more than swapping the intake...

There is more to this but you can answer to the desire for more HP when the time comes...I would try to spare you the time wasted when you realize that the carb intake upgrade will only give you moderate HP gains...and nothing to write home about...

But I'm not as keen on writing novels as I was years ago...

I understand what you are saying, all I'm really wanting to do is get rid of the previous owners various splices and caps in the vacuum lines and wiring, figured getting rid of the feedback carb would be the best way to take care of that, that way I can do away with all the extra vacuum lines and wiring.

To clear this up I'm not really looking for extra HP just simplicity and a clean looking engine bay. I probably will try to get the Mustang II intake, But I'm also interested in seeing how colefauche13 did his all stock. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

 

[Mark_88]

I understand what you are saying, all I'm really wanting to do is get rid of the previous owners various splices and caps in the vacuum lines and wiring, figured getting rid of the feedback carb would be the best way to take care of that, that way I can do away with all the extra vacuum lines and wiring.

To clear this up I'm not really looking for extra HP just simplicity and a clean looking engine bay. I probably will try to get the Mustang II intake, But I'm also interested in seeing how colefauche13 did his all stock. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

Yes, I did the exact same thing initially. There are other options and some are better than others. My main problem with improving my old carb system was the cost was escalating almost daily and in Ontario Canada they are still very anal about emissions...and my truck was a nice target for them to be so very anal.

If you are thinking of getting more bang for your buck there are ways to do that...it's just not cheap....so better to plan ahead if possible...and I can almost guarantee you that once you get the bug...it will be like your money grew wings and flew...lol

 

[mattt509]

Yes, I did the exact same thing initially. There are other options and some are better than others. My main problem with improving my old carb system was the cost was escalating almost daily and in Ontario Canada they are still very anal about emissions...and my truck was a nice target for them to be so very anal.

If you are thinking of getting more bang for your buck there are ways to do that...it's just not cheap....so better to plan ahead if possible...and I can almost guarantee you that once you get the bug...it will be like your money grew wings and flew...lol

yeah I plan on using it as a daily driver for a year or so while I build up a 302 to put in it, so this engine is just a temp and I'm gonna try to do it as cost effective as possible, I live in Michigan emission tests are nonexistent here. I already have a 96 f150 302, and an 86 Mustang GT 302, so I figure might as well drop one in this too.

 

[colefouche13]

Okay so to start just go to the computer box on the fender in the engine bay on the passenger side. There is a label on it that says "MCU". Start by following those vacuum lines and just take pictures and unplug them. The MCU controls all of the emissions crap on these trucks so also unplug the electricalbum plugs. The feedback on the carb will be unplugged, the O2 sensor all that will be unplugged.

So there is a couple important vacuum lines you still need. If you have a/c there is a line on the throtthe up selenoid on the carb. Keep that. If you have an automatic there will be a line from the transmission that connects to the intake manifold. Keep that. And on the green or yellow vacuum switch there should be a line that connects to the distributor make sure this one stays connected. This is very important. Other than that you can pull all the vacuum lines.

Once all the connectors are off you will have to cut two or three wires that connect the MCU wiring harness to the ECU harness. I'll put pictures up so you know which ones to cut.

So trace the lines from the MCU unplug them and pull the MCU completely out. Once it's out you're gonna want to set your mixture screw because when I pulled my carb it was 4 and half turns out. Now it's at about 2 and half. So set the mixture and it should be ready to fire. I'll give you some pictures.

 

[JamesD]

Little late to jump on this. The carb you have now does not look like a feedback carburetor. Just a plain Jane 1barrel carter. The computer on the side of the fender is for the A/C idle control valve it kicks up the idle when the A/C is on not needed if the A/C is shot. The carb you have will work just fine until you build up your other motor. Carter's are pretty reliable carburetors. Used on many ford applications.