1986 Ranger 2.3 swap or rebuild

[Boltz1011]

Hi, I used to be around here years and years ago, but I eventually sold all of my Bronco 2s. Now I'm looking at buying a 2wd 86 Ranger with a carbureted 2.3L engine that is 'blown up', but not locked up. The truck is in very nice shape, only needs an engine I'm told. I am going to look at it Saturday. My question is, would it be worth rebuilding the 2.3 assuming nothing is too damaged or should I dive straight into a 302 swap? Is the increased weight of a 302 going to be a hindrance just street driving? Open to suggestions.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Carbureted '86 pretty much guarantees a 2.0L not 2.3L... almost all the same parts other than the pistons and rings I believe though so about the same...

It really depends on what their definition of "blown up" is, Limas don't generally "blow up" unless something dumb happens and then it's somewhat catastrophic. Not saying it wouldn't be possible to have stuck rings or a burnt valve...

 

[Boltz1011]

Carbureted '86 pretty much guarantees a 2.0L not 2.3L... almost all the same parts other than the pistons and rings I believe though so about the same...

It really depends on what their definition of "blown up" is, Limas don't generally "blow up" unless something dumb happens and then it's somewhat catastrophic. Not saying it wouldn't be possible to have stuck rings or a burnt valve...

Yeah, that's what I assumed about the carbureted 2.3. Maybe it's been swapped in in the past. I haven't went to look at the truck but it's had a lot of work done.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I know there's a way to tell the difference fairly easily but there's not many Lima people around here anymore unfortunately... Mechanically they're dumb simple and easy to freshen up for those that are comfortable enough, if it just needs a refreshing I wouldn't be afraid of doing one... heck I threw together a turbo 2.3L out of spare parts in my driveway in '15 just doing a dingle ball hone, new rings, ARP rod bolts (not necessary, I just lost a couple rod nuts at 5000rpm and threw a rod so was overthinking it) and new bearings and it still runs great, sure I would have done it better if I could but was on a time crunch...

 

[Boltz1011]

I know there's a way to tell the difference fairly easily but there's not many Lima people around here anymore unfortunately... Mechanically they're dumb simple and easy to freshen up for those that are comfortable enough, if it just needs a refreshing I wouldn't be afraid of doing one... heck I threw together a turbo 2.3L out of spare parts in my driveway in '15 just doing a dingle ball hone, new rings, ARP rod bolts (not necessary, I just lost a couple rod nuts at 5000rpm and threw a rod so was overthinking it) and new bearings and it still runs great, sure I would have done it better if I could but was on a time crunch...

I've done my fair share of work. Not afraid of a rebuild. I've done a 4.0 swap into an 84 bronco 2 in the past. Here's to hoping it's a 2.3 and not a 2.0.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Worst case is you can just put a 2.3L long block under the 2L head which at worst would have smaller valves... block selection from Rangers is fairly open, '86-94 would be easiest, '86 would have a steel oil pan I believe, '87-94 should be aluminum, '89-94 have a different front seal housing but just use the pan and housing that came with the engine...

Cylinder heads get goofy as there's 3 or 4 intake patterns... the distributor hole went away sometime in '94. '86 was the first year of the "small journal" blocks which changes the main bearings and was the year the oil pan gasket changed