1998 Ranger 2.5L to 1988 2.3L???

[nikolas812]

I have a 98 ranger with a 2.5l motor that has a spun a bearing.

My question is. I have a rebuilt 1988 2.3 sitting in the garage. Can I use it?? Can I swap everything external from my 2.5 to the 2.3 and be okay? Intake, oil pan, accessories and wiring and such??

I was going to pull my truck in the shop tomorrow and pull out the 2.5 and start swapping parts over to the 2.3. I have done a lot of searching but have not found out exactly if this will work. So far the only thing that the 2.3 didn't have originally was a camshaft position sensor and and I think the oil pump is different???

Please help if anybody knows. I'm starting on this in the morning.

Thanks

Nik

 

[Mark_88]

I would gladly trade you a 98 2.5 with 60,000 kilometers on it for your rebuild 88 since I can't find one. I am working on going the other way...2.3 to 2.5 but that includes major wiring and possible dash issues...yours should be simpler, but...

As far as I know, from what I've read, you could swap the 2.5 head onto the 2.3 short block and just use everything...but you probably would need to drill holes for the crank sensor...and maybe the power steering bracket...but I think they had a very similar PS bracket on the 2.3...although with the oil pump where it is on the 2.5 it may be quite different and you can't work the oil pump into the 2.3 block.

There may be other complications but I'm only just learning about the 98 2.5...

 

[Mikel89us]

Simply, no....

The 88 2.3 does not have the correct crank sensor mount, and none of the sensors match up, you could try to convert the 2.3 to work with the 98 computer, but its going to be more work than its worth..

Is buying a set of bearings and checking the crank out of the picture? That's what I would do, and it shouldn't be very hard to do. Even if the crank is messed up, you can have it welded and re ground. Or even just turned down for .010" under sized bearings.

 

[nikolas812]

I would gladly trade you a 98 2.5 with 60,000 kilometers on it for your rebuild 88 since I can't find one. I am working on going the other way...2.3 to 2.5 but that includes major wiring and possible dash issues...yours should be simpler, but...

As far as I know, from what I've read, you could swap the 2.5 head onto the 2.3 short block and just use everything...but you probably would need to drill holes for the crank sensor...and maybe the power steering bracket...but I think they had a very similar PS bracket on the 2.3...although with the oil pump where it is on the 2.5 it may be quite different and you can't work the oil pump into the 2.3 block.

There may be other complications but I'm only just learning about the 98 2.5...

I would. But I think I'll just do what I intended with the 88 and build a turbo motor with it... I'll just buy a crank kit for the 2.5 and call it a day. Thanks for the response. Probably saved me a lot of grief.

Nik