2.0 vs 2.3 heads?

[JoeCanada]

Trying to settle an argument here...are the heads for the early (83-88) 2.0 and 2.3 engines identical? I know the blocks are identical, aside from one being overbored.

 

[Kenneth S]

The blocks are identical except the bore, a 2.0 can not be bored out to the same size a 2.3 (the bores are cast different). The 2.0 head has smaller valves and combustion chambers than the 2.3's, you can bolt a 2.0 head on a 2.3, but you will have a high compression, low airflow head, if you where to bolt a 2.3 head on a 2.0 you will have a low compression high airflow head, if there is enough material in the 2.0 head to flycut the combustion chambers out to install the larger 2.3 valves then you might have a higher compression 2.3 with good airflow characteristics.

 

[Mark_88]

The 2.0 head also had round ports whereas most 2.3 had the D-ports...some had oval ports...don't think I've ever seen an oval port 2.3 though...can't recall...

 

[Kenneth S]

The early 2.3's had oval ports which are actually too big, what they did was "fill in" around 1/4" or so of the floor of the oval intake port (thus making it the infamous d-port head) which in turn didn't hurt the the amount of airflow but increased port velocity making the intake port much more efficient. I have also seen 2.3's with round port heads but I haven't gotten my hands on one to see how much different it is from the 2.0 round port head I have.

 

[ifergusson]

I replaced a 2.0 in an 87 Ranger with a 2.3 from an 86 Mustang.The intake port shape was different but the bolt pattern was the same.I reused the 2.0 intake to keep things simple and made up an adapter out of some thin plate aluminum.

 

[Mutant Pony]

The car in my avatar (Mutant Pony) has a 2.3 with a 2.0 Ranger head. The head has oversize 2.3 valves installed and has been ported dramatically. I could not find a 2.0 intake that would flow good enough for the engine. I made my own intake out of exhaust pipe/plate steel. It performs extremly well. When I was mud racing it I made a lot of v-8 guys mad at me. I would be in the top 10 of 30-50 trucks. They paid to 4th and I never won anything so, I got bored of it. It has a 2300 header and cam.
The 2.0 EAO engine used in Pinto's in the early '70s was a completely different engine. It shared NO common parts.

 

[JoeCanada]

So in other words, the heads are in fact different; the blocks (almost) identical. Even the intakes are different? Good to know.

 

[Mutant Pony]

People on here have said that some 2300s used the same head as the 2.0. I've never seen one, and I have seen a LOT of 2300s.
So, Your question is too general. There have been a lot of different 2300 cylinder heads through the years. the 2.0 only had one. The 2.0 head and intake will bolt on a 2300 and run.

 

[Mark_88]

Yeah, many parts will interchange between the 2.0 and 2.3...but function is another story...

 

[JoeCanada]

The 2.0 head and intake will bolt on a 2300 and run.

This is basically what I was getting at...can you Frankenstein a 2.0 head onto a 2.3 block and have a running motor.

Based on what Kenneth S said, the problem is that putting on an unmodified 2.0 head would bump up the compression which could potentially be a Bad Thing. I suppose the next question to follow would be, how much is the compression raised by installing a stock 2.0 head?

 

[Mutant Pony]

My car doesn't have ANY problem with detonation which, would be the only problem caused by increased compression. Worst case senario, you would have to upgrade to premium fuel.
I don't know the exact difference in chamber size or the amount that it would raise compression but, the difference is small.

 

[Mark_88]

Not sure if these numbers are correct...I was advised years ago...and the numbers may be off or inappropriate because I'm going from memory...but the increase is something like going from a 9:1 to 10:1 compression ratio...or was it 10:1 to 11:1...

And, what MP said...running higher octane would help...

For more info than you'll ever want on Compression Rations

 

[Kenneth S]

Esslinger engineering used to make an adaptor plate to put a "german 2.0" intake on the 2.3's many years ago, the german 2.0 had the best flowing intake (outside of a dual side draft weber setup, which I also happen to have). Now if I could just find that book.