2.3L ('83-'97) 2.3 l developed knocking and misfire

[scotts90ranger]

If you wanna use the 97 engine, couldn't you just let the cam sensor hang out? And swap the 93 crank sensor and housing to the newer engine?

Doable but a couple people that have done it say it isn't recommended, you have to drill a couple holes in the front of the engine that are in the area of the relocated oil pump on the '95 up engines...

Did you say you could feel air going between the cylinders on 3 and 4? If it's just the head gasket pulling the head isn't horrible other than taking the intake manifold off, I did it on my '90 in my driveway a number of years ago... and that's inconvenient being a turbo and lifted on 35" tires... The head from the '97 "might" bolt on and work but the intake manifold is different but if you keep the intake everything else should work I think with keeping as much '93 stuff as possible... chances are the head is just a little warped on the '93, if you can find someone to deck it I bet it would be fine...

 

[ccaissie]

Thanks, but I don't do truck repair as a hobby, and just want a working pickup.

I think I won't get into the engine details and just swap out the engine/tranny units wholesale, and skip the 93/97 sensor, head removal, gasket, and timing belt project.

Pulling the whole rig looks easier and cheaper than all that swapover. Next month. In the meantime I'll use it to haul firewood and finish the chores here. It does run and it does move....