2.3 to old 223?

[Marshall]

I have an old 85 ranger with a 4 banger 2.3. I also have a 61 P350 ice cream truck with a 223 straight 6. Just wondering if the 223 would fit in the ranger at all or if i'm out of my mind.

Also my first post here!!

 

[adsm08]

Well, start measuring.

Straight sixes are usually a tight fit in a Ranger, but length is going to be your biggest issue, and a 223 should be shorter than a 300.

 

[Marshall]

Cool, I heard about folks fittin 300's in em. Once the weather gets nicer I'll break out the measuring tape and have a look see. I'm not really a full blown gear head but I'm learning!

 

[adsm08]

The problem with the 300CID is that from the back of the block to the tip of the fan it is only 4 inches shorter than a Ranger engine bay. So it is longer than a 5.0, but makes less power, so it isn't really that great for a swap.

 

[Captain Ledd]

I think there was at least one that actually pulled off this swap, but that was so long ago it may have even been on the old forums? There was also another that did the 200 I6.