2.3L SWAP broncoll

[deathstar182]

Okay before you say I haven't searched it I have for like 2 days.

K so I just aquired a 1985 broncoll it has the 2.8L and the clutch in it has gone to crap, I would like to drop a 2.3L in it (economy reasons) and keep the 4WD (for fun reasons)

from what I've read it eather has the 145 or 144 FM tranny in it, it is a manual 5 speed. I would like to know if I can grab a 4 banger engine and bellhousing and swap it onto my tranny.

I have also heard the 2.3L has the same bellhousing pattern as a 5.0L I was wondering if I bought a 5.0L conversion plate for my bellhousing if it would bolt into that and be good to go (after motor mounts and towers of course)

I could really go for some answers guys, thanks for checking out my thread

 

[adsm08]

I have read it is almost impossible to put a 2.3 in a Bronco II because of differences in how the engine mounts attach to the vehicle. Something about the engine mounts for the V6 attaching to the frame rails and the mounts for the 4-cyl attaching to the engine cross member, with the BII not being equipped with those mounting points.


And the 2.3 definitely does not share a bolt pattern with the 5.0. You could however take a 2.3 bell housing and bolt it to your trans to make a 2.3 work with the tranny.

 

[bobbywalter]

sometimes the left mount is hard to get, i have seen the factory offerings, even the diesel now.


use the 4cyl mounts, and of course a 4 cyl trans, wire it and fire it.

the b2 k member i have seen and worked with were all identical to the 4x4 ranger on top except for a few holes. i dont remember there being a mount difference for a 4cyl 2wd to 4wd, but i cant see why 4cyl 4x4 mounts wont work. the hole differences if they actually had anything to do with the mounts are rectified with a drill.



can you imagine if the 4 cyl actually shared the bell with a 5.0? it would be a different world.

 

[adsm08]

I haven't seen it myself, I just vaguely remember seeing AllanD post on the topic before. I haven't had time to go searching for the post today, I just remember him saying that the 2.3T swap in a BII was almost impossible because of some mounting issue related to the engine. I thought it involved the K-member, but I'm not 100% sure of that.

 

[bobbywalter]

ahhhh.


for that maybe a factory configuration is some sort of issue.


i am not a big fan of most of the factory configurations anyway....their compromises and my goals often require different results.

 

[Mikel89us]

Change the clutch, as much as I love the 2.3's, it will NOT get better mileage with the 2.3 over the 2.8-9. They are rated factory at almost the same mileage.

If you are dead set on dropping in a 2.3, they used a 2.3 in them at one time in 2wd versions. So motor mounts are available, but the trans mount might be an issue. Nit to mention driveshafts..

 

[Kenneth S]

The 2.8 is a good little engine, give it a complete tune up, and you should get very close if not the same gas mileage as the 2.3 (been there, done that)!