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Hey guys, just wanted to post on my recent engine swap.
First,..a little history leading to this.......
I had a 95 Mazda 2.3 with a fried engine.
I had a 93 2.3 engine on hand in great shape but then learned (on here) that the swap wasn't feasible due to the sensor situation on the cam and crank.
Fellow forum member snipecastle2 had a 92 Ranger needing an engine and had what was presumed to be a 96 2.3 engine on hand.
Ofcourse, both engine families were different and so we traded to make our swaps possible on each of our trucks.
My 93 in his 92.....and his 96 in my 95.
Upon further inspection after the trade, I learned that the engine I traded for was not a 1996 2.3 but rather a 1998 2.5L. So once again, I was cussing Ford for their twists in the engine design every few years. But after reading several posts on here (thanks Hardwareman!!)... I learned it was possible and what I needed to get the swap accomplished.
Thought I would share what I ran across regarding this swap.
[1] I read a few other posts that mentioned the 2.5L computer needed to be used for it to run properly. Well,...I used the factory 1995 computer for the 2.3 and it runs awesome. So the 2.5 computer is NOT required.
[2] The 2.5 uses a different upper water neck that has two sensors rather than the single sensor on the 2.3L.... The harness from my 2.3 plugs right into the rearward sensor and the front one I just left unplugged.
[3] The headers on the 2.5L are bulky cast pieces that weighed a ton. I used the lightweight tubular style headers that came on my 1995 2.3L.....which also matches properly with my harness and O2 sensor plug. Exhaust ports on the 2.3 and 2.5 are also identical.
[4] I used the intake manifold from my 2.3L because I am running an automatic and so I have a few extra various pieces here that were not on the 2.5 because it came from a manual tranny truck. I only mention the intake note here to clarify that the ports lign up perfectly and use the same gaskets.
[5] Keep the lower radiator hose on your 2.3L when switching to a 2.5L because they are shaped totally different due to the frame differences on the 98-up trucks. Using the 2.5 lower radiator hose in a pre-98 truck causes a severe angle that almost cuts off the coolant flowing through it.
[6] Use the oil dipstick and tube from the 2.5 because they longer due to the increased oil capacity of the 2.5 oil pan. Also, oil pan clearance on the 2.5 in a pre-98 truck is not an issue.
[7] The oil pressure switch location on the block of the 2.3 has a different setup on the 2.5L engine. It's a simple fix. Just take the switch from the 2.3 and place it in the 2.5 where there is a hose port sticking out in that very spot. The threads are the same.
[8] Keep your engine mounts on your 2.3 as the 2.5 uses a two bolt style instead of the single bolt style found on 93-97 Rangers.
As for any performance difference in this engine over the 2.3 that I had before,...it's hard to say. I am convinced that it pulls overdrive much better on hills at highway speed than the 2.3 did. But as for acceleration and the rest,... I cant notice any difference at all really.
I want to thank castleguy2 (Ben) on here again for being my source of an engine I couldnt seem to find here locally. I know he must feel I robbed him blind after I found out the engine was a 2.5 and not a 2.3 but he's a swell guy and Im sure he will get over it some day. I hope he has great luck with my engine in his ride as well.
And thanks again to Hardwareman on here. Because I was left unsure again as to having an engine I could use until I saw his pics and posts on here concerning his 2.5 swap.
This forum has helped me bigtime
First,..a little history leading to this.......
I had a 95 Mazda 2.3 with a fried engine.
I had a 93 2.3 engine on hand in great shape but then learned (on here) that the swap wasn't feasible due to the sensor situation on the cam and crank.
Fellow forum member snipecastle2 had a 92 Ranger needing an engine and had what was presumed to be a 96 2.3 engine on hand.
Ofcourse, both engine families were different and so we traded to make our swaps possible on each of our trucks.
My 93 in his 92.....and his 96 in my 95.
Upon further inspection after the trade, I learned that the engine I traded for was not a 1996 2.3 but rather a 1998 2.5L. So once again, I was cussing Ford for their twists in the engine design every few years. But after reading several posts on here (thanks Hardwareman!!)... I learned it was possible and what I needed to get the swap accomplished.
Thought I would share what I ran across regarding this swap.
[1] I read a few other posts that mentioned the 2.5L computer needed to be used for it to run properly. Well,...I used the factory 1995 computer for the 2.3 and it runs awesome. So the 2.5 computer is NOT required.
[2] The 2.5 uses a different upper water neck that has two sensors rather than the single sensor on the 2.3L.... The harness from my 2.3 plugs right into the rearward sensor and the front one I just left unplugged.
[3] The headers on the 2.5L are bulky cast pieces that weighed a ton. I used the lightweight tubular style headers that came on my 1995 2.3L.....which also matches properly with my harness and O2 sensor plug. Exhaust ports on the 2.3 and 2.5 are also identical.
[4] I used the intake manifold from my 2.3L because I am running an automatic and so I have a few extra various pieces here that were not on the 2.5 because it came from a manual tranny truck. I only mention the intake note here to clarify that the ports lign up perfectly and use the same gaskets.
[5] Keep the lower radiator hose on your 2.3L when switching to a 2.5L because they are shaped totally different due to the frame differences on the 98-up trucks. Using the 2.5 lower radiator hose in a pre-98 truck causes a severe angle that almost cuts off the coolant flowing through it.
[6] Use the oil dipstick and tube from the 2.5 because they longer due to the increased oil capacity of the 2.5 oil pan. Also, oil pan clearance on the 2.5 in a pre-98 truck is not an issue.
[7] The oil pressure switch location on the block of the 2.3 has a different setup on the 2.5L engine. It's a simple fix. Just take the switch from the 2.3 and place it in the 2.5 where there is a hose port sticking out in that very spot. The threads are the same.
[8] Keep your engine mounts on your 2.3 as the 2.5 uses a two bolt style instead of the single bolt style found on 93-97 Rangers.
As for any performance difference in this engine over the 2.3 that I had before,...it's hard to say. I am convinced that it pulls overdrive much better on hills at highway speed than the 2.3 did. But as for acceleration and the rest,... I cant notice any difference at all really.
I want to thank castleguy2 (Ben) on here again for being my source of an engine I couldnt seem to find here locally. I know he must feel I robbed him blind after I found out the engine was a 2.5 and not a 2.3 but he's a swell guy and Im sure he will get over it some day. I hope he has great luck with my engine in his ride as well.
And thanks again to Hardwareman on here. Because I was left unsure again as to having an engine I could use until I saw his pics and posts on here concerning his 2.5 swap.
This forum has helped me bigtime
