2.3L ('83-'97) 2.5l head on 2.3l

[Brehenkel]

I have been searching for some answers about the dual plug heads and what is involved in swapping a 2.5l head onto earlier 2.3l. I have a 90 ranger dual plug head and building a new engine for it since it is getting very tired with 345k miles on it. I have a 94 2.3l setting that I am swapping a 2.5l crank into it along with Esslinger long rod kit. I have available a 2000 2.5l head that I was thinking of putting on there with a cam ground by Comp. From what I am reading do I just use the intake from the 2000 2.5l along with the head? Also It seems like there are a few other mods that need done as far as brackets, is that correct? Staying with the obd1 setup and just the crank sensor will I run into any other issues. Want to see if its worth getting the better flowing head on there. Thanks for any help.

 

[scotts90ranger]

The main thing you will need to do is make a mount for the DIS module, on my turbo '90 I sandwiched a piece of 1/8" aluminum plate between the upper and lower intake and screwed it to there with some heat transfer paste ... the important thing is use only the 3 screws that are used from the factory (why there's 4 holes and you're only supposed to use 3 is beyond me...) and the important thing, the module needs to be grounded! That little fact is what lead to me rolling the '90, it would randomly stall when a capacitor got mad or something but then restart and run fine for a long time... added a ground wire and it was hunky dory...

The only other dumb thing I can think of is the fuel rail on a '00 is returnless, would either need to run an external regulator or find a '96-97 fuel rail, unless the '90 is the same which I doubt...

 

[Brehenkel]

well I ended up converting a early dual plug head intake to fit a 2.5l head. Mounted up to a bridgeport and slotted the holes to move it upwards and align the ports from top to bottom. Cut a slot in the 2.5 head on the mill to pass water into the bottom of the intake like the first version intake. So now all my stuff will stay original to the truck. Put studs in the head holes wrapped with clear packing tape and filled the excess slot with high temp JB weld just so the intake locates in the proper place. Once cured I will touch up the sides of the ports to finish aligning the sides even though not much to remove.