2.9 to 2.3 Swap Questions

[tobydawg]

I have a 1991 ford ranger with a 2.9 5spd 4wd. I was considering swapping in a 2.3 from a 1992 5spd ford ranger parts truck I have. I know I will need to swap transmissions. Other than that, how difficult will the swap be? How many hours am I looking at? What other information do I need to know before starting? This will be my first swap, so any tips are helpful.

 

[franklin2]

What about the computer and the wiring? It may swap right over, but you will need to research how the wiring will connect up.

 

[Brain75]

I would call that one of the easier swaps (easiest would be like for like exact), since you are staying in the same generation and manual to manual you don't have any headache in the trans wiring (triple function switch). Since the wiring diagrams are same or very similar I would expect wiring to be much simpler (unlike the 2.9 to 4.0 where the wiring changes more than you would expect v6 for v6).

For someone that has never done any swap at all, I would say you could do a like for like on a long (3 day) weekend without any issues - this might make it a bit more since you are doing trans as well.

My first swap ever was a transverse mounted and it took a long weekend plus all the daylight hours left after work every day for a week just buttoning things up.
My 2nd swap was a like for like and I planned all weekend and it was done in a day. (but that was the '48 so you had tons of room in the engine bay - no fighting space issues).

I don't know if there is any tuning differences in the computer, but I would swap it and keep engine+computer a mated pair.
The fuses listed in the owners manual show no differences for the maxi fuses between 4 banger and 2.9 but even that said I would also just take the whole engine harness and keep it a mated pair since you will definitely have differences (4 injector vs 6 injector leads).

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I believe the motor and frame mounts are different. Maybe the rad outlets too. But if you have both vehicles complete that shouldn't be any problem. Make sure the donor engine is running well before the swap.

 

[Brain75]

more than just "running right" I would also compression and leakdown any donor engine before going to the work of pulling it out and putting it in, quick simple cheap insurance against doing a lot of work and then having an issue.

 

[SenorNoob]

Yeah. Kinda like doing the 4.0 swap. Since they are both the same generation, the engine harness should just plug back into the dash harness. 91-92 might have changed something there but I would bet not.

 

[Brain75]

Pretty sure 90 till the end of the generation is all the same body/chassis fwiw, not 100%, just "pretty sure" (they added Daytime Running Lights to the harness in 1990).

 

[tobydawg]

Thanks for all the help. Brain75, what do you mean by a leakdown of the engine?
Another question; should I even do the swap? I know I am losing horsepower going to the 2.3, but the 2.9 is less reliable from what I understand. I have also read that the 2.3 can be modified relatively easily to make around the same horsepower as the 2.9, and that the block and stock internals are good to about 300. Should I rebuild the 2.9?

 

[Brain75]

How To Perform A Cylinder Leak Down Test

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[tobydawg]

Thanks!

 

[franklin2]

Thanks for all the help. Brain75, what do you mean by a leakdown of the engine?
Another question; should I even do the swap? I know I am losing horsepower going to the 2.3, but the 2.9 is less reliable from what I understand. I have also read that the 2.3 can be modified relatively easily to make around the same horsepower as the 2.9, and that the block and stock internals are good to about 300. Should I rebuild the 2.9?

I like my 2.9, it has been a good engine. I did have rust problems in the coolant system and had to pull the engine and replace the freeze plugs because they were rusted and leaking. That is when I found one of the cylinder heads cracked, so a set of ebay cylinder heads and it has been good. Never have touched the bottom end, and it has always had good power and never burned any oil. The only hassle I see with this engine is the valve covers leaking. Every 3 to 5 years you have to replace the valve cover gaskets to keep the oil leaks down to a reasonable level.

 

[Shran]

I have a 1991 ford ranger with a 2.9 5spd 4wd. I was considering swapping in a 2.3 from a 1992 5spd ford ranger parts truck I have. I know I will need to swap transmissions.

Your donor... is it a 4x4 truck too?

This is an easy swap if both trucks are 4x4. If your donor is 2wd, this gets more difficult. In that case you would need to find a 4 cylinder, 4x4 transmission (pretty hard to find) or convert your 2wd trans to 4x4... not difficult but it does require a complete transmission disassembly and finding some parts.

 

[tobydawg]

Your donor... is it a 4x4 truck too?

This is an easy swap if both trucks are 4x4. If your donor is 2wd, this gets more difficult. In that case you would need to find a 4 cylinder, 4x4 transmission (pretty hard to find) or convert your 2wd trans to 4x4... not difficult but it does require a complete transmission disassembly and finding some parts.

The plan was to 4x4 swap the transmission. I know I need the output shaft and output shaft housing. Is there anything else? I was planning on using the electric shift transfer case from the fm146 on my 2.9

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Personally....

Id sell the 2.3 and buy another 2.9.

Trans bell is different, wiring is different, motormounts are different...

Plus youre losing like 45hp and 50 or 60ftlbs.

Just my opinion

 

[Shran]

The plan was to 4x4 swap the transmission. I know I need the output shaft and output shaft housing. Is there anything else? I was planning on using the electric shift transfer case from the fm146 on my 2.9

No, that should be about all you need. Good time to go through and make sure it doesn’t need any other parts.