2.3L ('83-'97) 86 to 95 motor swap

[Gavin H. Phelps]

Hello, I have a 86 ranger 4x4 with the 2.3l inline 4 and the motor is shot and I’m looking at a 95 2.3l comp engine. I was just wondering if those motors are plug and play?

 

[RonD]

No they are not

2.3l SOHC Lima engine block lost its distributor hole in 1994, I have read 1992, but its for sure not there in a 1995 2.3l block

 

[Gavin H. Phelps]

so if were to get a motor up to 92 it should work?

 

[Gavin H. Phelps]

and also if it does work what would i do about the 8 spark plugs? The motor that came out of the truck has 4.

 

[scotts90ranger]

That's only one of the issues unfortunately, unless your cylinder head is salvageable...

the '85-88 fuel injected engines would be ideal and bolt in, in '89 the 2.3L changed to twin spark plug cylinder heads that changed the intake manifold bolt pattern and port spacing and whatnot (exhaust has been the same forever...) and the '89 up manifold doesn't have enough clearance for a distributor, as much as I like DIS going to it would be a pain without a parts rig...

 

[Gavin H. Phelps]

okay, good to know thank you. i think im just going to stick to rebuilding the motor that i currently have. thanks for the knowledge about the different blocks and heads.