88 2.3L into 87 B2

[John Smith]

I'm starting on a project to put a 2.3L into an 87 B2 w bad 2.9. I have a good donor ranger w all stuff available to make it work i think..my question is since I don't have the 2.9 out yet..what are the chances that this B2 has some appropriate holes already in the xmember for the 2.3 mts? I will remove the 2.3L mts form the donor...

I guess trial and error may solve the issue for me but any experience anyone has on this swap would be kewl...even a thread...

I know it's a rare swap but i have my reason of course....anyway any threads or history from anyone would be appreciated....

Regards:

 

[177CIOfPureLove]

The mounts should be there, or at least very easy to put there. The 4x4 x-member is the same as the one in the ranger, if the ranger is 4x4. Might have to order mounts from a 4cly 4x4 ranger. The swap will be very interesting.....hope gas milage isnt your reasoning....you will probably be on the skinny pedal much more to get the thing to move. . . but I say go for it either way. I have done some crazy stuff with those 4 bangers and there pretty tough. Is it 4x4? Could be kinda like a jeep. Those 4 cyl 4x4 trans are hard to come by...

 

[John Smith]

thanx 4 the getbak..

I actually still have the donor. The mts are a little hard to get at but i hope to have them out saturday. I really just stumbled on to this donor on craigslist. The trany is all complete...and it just had a new clutch put in it. (the disk has all the printing still intact..) yes it's a 4x4..

I will put forged pistons in...but i don't intend to turbo right now...

i hope to get the 2.3L motor mts out and I'm just wishing they'll pop right in inplace of the 2.9 mts..but i guess we'll see....Im dropping the cyl head off to an engine shop 2marrow to get it set up but the build will probably take me a few weeks...

Do you think a carb could b adapted to the lower efi manifold....I may even duraspark this..

an economy is'nt my reason..mostly rock solid reliability..and simple..and easy.....

 

[BogusSVO]

yes there is a carb adapter made, a 1 inch and a 2 inch.. they are about $100 shipped.. Racer walsh has them.... and will take the old motocraft 2bbl (390 cfm or 500 cfm) or a holly 4412

then they do have a 4bbl one also, use a holly 390cfm dbl pumper on the 2.3

you will have to plug the fuel injector holes, 1/4 npt pipe plugs work well..... but 4 Nitrous nozzles work even better!!

 

[John Smith]

good to hear...

yes there is a carb adapter made, a 1 inch and a 2 inch.. they are about $100 shipped.. Racer walsh has them.... and will take the old motocraft 2bbl (390 cfm or 500 cfm) or a holly 4412

then they do have a 4bbl one also, use a holly 390cfm dbl pumper on the 2.3

you will have to plug the fuel injector holes, 1/4 npt pipe plugs work well..... but 4 Nitrous nozzles work even better!!

i'm just formulatin a plan on the engine build..i have all the puter stuff..but I may just carb it at first...and if i can put a carb on that lower...kewl....

i have a new 2150 ...would it fit?...way over jetted i know...

pm me about your wishes on your adapter...we should chat..

 

[John Smith]

This sounds fun

you will have to plug the fuel injector holes, 1/4 npt pipe plugs work well..... but 4 Nitrous nozzles work even better!!

Interesting

 

[alyoko]

this is the kind of swap i was thinking of doing as well, and almost for the same reasons. Did Ford make some 4cly 4X4 rangers? I think they were last made upto 1996. They had the hybrid D35/28 front axles. Good amount of snow here in the winters (canadian) and the driver's here have more money then smarts. I am really contemplating the "KISS" truck (Keep It Simple Stupid) soild, simple, easy on the wallet to keep on the street. I'll keep watching this thread to see how it goes - not alot of info on going SMALLER - seems to always be about the CUBIC INCHES

 

[PetesPonies]

No 2.3 4X4s.

 

[rangertroy]

how did this come out?did the motor mounts bolt up?i doing a 2.3 turbo swap into my 2.9 powered 2wd.

 

[John Smith]

I haven't visited this project for a while..

Actually the B2 is now finally in line waiting to get some work done. I had the 2.9 Engine and tranny removed so i now can get to work on the mounts and make a few mods to the engine bay. Looks like the 2.3mts will bolt right in..I'm actually working on that this week..I have removed the fm145 trans mount supports to re-attach them in the "rear" set of holes for the m504x4 2.3L trans. i want to cut the floor and use a dummy 2.0 block to set the tranny in hook everything up, then do the motor later...I'm kind involved in making a minimalist project out of it.

My donor 88 2.3 had a bad head (d-port roller cam) and I've now found a couple heads so i can proceed. I'm doing a manual brakes setup swapping in the manual brake pedal and master. The manual steering box is in and seem to be looking fine enuf for the Pittman arm drop...( as it seems now with the engine out at least..I think it'll be fine.

I need to make the decision whether to duraspark it, or use the EFI but I'm missing a few miscellaneous EFI pieces since the head was off when i bought the donor..

I've actually found a complete turbo assbly from an 85" Murkur I'll have to make a decision about the forged pistons next month when I start the block assbly..not sure what I'm gonna do about that yet..I'm doing the head first..

I have a complete 70's Pinto motor carb and all..to drive it around with..
we'll see what this week brings..

 

[rangertroy]

thanks for the info...please post up when you find out about the 2.3 motor mounts.thanks.i know i got to work on the tranny mount because i am converting to a t5 manual.if the 2.3 motor mounts will just bolt onto the perches then this project willbe golden.

 

[fordman2121]

I did a similar swap but in a bII. I took a 2.3T out of an 88 t-bird and bolted it to a TK5 and x-case. I used the oe motor mounts off the v6 just elongated the holes on the cross member. I then had to weld on plate steel to the trans crossmember to move the mounting pad forward. For the Ignition I used the TFI and locked timing out for now until I spend the money for an MSD. For the fuel I ported the lower intake then welded a 2" 4 barrel spacer on, then bolted on my 4 barrel propane carb. When I get a chance Ill throw some pics up.