2.3L ('83-'97) 92 exhaust manifold on a 94?

[racsan]

Im thinking of completely replacing my entire exhaust system, manifold to tailpipe, Im having issues locating a manifold, rock auto has no listing for a manifold and fleabay only seems to have a dorman replacement for a 83/92 model year, its fully cast iron, my 94 has a header style, bent pipes welded to a engine mounting flange & the end the converter bolts to. (which has both bolts broken off in). Im thinking the older style cast manifold will work, I doubt I could get the original bolts drilled out & retapped straight. Anyone used a older cast manifold on a “newer” 2.3 lima?

 

[scotts90ranger]

I know they'll bolt to the head, but the question is the DPFE tube and the outlet, I know they changed over the years somewhere but don't remember when... I can get some pictures of the '89 manifold I have in the shop tomorrow so you can compare to what you have...

 

[racsan]

My biggest concern is the angle of the outlet & if its the same. Went out & took a picture. looks like the O2 sensor goes in from the bottom, the dpte thing is on the top. As you can see (maybe) the downpipe is held to the manifold by a 1/4” bolt going between 2 muffler clamps, one on manifold & the other on the downpipe. I may try fixing the manifold first, the broken flange bolts are all thats wrong with it, might be a better flowing part than the cast iron part from earlier engines.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I'll look tonight, I think the main advantage is the 10lb lighter the fabricated version is though... In the 5.0L explorers if I remember right the iron out flowed the fabricated and they were fabricated before cast instead of the other way around on the Lima's...

 

[racsan]

If only the stock internals could take boost, id be real tempted to put a turbo on it. At 160K I know the compression isnt what it once was, adding boost would up the blow-by at the very least. Could be fun though, pricey too.

 

[Blmpkn]

If only the stock internals could take boost, id be real tempted to put a turbo on it. At 160K I know the compression isnt what it once was, adding boost would up the blow-by at the very least. Could be fun though, pricey too.

Dooooo iiiiiiiit.

Thing would take a few pounds no sweat. Keep the boost low enough and you don't even have to worry about intercooling.

 

[racsan]

I know me though, Id want to turn it up “a little more”, then there goes a piston or more. Maybe I should consider a turbo engine build, then swap my tired 2.3 for a boosted one.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I got sidetracked working on my '90 so forgot... maybe tomorrow...

Over the years I've heard a lot and several people say the stock block can handle up to around 5psi boost before having issues, just listen for pinging, if I remember right the consensus was to go up one or two sizes of fuel injector and call it macaroni... just run a turbo with a wastegate (MAF doesn't like blow off valves...) and adjust it to a safe point... my '90 is set for like 12-14psi with a ported head (takes less pressure to get the same amount of air...) and it will ping but I have forged pistons so I don't really care... I've seen the pistons after more pinging than I have now and they don't seem to care... I wouldn't try the same with cast pistons though...

 

[Blmpkn]

I got sidetracked working on my '90 so forgot... maybe tomorrow...

Over the years I've heard a lot and several people say the stock block can handle up to around 5psi boost before having issues, just listen for pinging, if I remember right the consensus was to go up one or two sizes of fuel injector and call it macaroni... just run a turbo with a wastegate (MAF doesn't like blow off valves...) and adjust it to a safe point... my '90 is set for like 12-14psi with a ported head (takes less pressure to get the same amount of air...) and it will ping but I have forged pistons so I don't really care... I've seen the pistons after more pinging than I have now and they don't seem to care... I wouldn't try the same with cast pistons though...

You running 91 or 93?

 

[scotts90ranger]

Highest available in Oregon without being specialty is 91, but it sits a lot and sometimes I'll cheap out and put plus in, and when I go play at high altitudes I don't bother with anything special... my first turbo 2.3L pinged like heck before I realized the fuel pump relay power out wire that goes to the computer went to the octane switch pin on the turbo computer... the pistons looked fine when I rebuilt it later for other reasons. Not that everyone should do what I've been doing I do NOT always have the best ideas...