another "will this work" question

[dgarner08]

ok i have a 1985 ranger 2 wheel drive with a 2.3 5 speed. it sounds like a diesel running and almost runs a stedy stream of oil out of the back main bearing but i love this truck however it is never driven on the road it is just for running around the house..... so now that u have some background i was wondering if i could take a 70s model pinto engine (2.3) and swap it in using the stock transmission or if i could use both the transmission and the engine in my ranger... i dont know if anything will swap or not thats why i need u guys...i dont care about power i just want it to run...any advice...

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Don't quote me on this, but I believe you can use the motor without a problem, you just have to swap the mounting brackets on the block for the one from your Ranger and possibly use the Ranger flywheel/flexplate.

I might be wrong though.... I know you can do that with a "thunderchicken" 2.3 turbo....

 

[Mutant Pony]

The blocks are nearly identical. The Pinto used a front sump pan. If it is an original block it won't have the hole drilled for a rear sump dipstick. Cast iron is really easy to drill, all you have to do is pull the dipstick tube out and find a drill bit that fits snug. Then tap the old hole for an 1/8" pipe plug. Most of the Mustang II blocks I've seen had both holes drilled and a little mini freeze plug in the hole that wasn't used. The cylinder head, oil pan, and pick up are different. You can use the cylinder head but, the ports aren't a very good match. If you want to run a carb, just leave the Pinto intake on it.
If you want a motor that will hold up a little better, Use an '89 or newer Ranger block. The head won't work from the '89 or newer but, the cam is a roller and doesn't have the failure rate of the older cams. Yet it will fit in a '74 pinto 2300 and work just fine.('74 being the first year for a 2300).
Does that help?

 

[dgarner08]

Yea that helps a lot. i am planing on swaping the entire engine but i might just swap some parts around i have a couple pintos sitting around so i figured it would be a cheep swap.

 

[Mutant Pony]

Front sump pan won't work in a Ranger. If you look at your ranger motor were the d-tube goes into the block. Then clean off the pinto block in the same location, you will see if that block has been drilled or not.

 

[dgarner08]

ok... will the stock transmission bolt up with the pinto engine? and can i just swap the oil pans?

 

[Mutant Pony]

Pinto and Ranger even use the same clutch. The motor mounts and bellhousing will bolt just fine. The ONLY difference between the blocks is the dipstick location.

 

[dgarner08]

thanks mutant pony... u have saved me quite a bit of time and money

 

[Mutant Pony]