Carb problems solved...almost

[Mark_88]

just some trivia in-Hg means inches of mercury. how much pressure it takes to move a column of mercury one inch. dont know if thats any help but now you know

Ahhhhhhh....now I don't understand...

I actually thought it had something to do with HemoGlobin content....lol...I forgot my atomic periodic table...

 

[redgooch]

I have been thinking about converting my 86 2.3 to a carb. I figure it will make it a little more simple. I wouldn't have to worry about all the sensors & things of the sort. I grew up working on cars with carbs & they're a little easier to understand. I just wonder how much I would have to do. Will the stock ignition & brain work with a carb or would I have swap in a carb motor. Maybe just change to aftermarket ignition, would I have to change the intake or just plug the holes where the injectors are now. I have talked to a few people about doing it. Some say it would be good, some say it would be bad. Would the engine make more power or less, maybe a cam swap would help. I don't know any input on this would be helpful.

 

[Mark_88]

There are a few changes you would have to make and the results may or may not be satisfactory to you...a FI engine generally gets better gas mileage and about 10 HP more if you just compare two stock setups...

Best thing would be to get a 2.0 setup from an 87 or 88 Ranger because they were all carbed...no computer to worry about, but you need the complete wiring harness from both inside the dash and the engine compartment...

The distributors may be different too...so getting that would be necessary...

My Ranger was originally a 2.0 carbed so putting a 2.3 and modding that was easy...as long as it has the distributor hole and drive assembly for the distributor you're half-way there...

As far as getting more HP out of the engine, there are a number of things you can do...but, to be honest, if you're going to spend any kind of money on this project you're better off spending it on a turbo because you will get the HP on demand and you will have slightly better fuel economy as long as you don't kick it down every five minutes...

I prefer the carb and the lower ponies though...

 

[redgooch]

I would like to go to a turbo setup, just got to get the money. I did just get my hands on a 5.0 with an auto tranny out of a 94 stang but I don't want to go that route. Maybe I can find someone with a 2.3 turbo that would want to swap. But thanks for the info though. Very useful.

 

[Mark_88]

No problem...turbos are not that hard to find, but you can also have them built by using the stock block and replacing the internals...and drilling the oil return from the head (which they all have pre-drilled with a plug installed)...

I am still toying with that idea...check out the forced induction forum on here as there is a ton of information...

 

[Mark_88]

Another update...

I went to CTC and Princess Auto to find a choke cable...actually bought one from CTC but I took it back because it didn't have the parts I needed so I thought I could fab them...and I did...but now I need to go back to CTC to buy the less expensive choke kit that only has the cable...if I get a chance I will take a pic...it's pretty simple, hope it works...

 

[redgooch]

If you really want to know your a/f ratio you can get a gauge that will tell you that. You would have to weld a bung for an O2 sensor in to the exhaust. That would give you a fairly accurate way to tune the carb. Summit & jegs sell them as kits with everything you would need, but you could probably get them else where too.

 

[Mark_88]

If you really want to know your a/f ratio you can get a gauge that will tell you that. You would have to weld a bung for an O2 sensor in to the exhaust. That would give you a fairly accurate way to tune the carb. Summit & jegs sell them as kits with everything you would need, but you could probably get them else where too.

Yeah, I've heard of those...and my exhaust (shorty header from a 93) already has an extra hole that I could plug something into...I may do that some day if I need it...I set it with the vacuum tester and it responded instantly to any adjustment I made on the a/f screw...which I was pretty impressed with...since I bought the tester just to test fuel pressure because I thought that was the problem originally...

Not a bad investment though...think I paid less than $20 and it's already paid for itself just with shop costs to do the same tests...