help with transmission compatibility

[scotts90ranger]

Yes, bellhousing and I believe flywheel pattern is the same. The oil pan changed slightly in '86 like I mentioned, the seal moved from the block side with a big chunk of cork to the oil pan side and the front seal housing changed with it I'm pretty sure then there's the 2-4 bolts that are different sizes... I've bolted a newer aluminum oil pan on a '85 block just took some work...

Turbo engine differences are less than people think, it's just the oil drainback port on the passenger side then the turbo pistons, everything else is identical...

 

[Mechrick]

The turbo 2.3 was plagued by issues

The carbed version was, EFI versions were ok.

That 1978 2.3 may have a flat tappet cam, if so, swap it for a roller.

The 2.3 Lima has a similar bolt pattern as the 2.0 German four. Only thing that changed is the dowel pin diameter and the top two bolt holes. Early 2.3 had both top bolt hole patterns in the block, later ones deleted the lower holes that matched the 2.0.

The 1978 head is probably an oval port. The D port intake will bolt up and work, Ford was changing the port shape to reduce fuel puddling in the intake runners on a cold startup with carbed applications.

And the big difference is the turbo version of the 2.3L had dished, forged pistons. The cast flat top pistons in the 1978 version won't live long under boost or preignition. Not sure if you intend to keep the turbo, but now you know.

Cheap forged pistons are getting scarce for the 2.3. Speedpro used to make a dished hyper that looked very much like the TRW forgings used in the factory cars. I've used them, they are heavy and stout, probably work fine under mild boost.

I've swapped a T5 into a Ranger chassis. Big thing is all the T5's were cable clutch, all the Rangers were hydraulic. I fangled a slave cylinder from a vintage Kia and AN line to make mine work. Don't forget to install a pilot bearing.