I just bought 1/2 of an 88 ranger 2.3L

[John Smith]

I'm the proud owner of what i hope will have enuf donor parts to start a 4banger/b2 i've been wanting to do.

I've acquired an 87' b2 that pumps air into the radiator..it really runs fine...just has a pressurized radiator..(head problem).and has a great straight rust free body

Instead of putting the 500+ or so in rebuilding the 2.9 I have been curious to drop a 2.3 into one..so i guess i have the parts now...

my question is have i gotten a decent year for the donor?...is the larger journal crank of the older motors desired over an 88?...which if i read right is supposed to have a smaller journal crank.

this engine is still in the truck but the head is off but is all there...it may have bottom end problems...and i can assume a major rebuild..but i don't mind that...if the crank is bad...what would be the most desirable option find an older block?...

I will be in this for the long run and bigger picture...i hope to keep one of these 4 banger 4x4's around till i can't drive anymore...and i like the options for parts for this motor vs: the 2.9 which i still have in another 88 b2...(wifes grocery getter)

I will just mod this 87 w the 4cyl for my hobby project...

as a side note the 88 4x4 trans and tcase are intact and supposedly fine with a new clutch....

anyway any input would be apreciated re: the year of this donor ...

regards:

JS

 

[BogusSVO]

the 88 has the large crank.. the small crank did not come out till sometime in the mid 90's

do you plan on staying NA? or go turbo?

there is not much of a diffrence in the 2.3 short block from 74 thu about 92 or so when they went to the small crank
the 88 efi engines have a crank sensor the earlier ones did not and had a dizzy

 

[John Smith]

I'll just run it NA for now

I actually would like to have just a VERY reliable engine in a b2. I'm kinda partial to a carbed version as well...

I have this 87 that i just bought that i think would be a good canidadate for a simple NA 4 cyl..it didn't come with factory a/c or power windows etc...but has a tach...it isn't an xlt.

I like the idea of the amount of aftermarket parts that seem to be available for this motor..and since it takes up a little less room NA..maybe i could at least get at the plugs to change them...

I wanted the option of a regular duraspark diz if i wanted ..but this has eec-iv of course..and since it wasn't running i HOPE the puter and all is still functioning...

I'm just stripping it now and i see it has and m50 type tranny..not sure what one but i assume the m50-R1?...so maybe i will have all the parts i need to set this 2.3 in my 2.9 powered 87...i guess these m50-r1's may be a little weak?...if run low on fluid?...just learning we'll keep our fingers crossed....

since i prefer the gen1 b2's/rangers....i will want to keep it diz capable....not really a fan of the edis ignition....even though everybody seems to go to that in a 4.o....not interested myself...

thanks for the comeback...

 

[Acme11]

Ok - this is only my 4th post here, but I've had my 2.3fi (1986) for 24 years and 335K miles. Oil changes and tune up items (not very often). It is the most reliable motor I've ever owned. Truck tops out at 75. Whether empty or with 2 pianos in the back (only mod is a set of gas-coilover shocks I needed to handle the load when moving across the country once). Nothing stops it (though a pissy slave cylinder is being a problem at the moment). In fact, I can only think of a single occasion when it didn't start on the very first turn of the key in that entire time (and it was because a small animal had chewed the coil wire). Other than that coil wire (and the tuneup items) everything is as it was when Ford delivered it. OK - there was the starter bendix I had to replace at 300K miles.

So - I'm a true believer. Probably ought to change that timing belt someday.

 

[John Smith]

That's the reason I want to build a 2.3 powered b2....

Ok - this is only my 4th post here, but I've had my 2.3fi (1986) for 24 years and 335K miles. Oil changes and tune up items (not very often). It is the most reliable motor I've ever owned. Truck tops out at 75. Whether empty or with 2 pianos in the back (only mod is a set of gas-coilover shocks I needed to handle the load when moving across the country once). Nothing stops it (though a pissy slave cylinder is being a problem at the moment). In fact, I can only think of a single occasion when it didn't start on the very first turn of the key in that entire time (and it was because a small animal had chewed the coil wire). Other than that coil wire (and the tuneup items) everything is as it was when Ford delivered it. OK - there was the starter bendix I had to replace at 300K miles.

So - I'm a true believer. Probably ought to change that timing belt someday.

I took a 74 pinto to Alaska in the winter of 75. It was so cold that we had to duct tape the fresh air intake...and the heater still couldnt warm up...

that little car never gave me any trouble...

Simplicty in action....appreciate your experience....

I hope to build a bullet proof 4x4 on the b2 platform.....

and the less computer the better....

 

[scotts90ranger]

the M5ODR1 tranny is the strongest put behind these things. Where in Oregon are you? there's a 4x4 version on craigslist for a decent price right now I'm in Salem, work in Tualatin, I have a few parts laying around

while you are in the engine, put a roller cam out of a '88 or newer engine in there, it'll last longer

 

[John Smith]

thnx 4 the info

I'm in the Medford area..and this donor is an 88 ranger 4x4 so hopefully i have what i need...but i haven't got the drivetrain out yet.

the head was taken off and a few of the small parts are missing ...so i may need a few things....

anxious to see what the tranny is about too...again thank for the info..we'll post a few updates in a few days when i see the parts up close....

 

[John Smith]

I ahve the head in my shop now

while you are in the engine, put a roller cam out of a '88 or newer engine in there, it'll last longer

I'll check today to look at that cam...i kinda like the idea of being able to see the cam...and keeping a spare head will be in order i can tell...although the way i plan to use it..I'm sure it will outlast me..

 

[BogusSVO]

well the trans will not bolt to the 2.3, the 2.9 v6 and the 2.3 have diffrent bell bolt patterns, IDK if the 2.9 trans has a removable bell, if so you should be able to swap to the 2.3 bell

doing the turbo swap you may want to concider some more and the EFI is not all that bad to work with

I had to drop the harnes and ecu into my 83 ranger and now that I have it sorted out, I do not have issues....

 

[John Smith]

Just 2 B clear....

This 88 donor ranger is a 2.3L engine and at this time the m50 is still bolted to it..so i think I'm good there...maybe i didn't make that clear in my OP..but yes I'm aware of the bell problem hence my excitement to find a 4cyl 88 donor 4x4 complete..

I don't know much about this "code m" trans but i guess this may be the one that uses ATF?...I guess I'll learn about that as well...

I have a spare tk5 4x4 version and in this 87 B2 that i will put this 2.3 in there is an fm 145 or 146 not sure which....but it has issues..so i was going to have to take it out anyway...

.I've going to change my avatar to show both B2's the blk/slvr "88", and the tan "87"...which will get the 2.3 in time...the 87 has a running 2.9 which is pumping the radiator with air right now..so much so that the water system leaks from from the cap overflow pretty fast..ha!

I suppose I'll use the 2.9 for spare parts on the blk b2 we'll see...It's all mostly a hobby for me...and of course grocery gettin economy....at this point at least....

about the EFI..I will try to use it i think...i have the complete harness from this donor out already..and the puter etc...I'm missing some of the small parts as the head was off of this donor but i have the head and manifold and injectors etc...I may need some reference info to chase how it all goes back together...but the donor stuff was all complete and not chopped up so I'm optimistic

i have some pictures that i took of the engine compartment of an 85 ranger 2.0 equipped i looked at earlier this year...i didn't realize i may need those pics to see how this goes together...we'll see...I'm sure when I'm ready..I'll need some pointers...

 

[BogusSVO]

best of luck with the swap!!

I know of a guy that has the 2.3T off in his B2

remember the 2.3 na EFI is rated to about 110hp

 

[John Smith]

I won't rule out the turbo add

I'm goin to build the bottom end to take about anything so we'll see what the future holds..I used to have a turbo'ed Corvair project ...a 66 180. Turbos are kewl..maybe if i find a donor ..oh well...i really don't want to go EDIS right now...we'll see

For now i just want the reliable small footprint in the engine bay...

thanks for the encouragment...

( I wonder if anyone has added a paxton blower to one of these...looks pretty simple...hmmmm)

 

[BogusSVO]

so your going with the forged pistons and Hbeam rods in it?

check this board out.....

http://turborangerforums.com/

 

[John Smith]

As soon as I get the motor out

I'll have to have the block/crank checked...was running just needed rings...and the guy gave up on having it rebuilt...I have an acquaintance that makes a living here in SO rebuilding engines...we'll get our heads and my budget together and see what's practicle...I can tell this could be an adictive pastime...i used to do this when i was younger....get involved in so many projects....

then i still have to keep my other newly acquired 88 2.9 humming as well...oh well...

O well have to study up on what a guy can do with this EFI 2.4 puter....without getting crazy...TY for the link to the other site....

very neet stuff....

I'm partialy serious about the feasability of bolting on a serpentine ran blower....has anyone done it?...

prolly not cuz the intrigue of the turbo-stang/tbird/cougar is so popular..

I'm thinking more simply....

and yes i expect to get 1HP per C-inch some way or another ultimatley....we'll see...

 

[John Smith]

I think i've got ...

while you are in the engine, put a roller cam out of a '88 or newer engine in there, it'll last longer

a roller cam...just took a peek....pretty sure...