Lima 2.3 EFI to Carb Questions

[YungICY]

I have an 85 ranger lima 2.3 efi. My motor runs great but leaks oil like crazy and needs just about every seal replaced. I'm looking into picking up another motor that I can work on/rebuild over the next little while to eventually swap out with the one in the truck. However I would like to convert it from efi to carb. I know my way around cats pretty well but when it comes to technical data type stuff in clueless.

My truck is my only vehicle and thus my daily driver. That being said I would like to be at or above 125 hp with the new motor without taking away from the reliability of it.

Basically I'm looking for suggestions/ advice on what numbers I need to crunch or maybe even just a clear cut setup that works well.

Also I don't make/have a lot of money so I'm looking for something relatively cheap.

Thank you in advance.

 

[YungICY]

Just look at how purdy it is.

 

[Mark_88]

Cool video...I saw that somewhere else but not sure when...

I have the same problem with my current engine...oil leaking...but it needs rings...I was going to build one up but couldn't find one that would work as a stand in till I got the other built.

That intake looks good...was it totally fabbed from scratch or did you use a base section from another intake?

I think it would be very helpful for others if you had some documentation on that intake...but, then again, you might be able to market it if you designed and built it...not that there is much of a market for carbed applications...but might be worth considering.

 

[YungICY]

That video isn't of my set up unfortunately. Thats just what im trying to achieve.

I think one of the comments on that video they said they used the flange (if thats what its called) from another manifold and and built the rest of it from there. I could be wrong though.

My main goal is to get more HP as my truck is slowly coming along as a prerunner and that stock 75ish HP doesnt like to carry the extra weight along with the 32" tires (stock tire size was under 25".) and my mileage is greatly suffering.

 

[Kenneth S]

The engine in that video is a 8 plug head (hence the home made intake), on your 85 4 plug head swap the ignition system to a Duraspark, and intakes are available. Here's my EFI to carb swap.

If you have power brakes, and are looking for a cheap intake a cast iron OMC 2.3 boat intake manifold works great (it's what I used on mine). Then all you need is a Rochecstor 2bbl carb to Holley 2bbl adaptor. The OMC intake (found mine on ebay for $40.00).

If you don't have power brakes a 1979, and later Mustang 2.3 intake is a good for a low budget setup.

 

[ricardo93]

so since the efi and emissions is ran/controlled by the ecm for swapping it out wouldn't it be possible to leave the ecm itself but delete the high pressure electric pump and the wiring for the efi out of the computer?

i tried checking the tech section for the pinout but the article won't open up niether will the swap article section and since my motor will be put back together by the end of the month i would really like to know the answer to that question so please and thank you

 

[adsm08]

Since the computer controls very little aside from the fuel injection stuff in these old trucks if you delete the injection system there is really not much point in keeping the computer. But I seriously doubt you will get past California Emissions inspection if you converter over to a carb.


Also, to Icy, you said you want to convert to a carb and not lose reliability vs the existing setup. Can't be done. EFI is markedly more reliable than a carb.

 

[Kenneth S]

I changed my 87 from efi to a carb, it runs better, and more is reliable than the efi while getting the same mileage so it can be done. Depending on what state you live in they may not like the carb swap.

 

[Mark_88]

I looked at the differences years ago...EFI has about 10 more HP on stock engines of the same year...that was the only advantage I saw...as nice as that would be, a proper build and good parts on the intake will get you about the same or better HP with a carb...but it will initially cost more...

Biggest down side side of carbs is...they are out to get you...emissions are much worse because they are less fuel efficient and create more smog...and second biggest is get a carb that is easy to maintain...not one that needs adjustments unless you really know what you are doing or want to spend the time to fully understand them before you start playing with them...a simple wrong adjustment can steamroll into needing to replace an engine long before it should...

Ask me how I know this...

 

[ricardo93]

Well from what I understand about smog its done by the year of the vehicle, and from what I understand about 86 limas is that they did have a carb'd engine and I can use the excuse I came across this inexpensive motor bought andbolted it in, but iI can also get it tested and find out what I need to adjust and it will be legal... or I can go back alley style Lol




but my main question is can I leave the computer in? Cuz just removing the e pump and pin would be very simple for me to do

 

[Mark_88]

The wiring for a carb is much simpler...but different. A carb needs a different fuel pump with less pressure...the rest of the wiring is probably similar (lights, charging, and others) but the carb engine needs an Ignition module that usually has two or three plugs...

I went from FI to carb but to do so I took out the original wiring including the computer and put in the wiring from my 2.0...this was done in a different truck from what the 2.0 came in originally...

So, you don't have to remove the actual computer, but you will need to change the wiring harness that has the proper connectors for the ignition module (controls the coil) and also to change the distributor to use the connector from the module...also need to remove the fuel pump from the gas tank and put in a simple pickup and fuel gauge sender...from a 2.0 or other carbed truck (early 2.3 would work).

The fuel pump needs to be attached to the block or use an electronic one that puts out 4-5 psi only...I have one that puts out 4 -9 psi and they are still available new for about $50...

There may be a way to incorporate the EFI harness, but I don't know how to do it...maybe someone else who has done it could post how that's done...

not really much work to it...if you tear the dash apart to replace the entire wiring then it gets a bit time consuming but, overall, I think it's worth it...

 

[stateranger]

You also need all the emissions items that came on the carbed engine and I believe you may also need the computer.

 

[YungICY]

Luckily I don't have to worry about smog emissions. But I just thought of something that would kinda relate to Ricardo93's questions. I currently have an afr gauge hooked up to my o2 sensor. When I get everything put together with a carb how would I go about keeping my o2 sensor working so I can use my afr as a tuning tool.


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[ricardo93]

Well I was told that the high pressure pump is in line and that there is a low pressure pump in the tank and that would work for fuel... so if I get the computer from a 2.0 and swap it in and change the pin set up it would work?

 

[Kenneth S]

Where I'm at, my 87 is good as long as they see it has the egr, and the cat on it (but they don't check to see if they actually work). On mine I pulled the ecm, and all the wiring that went with it, then I found a wire that had 12v with the ignition on, then ran a wire from it to the tank to run the in-tank pump (it's only as complicated as you make it).