Problem with new head

[Johnnyboiranger22]

Hi all so i purchased a new ranger head 91 and i was getting ready to put it on and i realized the ports are differemt on the intake manifold? is there anyway i can still use it?

 

[Mark_88]

do you have the gaskets for the intake, exhaust, and head to compare them with the ports?

If they line up you can probably use it without any problems. If you're not sure take pics of the gaskets sitting where they should go and post them...no other way to give that kind of advice without checking the original gasket set to the new head.

That's how I do it...others might have better suggestions..

 

[adsm08]

Mark's method is how I would do it too.

 

[Johnnyboiranger22]

do you have the gaskets for the intake, exhaust, and head to compare them with the ports?

If they line up you can probably use it without any problems. If you're not sure take pics of the gaskets sitting where they should go and post them...no other way to give that kind of advice without checking the original gasket set to the new head.

That's how I do it...others might have better suggestions..

Its not letting me post it on here for some reason the gaskets dont line up when i bought it it was for 1991 ranger 2.3 idk why the ports are different im not familiar with this engine i just bought it a few weeks ago.

 

[Mark_88]

Can you try to send me a PM with the images attached to that or is it telling you the images are too large?

Only other thing I could suggest is that if the gaskets are not lining up you either have the wrong head or the wrong gaskets and you might contact the people who sold you the head and/or gaskets to get them to confirm...if not a store then you may need to find another head if they won't take it back or exhange for the proper head/gaskets.

There are at least 3 different Ford 2.3 engines and they are not anywhere close to each other...the Ranger version up to 1997, the Tempo version that was transverse mounted, and the newer duratech version in later model Rangers...you may have gotten parts mixed up...

Did you try flipping the gaskets over and around? They will not be symmetrical both ways and the first time I did a head I was confused about how they lined up.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Mark, you're throwing too many unrelated 2.3L's to the mix... there's that many different intake port setups just for the 2.3L Lima engine alone... There's Oval, D and the dual plug just on the Lima 2.3/2.5. The exhaust ports are the same on all Lima engines.

First off, the gasket sets don't really match the ports, the gasket ports are almost always about 1/4" bigger than the head or the intake on the gaskets I've used, check that the bolt pattern for the intake matches the pattern on the head and the intake manifold, that is going to be your main telltale as the bolt pattern on the different intake patterns are all different. Also, the gasket ports tend to be slightly differently shaped than the head or the intake.

If the gasket doesn't match the head or matches one and not the other, you have a wrong part, if there's no spark plug holes that's a dead giveaway as a '91 will have 8 spark plugs... If the original didn't have 8 spark plugs then someone has been into that thing before...

 

[Mark_88]

Mark, you're throwing too many unrelated 2.3L's to the mix... there's that many different intake port setups just for the 2.3L Lima engine alone... There's Oval, D and the dual plug just on the Lima 2.3/2.5. The exhaust ports are the same on all Lima engines.

Yes, true and I didn't want to confuse the issue with too much information...but short of seeing what he has including the gaskets we can only speculate and try to offer reasons why it might be a 2.3 head but not necessarily the one he needs.

Which a pic would clarify faster than a thousand words...

 

[Johnnyboiranger22]

Mark, you're throwing too many unrelated 2.3L's to the mix... there's that many different intake port setups just for the 2.3L Lima engine alone... There's Oval, D and the dual plug just on the Lima 2.3/2.5. The exhaust ports are the same on all Lima engines.

First off, the gasket sets don't really match the ports, the gasket ports are almost always about 1/4" bigger than the head or the intake on the gaskets I've used, check that the bolt pattern for the intake matches the pattern on the head and the intake manifold, that is going to be your main telltale as the bolt pattern on the different intake patterns are all different. Also, the gasket ports tend to be slightly differently shaped than the head or the intake.

If the gasket doesn't match the head or matches one and not the other, you have a wrong part, if there's no spark plug holes that's a dead giveaway as a '91 will have 8 spark plugs... If the original didn't have 8 spark plugs then someone has been into that thing before...

So not realizing the head has only 4 spark plugs defiantly cant use that and is wrong part the guy sold me a wrong head off ebay luckily i purchased a used one along with it and that one fits and has 8 plugs i dropped if off and having it cleaned and mag for 80$ will have it back monday so i can finally get this done, thanks for all your help.

 

[tomw]

A four plug head will work, but you may get complaints from the emissions system. You'd just install and use the exhaust side coil pack, and I guess, unplug the driver side coil pack. The drivers side plugs are not used 100% of the time, as an emissions helping device (expensive way to go..., but I'm not an engineer), similar to the Nissan NAPS-Z engine configuration. Of course, the intake port shape and size have to be considered.
tom

 

[scotts90ranger]

My Ranger is running on just the exhaust coil with DIS and it does work fine, but the main issue is his intake manifold doesn't bolt up... Of all the intake changes on the 2.3L Lima all had a different bolt pattern...

Glad it is on it's way to being sorted out, if you did have the mating intake manifold I could walk you through getting it working, but will save that for now as I've typed it before...

 

[Johnnyboiranger22]

My Ranger is running on just the exhaust coil with DIS and it does work fine, but the main issue is his intake manifold doesn't bolt up... Of all the intake changes on the 2.3L Lima all had a different bolt pattern...

Glad it is on it's way to being sorted out, if you did have the mating intake manifold I could walk you through getting it working, but will save that for now as I've typed it before...

Thanks! Im still intimitaded buy all the parts thats are off i really need a 91 2.3 ranger engine picture to really help i have the book which i know how to put most of it on but im the "nervous" type that i always triple check stuff.

 

[Mark_88]

Have you checked the on-line manual? They usually have those blow out diagrams that show where bolts and parts go.

If that doesn't work for you there are thousands of images on the internet...and many YouTube videos...

There may even be a few members with extensive documentation of a head swap that you can look up.

Searching this site might get you all you need...if not post up requests and you will be surprised at how many people respond...do it in the General section to get a better response...


EDIT:

I just checked and there are diagrams and even instructions to follow (on different pages) that you can download and print out for reference. If you don't have a printer at home go to a Library and they charge 10 cents a copy..make dupes or triplicates of them because your hands will get dirty..

 

[Johnnyboiranger22]

Have you checked the on-line manual? They usually have those blow out diagrams that show where bolts and parts go.

If that doesn't work for you there are thousands of images on the internet...and many YouTube videos...

There may even be a few members with extensive documentation of a head swap that you can look up.

Searching this site might get you all you need...if not post up requests and you will be surprised at how many people respond...do it in the General section to get a better response...


EDIT:

I just checked and there are diagrams and even instructions to follow (on different pages) that you can download and print out for reference. If you don't have a printer at home go to a Library and they charge 10 cents a copy..make dupes or triplicates of them because your hands will get dirty..

I received word today that the other cylinder head is cracked seems i cant get a break no where. I wonder if i can use 4 plug design

 

[Johnnyboiranger22]

My Ranger is running on just the exhaust coil with DIS and it does work fine, but the main issue is his intake manifold doesn't bolt up... Of all the intake changes on the 2.3L Lima all had a different bolt pattern...

Glad it is on it's way to being sorted out, if you did have the mating intake manifold I could walk you through getting it working, but will save that for now as I've typed it before...

Im going to check today to see if i can gget it to line up hopefully i can i just want to drivd my truck i bought for weekeneds already. The guy called ans told me the 8plug i got is cracked right at the exhaust side and its unrepairable.

 

[Mark_88]

Im going to check today to see if i can gget it to line up hopefully i can i just want to drivd my truck i bought for weekeneds already. The guy called ans told me the 8plug i got is cracked right at the exhaust side and its unrepairable.

Depending on where you bought it, they might exchange it or give you a credit...always a good idea to check return policy.

Are you aware that these engines were also in the Mustangs? The 91-93 mustang 2.3 had the 8 plugs...