Somebody please help me

[bmax77]

I have an 88 Ranger that has an 2.3 L "A" engine in it it has a thrown rod threw the block, it is fuel Injected. I have bought an 83 2.3 engine that is carbed, Can I change the intake from my truck and just change the block and will it fit exact or will there need to be mods to it. Or can I change the whole head and will it fit. Not sure how to progress. Any help will be great. All the 2.3 blocks are the same RIGHT?????

 

[Plum Ranger XLT]

You should be fine if you swap the heads over.

 

[adsm08]

Yes and no. Plum is right, you should be just fine. If you swap the head it should be and exact plug and play swap.

All 2.3 blocks are NOT the same. After they switched back to the 2.3 from the 2.5 it's a completely different engine, block and all.

 

[bmax77]

When did they switch from 2.3 and 2.5 as you were saying. I have an 83 and an 88 both are straight up four cylinders with 4 plugs and distributor ignition. one is a carb model and the 88 is a fuel injected. The valve cover on the 83 is blue and the one on the 88 is black, Do you think I am still ok?

 

[The purple one]

Yes you will be fine.

 

[Mark_88]

Just make sure to take out the manual fuel pump and plug up the hole...or take the pump out and remove the lever that drives it...not that it will make much difference in HP, but it might be less noise...

You will have to swap the distributor from the 88 to the 83 block also...and they shop swap out just fine...but I'd check that first before doing anything else...

 

[bmax77]

Thank you for your help, Souund like a head swap is in order. When the engine threw the rod it looks like it pitted the head a little as there are a few indentions I can see from the bottom but the valves look ok. Will the indentions make a difference in anything as long as it didn,t bend the valves. the indentions are in the area where the flats where the piston comes closest. there are none on the valves them selves . What do you guys think.

 

[adsm08]

When did they switch from 2.3 and 2.5 as you were saying.

Oh, some time around the turn of the century. I don't remember the exact year.