2.3L ('83-'97) Thermostat housing compatibility 1990 2.3l

[Nubs]

Hi, my Ranger's thermostat housing finally gave it up, and it rusted through where the upper radiator hose goes. I'm pretty sure it's a particular part for this model year, and it does not have a sensor on it. Does anyone have any experience with bending the tubing on a later model 2.3L (1992 -97 I think) to where it'll line up with the rest of the plumbing? That's as far as I figure I can do maybe, since the original one is unobtainable at the moment. Thoughts and suggestions are always welcome! Thanks!

 

[franklin2]

Is this what it looks like?

Dorman Thermostat Housing Fits 1990-1991 Ford Ranger 4-Cyl 2.3L Part I

Dorman Thermostat Housing Ideal replacement - this engine coolant thermostat housing directly replaces the original housing on specified vehicle years, makes and models. Durable construction - this part is specifically designed to withstand extreme temperature changes and resist cracking and...

www.1factoryradio.com

 

[bobbywalter]

or this thing

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NOE9021034?cid=paidsearch_shopping_GOOGLE_dmx-Google+%7C+Shopping+%7C+Core+%7C+HeavyUp+%7C+Non-Brand+%7C+Catch-All_ao_heavyup&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22701639738&gbraid=0AAAAADzGEwz4xYQ7eTqiEkPs42VCGCPIh&gclid=CjwKCAjwy7HEBhBJEiwA5hQNoppQRT0wvWK0KEJIH8kFYAIOjPS-fK1aLDfRcbvpcrHSFwpIhQXCVRoCbiMQAvD_BwE

or this critter

83-88 Thermostat Housing 2.0, 2.3L-Broncograveyard.com

shop.broncograveyard.com

 

[scotts90ranger]

The '90 ones look like the newer ones just without a sensor in the heater bypass line... I meant to look into that yesterday since I have a '90 block and the stock '97 T stat housing I took off but I don't have the coil bracket on the '90 engine which I know is one of the issues... I'd look at it compared to my '90 but I modified the coolant lines around the coil bracket since I had to move the coil out a bit to clear the turbo manifold...

I'll check and be back in a bit...

 

[scotts90ranger]

Ok, it took climbing up to my loft to compare with my two old engine cores and opening the hood of my '90 and '97 , but I think I have a solution... You'll need to buy the new style T stat housing and the new style upper radiator hose, the problem is they added 1/4" to the T stat housing side of the upper radiator hose but the radiator ends look to be the same or close enough (I only have chinesium radiators, both read in the ~1.4" range within ~.08" and I converted the '90 to the V6 radiator but has the stock radiator end of that hose)

So 3 parts, new style T stat housing, 3/8" NPT pipe plug for the sensor hole and new style upper radiator hose.

I don't remember what the stock heater hose looked like on the '90 but if it's just a chunk of hose to the heater core like mine you should be good to go.

 

[Nubs]

Is this what it looks like?

Dorman Thermostat Housing Fits 1990-1991 Ford Ranger 4-Cyl 2.3L Part I

Dorman Thermostat Housing Ideal replacement - this engine coolant thermostat housing directly replaces the original housing on specified vehicle years, makes and models. Durable construction - this part is specifically designed to withstand extreme temperature changes and resist cracking and...

www.1factoryradio.com

Negatory, it is similar to the one with a sensor plug, but the angle of the pipe for the heater isn't quite the same., Thank you tho!

 

[Nubs]

or this thing

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NOE9021034?cid=paidsearch_shopping_GOOGLE_dmx-Google+%7C+Shopping+%7C+Core+%7C+HeavyUp+%7C+Non-Brand+%7C+Catch-All_ao_heavyup&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22701639738&gbraid=0AAAAADzGEwz4xYQ7eTqiEkPs42VCGCPIh&gclid=CjwKCAjwy7HEBhBJEiwA5hQNoppQRT0wvWK0KEJIH8kFYAIOjPS-fK1aLDfRcbvpcrHSFwpIhQXCVRoCbiMQAvD_BwE

or this critter

83-88 Thermostat Housing 2.0, 2.3L-Broncograveyard.com

shop.broncograveyard.com

Possibly with a new piece of hose and radiator hose? I'll get a picture of the old one when I get it taken off. It's kind of on oddball. Thank you!

 

[Nubs]

The '90 ones look like the newer ones just without a sensor in the heater bypass line... I meant to look into that yesterday since I have a '90 block and the stock '97 T stat housing I took off but I don't have the coil bracket on the '90 engine which I know is one of the issues... I'd look at it compared to my '90 but I modified the coolant lines around the coil bracket since I had to move the coil out a bit to clear the turbo manifold...

I'll check and be back in a bit...

Yeah, I think that is the issue with just bolting on the later one with the sensor fitting if I remember correctly, it'll bolt up, but it hits the bracket for the coil on the right hand side.

 

[Nubs]

Ok, it took climbing up to my loft to compare with my two old engine cores and opening the hood of my '90 and '97 , but I think I have a solution... You'll need to buy the new style T stat housing and the new style upper radiator hose, the problem is they added 1/4" to the T stat housing side of the upper radiator hose but the radiator ends look to be the same or close enough (I only have chinesium radiators, both read in the ~1.4" range within ~.08" and I converted the '90 to the V6 radiator but has the stock radiator end of that hose)

So 3 parts, new style T stat housing, 3/8" NPT pipe plug for the sensor hole and new style upper radiator hose.

I don't remember what the stock heater hose looked like on the '90 but if it's just a chunk of hose to the heater core like mine you should be good to go.

On mine the heater hose comes to a T by the valve cover, the large hose carries on to the heater core, and the smaller hose goes behind the valve cover, to the intake it looks like. I know that because that little plastic T fitting /reducer is prone to breaking in my particular experience.

 

[scotts90ranger]

FWIW, I ordered the Motorad housing for my '97 and it didn't fit perfect and I had to tweak the tube (sensor hit the timing cover) and it's been working just fine for several months now so I imagine you can tweak things to get them to work. I remember there being a tube and other stuff running to the lower intake manifold on the '90 but it's been 15 years since I moved away from that...