want to ditch efi and coil packs

[ericthedean]

can i goback in time? just want to make things easier i only want to see 20 wires under te hood not a hundred and fifty

 

[Mark_88]

The 89 should have a distributor..if not it should have the workings for one...may not have a fuel pump option for manual but you can install an electric one...so, yes, it is something you can do...but you may also need to change the wire harness and maybe loose the low pressure pump in the tank (if it has one)...and not use the high pressure one unless you can put on a regulator that will keep it under 7 psi fuel pressure...

Oh, and you might have to change the intake and find one that works with your head...

If you wanted to and have enough money, you can do this quite easily...or maybe find someone with a similar truck that has a carb and who wants to go FI...just swap trucks...lol

 

[cody93]

it can be done, my truck was a 2.0 originally, now has a 2.3 that was EFI.

2.3 short block
2.0 head
2.0 2bbl intake manifold modified to fit a weber 32/36 (make a spacer and drill and tap 4 holes)
2.0 duraspark distributor wired to a GM HEI
weber 32/36 carb with electric fuel pump


not sure if the low pressure in tank pump will work, provided it has a regulator(webers like around 3 PSI) if not, it can be bypassed by putting in a piece of hose were the pump was. then replace/add a pump to the fuel line mounted on the frame rail thats the right PSI.

since yours is a dual plug head, you'll have to change that out to either a round, D or oval port shaped 4 plug head, either will work as long as you have the matching manifold.
D port is ideal and is found on old mustangs and pintos with holley 5200's, wich are weber clones. you'll want to avoid the 1bbl and "AISAN" carburators, there not worth the hassel. although its not hard to get a weber to fit on a 2bbl asian intake. i choosed the 2.0 aisan intake because its what i had and its ok for a daily driver, has plently of power to cruise at 75mph.

next is ignition, all 2.x's had distributor hole provisions until about 1994, 89 up has a little round rubber plug under the alternator were it should go. you're gona want a duraspark distributor, from a 2.0 ranger or older 2.3. id recommend the GM HEI to run it, its so simple, 4 wires to hook it up, 2 goto the pickup, and the other goto the coil, so simple its like voodoo magic.

all in all, its not hard, good time to get a rebuilt head put on to freshen up the truck too.

 

[cody93]

heres something to make you drool

 

[scotts90ranger]

that's the WORST way to group plug wires...

you have the most trouble free version of the 2.3 in my opinion, the DIS is more reliable than the TFI ignition (if you went back to a duraspark system this wouldn't be an issue, an '89 is rated at 100hp, a carbureted version is rated at 79...

It'd be doable, but your intake won't clear a distributor so you'd be best off swapping to a 4 plug head.

Fuel injected might be more complicated, but it's more reliable, if it was me I would leave it alone...

 

[Mark_88]

that's the WORST way to group plug wires...

LOL...I was thinking that too, but as long as they stay dry it should be OK...I keep mine as far apart as possible and run them as far to the back as I can...

But I'd take your last advice and leave it alone...

 

[4b316]

The ties work alright,just wrap one loosely around the wires and wrap another snug between each wire than tighten the first one

 

[19bonestock88]

what's the main difference between the GM HEI ignition and the Ford setup?

 

[cody93]

those wires were zip tied like that before, its got new wires with actual wire spacers now, thats just a pic of first start-up

 

[adsm08]

what's the main difference between the GM HEI ignition and the Ford setup?

Much as it pains me to say this:

GM's setup was more reliable. Part of that was due to the system being older. HEI was around in the 70s, TFI came in in the early 80s.

TFI kinda sucked. HEI wasn't as bad. The modules shed heat better, were generally positioned better, and were easier to service.

The small block TFIs weren't as bad, but the 2.9 was awful with them because of the location. They just sit in the back with the hot air and no flow and cook.

 

[cody93]

i choosed the GM HEI module because its simple and plentiful, plus i had wiring gremlins i didn't want to deal with, only needs one wire to activate it

 

[myold96]

the tfi module on my 95 aerostar was on the wheel well stayed nice and cool and lasted well over 300,ooo miles till i hit a tree.

 

[adsm08]

Yes, the vans and cars had them in better places than the Rangers did.

 

[bobbywalter]

you can upgrade the 2.9 to remote mount. but 300 k is a great run and rare for any setup.



no fawkin way i would go back to carb on my daily driver gassqueezer though.


but if you just want to hotrod it on the weekends, theres a huge amount of potential for these little fellers.


great place to start...http://www.esslingeracing.com/

 

[Mark_88]

great place to start...http://www.esslingeracing.com/

I drool uncontrollably when I go there...but you better bring cash by the truckload because nothing on that site is anywhere near "budget build"...