what head will work?

[1988Rangerxlt]

ok so i have an 89? mustang engine with the 8 spark plugs and dis ignition, and i dont have the electrical in my 88 ranger to hook the dis up so iwant to go back to just the distributer but in order to dothat i have to change the intake so i tried putting a intake of a normal 2.3 bit the ports in the head are different and the bolts dont line up, can i put a normal 2.3 head on that engine??
Thanks in advance, Adam

 

[1988Rangerxlt]

anyone need to try to figure this out so i can go to the wrecker

 

[Mark_88]

Are you sure it's an 89 Mustang? I have an 89 Mustang head on mine and it's only 4 plug...and roller cam...and my 78 Mustang II intake bolted right on...

OK...reread your post...what year is the mustang engine? If you get an 89-91 head (if I recall correctly) they are 4 plug...and will bolt onto your block and allow you to use he old distributor...but the block may or may not support the dis because they won't have the shaft to run it...

Couldn't find anything specific on mixiing and matching, but I know for sure that my 89 Mustang head had 4 plugs (Canada, eh) and fit perfectly on my 87 Ranger block...

 

[1988Rangerxlt]

sorry ment 88, and can i get the head from a mustang , or tempo?

 

[Mark_88]

Oh, OK...

Not Tempo...different animals those 2.3's are...but the Mustang head will work...

 

[1988Rangerxlt]

ok so any ranger or mustang head will work as long as its a four plug? and as for the distributer i pulled the plug and the gears are there so i think im ok

 

[Mark_88]

Well, you can actually use an 8 plug head but you need to do two things...block off the 4 plugs not used and modify an FI intake to take a carb adaptor...unless you can buy an adaptor made for the later style intakes...but once you remove the down pipes from the throttle body the intake is usually flat and a carb can be mounted...

So, in other words...you can probably use the intake you have already with a few mods...but it will be in the way of the distributor...so an earlier intake and head would work well...

 

[1988Rangerxlt]

thanks for all your help guys! i got a head i think it will work ill keep you posted

 

[Speedwagon]

Well, you can actually use an 8 plug head but you need to do two things...block off the 4 plugs not used and modify an FI intake to take a carb adaptor...unless you can buy an adaptor made for the later style intakes...but once you remove the down pipes from the throttle body the intake is usually flat and a carb can be mounted...

So, in other words...you can probably use the intake you have already with a few mods...but it will be in the way of the distributor...so an earlier intake and head would work well...

On this subject, are the intake and exhaust manifold ports the same on the 4 plug EFI and 8 plug heads? Will my intake and exhaust manifolds bolt up to any 8 plug head, Ranger or Mustang?

 

[1988Rangerxlt]

i know for sure on the intake the ports are different and the bolts dont line up on a 8plug

 

[Mark_88]

On this subject, are the intake and exhaust manifold ports the same on the 4 plug EFI and 8 plug heads? Will my intake and exhaust manifolds bolt up to any 8 plug head, Ranger or Mustang?

As posted below, they are not the same...the head will bolt onto a 2.3 block but then you need to mix and match parts or modify them if you do not want to use the stock config...

i know for sure on the intake the ports are different and the bolts dont line up on a 8plug

Experience is always the best teacher...