2.3L ('83-'97) While engine out, what would you replace for longevity?

[ccaissie]

Simple removal and swap of engine and transmission discussed in another thread. While I have the excellent '93 Splash donor engine with 141k out, what makes sense to replace before I stuff it in the '93 XL?
Timing belt?
Ring gear bad, so definitely swap that......flywheel, clutch etc. as needed...
Rear main Seal? Front seal?
What else would be smart?
The Splash had power steering, not the XL. I'm fine in losing the noisy leaky PS.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I would do timing belt, front and rear main, oil pan gasket for good measure, valve cover gasket and probably good time to look at the clutch and slave cylinder...

If you get rid of power steering you'll need to change the steering box too, the ratios are different and would suck without a pump with the power box, or the power steering bracket should bolt right across easy enough.

 

[ccaissie]

Good ideas. No, the Donor Splash has power steering but the Recipient XL of the engine has manual steering and I'm just going to dump the pump before installing.

While both engines are out, the Donor engine & trans from the Splash will get all the goodies, ring gear /flywheel at least.

I'm ok with the extra steering effort...it was a surprise when I got the XL...wondered if the pump was working or dry....voila NO PUMP. YAY.

The Splash pump was noisy and leaked anyway....scrap.



1

 

[ccaissie]

How about plugs? Autolite AP104? 104?

 

[scotts90ranger]

Autolites are good, whatever is platinum or irridium should be fine, I wouldn't do coppers at least on the drivers side since they're a pain in the rear... I have the copper part number memorized but not the others...

 

[ccaissie]

I hear that re: driver's side. OK.

In order to remove the wiring harness while pulling the Splash engine, I chose to break loose the intake plenum to make more room and inspect the connectors etc. ALSO to replace those plugs.

When I stitch it all together to install it all in the XL, can I use silicone for that intake casting gasket? The gasket in there is not now in great shape. It must be part of the VC gasket set which I chose to NOT replace...but maybe that is a good idea.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Silicone should be fine for the intake

 

[19Walt93]

I wouldn't use silicone on anything exposed to vacuum. Now's the time to replace the freeze plugs, it'll be a lot harder to do after it's installed.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I don't disagree with Walt on the gasket, making one out of a beer box or something is simple enough and would work fine.

Freeze plugs on the other hand, while being a good idea I've never had an issue with them on anything yet so I haven't lost sleep on them yet...

 

[19Walt93]

I don't disagree with Walt on the gasket, making one out of a beer box or something is simple enough and would work fine.

Freeze plugs on the other hand, while being a good idea I've never had an issue with them on anything yet so I haven't lost sleep on them yet...

Freeze plugs cost peanuts and if they leak can cause a lot of damage. My former brother in law bought a Boss 351 new in 1971, a few years later a freeze plug leaked. Once the coolant level got below the temperature sender, the gauge went down and he toasted the engine before he realized it was overheating- and he was an experienced dealership tech.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I had a '91 4.0. It had a pinhole leak on the firewall side of the passenger head. A very small pinhole... Eventually I pulled the engine for a different reason and popped the frost plugs. All the ones in the head showed signs of major rust damage. I change plugs as a matter of course now.