will a 89-94 2.3l swap into a 1984 ranger?

[rpm.motosports]

Howdy. I have a good efi 2.3l engine from an 89-94 era ranger. My 1984 4x4 manual ranger has a nasty knock. Will the 89-94 2.3l swap into the carbureted 84? I know the 84 has the 4 plug ignition system while the 89-94 has 8 plug system. i would like to keep the truck carbureted aswell. what will i need to do to make the newer era 2.3 work with the 84 ranger and which igntion sytem do i use?

 

[scotts90ranger]

If you want to keep it carbureted the easiest solution is to swap the '84 head on the newer engine which will work just fine. The intake pattern on dual plug engines is unique to dual plug and there's no carb manifolds for them. All 2.3L's have a distributor hole through '94, but in '92 they switched to a round tooth timing belt so you will either have to keep the square tooth pulleys or just run a round tooth belt (the round tooth belt will work on square pulleys but that's the only way you can switch things up)

From there just leave the crank sensor bolts in at least to plug the holes, I don't think they're through holes but hey... you will have to use the newer engine oil pan which shouldn't be an issue with anything.

 

[4x4prepper]

Thank you for the info, I always wondered that myself I do know from scrapping Rangers I have bought, the dirt track racing guys highly desire the carb 2.3L engines, "Big Red" in Marietta GA used ones I sold to him.

 

[scotts90ranger]

There shouldn't be much difference between carb and fuel injected other than there are like 4 different intake patterns... (all exhaust are the same). In about '86 the blocks went to a smaller main journal for less friction which is around the time the rear main went to a one piece from two piece