Anyone out there able to tell me if the 2.0 Diesels in the 84 to 86 Tempos have the same tranny (bell) bolt pattern as a 2.3? I know they take different trannys from the (front drive) 2.3's, I don't know why, but I know that the front drive 2.3 has the same pattern as a rear drive2.3.

ANY info would be great!

I have a line on a running (donor) car, and I have a spare Pinto.....

Bill

Hijacking my own thread.

IMHO: With all the 'hype' about FREE veg. oil, the laws of supply and demand WILL cause that to change somewhere, somehow, in some way (it will only stay FREE until people make a DEMAND for it and the SUPPLY runs low). Add in the FACT that it STILL needs to be treated before use in most cars, AND the cars NEED to be modified for it to avoid potential damage to newer cars....  What would happen if the govt. regulated it (TAX), BANNED it from use on public roads, or other restrictions? All that time money and effort would be wasted. I can see them doing the tax thing because tax on gas pays for roads. Look what is happening to the hybrids.

I need to also mention the 'cost recovery' aspect (that I have been criticized for bringing this up in the past). It does not take a brain-scientist or a rocket-surgeon to see that the INITAL investment can be substantial compared to the long term savings.

I.E.: To go from 20 MPG to 50 MPG, fuel at 3.00 per gallon, and with an intital investment cost of $3000. would require driving that car 33,000 miles BEFORE ANY SAVINGS are seen. (I have had my tan car for 8 years and put a wopping 7K on it)

That all being said, I would not be thinking about this if it were not for me having a bunch of parts that I might be able to use, the engine/car is cheap, AND I would be doing it for reasons other that 'cost saving'.

My $.02 from my soapbox (that I just got off of).

Yes PP, I am tempted to get the car anyway.....


Bill

Bill,

Good luck with your diesel project. Back in 1980, after my new 74 2.3 got tired, I put an Isuzu diesel engine in my Pinto. The engine was the same as they were then putting in Chevy Luv pickups made by Isuzu. 60 HP, naturally aspirated, 0-55 in 25 seconds, but got 40 MPG every tank and pulled a 2000 lb.tent trailer! That was then....this is now. Would love to put a small modern turbo diesel in my project car. I need to hit local junkyards and see if that little puppy is still around. I am sure it has been crushed  .

Dave

Hi Bill,

   OK, the 2.3 motor in Tempos is a totally different engine than the 2.3 Lima used in Pintos, Mustangs, etc .... They share nothing !!  The Tempo motor is called the HSC motor. (High Swirl Combustion)  To the best of my knowledge it was never used in a RWD configuration. It is also a piece of junk compared to the 2.3 Lima. So, I think it would be very difficult to adapt to a Pinto. I doubt it would be cost effective at all. Unique yes, worth the time & effort, no.

I'm looking at putting a T-5 trans in mine. That will give me an overdrive gear. (.8 to 1) Also, advancing the camshaft 4 degrees makes a world of difference. Ford also had a 4 speed trans in the late 70's & very early 80's called the SROD. (single rail over drive)  It's basically a 3 speed trans with overdrive. That should be a direct bolt in application.

 One last thing; I need to ask you some questions about the white 79 cp I bought from you awhile back. No problems with the car, runs great !! 
                                                                                                                   Thanks,  Pete in PA

Hi Pete in PA,

Glad to see you here now. Feel free to start a thread, or send a PM with questions. I prefer a thread so others can get the info too.

IMHO: The T-5 is the best tranny that is a direct bolt in if you are looking at a 5spd. That being said, most 79/80's had TALL geared rears (like 2.79's). I think that a stock Pinto 2.3 engine will not have the torque (power) needed to EFECTIVLY use an overdrive gear with a rear that is taller than a 3.00. You MIGHT be OK on down-grades, but that might be all. When I first put the T-5 in my tan car I still had the 2.79's (ish) rear, and 5th was BARELY useable; the good news was I had a mathematical top speed of just over 200MPH. I recamend swapping to a 3.40 or better first. That will give you better bottom-end pull, but the OD gear will give you highway mileage AND be useable

...the 2.3 motor in Tempos is a totally different engine than the 2.3 Lima used in Pintos, Mustangs, etc .... They share nothing !!... 

Yes, I am aware. I posted that I was looking at the bolt pattern on the bells, and from what I understand both 2.3L's are the same.

....The Tempo motor is called the HSC motor. (High Swirl Combustion)  To the best of my knowledge it was never used in a RWD configuration. It is also a piece of junk compared to the 2.3 Lima. So, I think it would be very difficult to adapt to a Pinto. I doubt it would be cost effective at all. Unique yes, worth the time & effort, no....

Very good info, but I am not thinking of putting the front drive 2.3 in a Pinto, I am thinking about putting a 2.0 Diesel in a Pinto.

Let me know what info you need.

Bill

Greetings,
 It seems that the conversion issue is how to get a Ford Tempo 2.0L Diesel  to work in a Pinto Chassis, and with what Transmission.. ..

Well..., sort of... 

I was only looking to see if they have the same bell bolt pattern as a 2.3, and it seems to be 'not' (thanks for all the input). With that, I am not going to go any further.

...The ancillary stuff : Motor mounts ,Clutch , throttle linkage and fuel delivery, not to mention wiring the whole thing, could make this a real headache. Spend enough time & Money, and it can be done, but the return on the investment, is shaky at best....

Yes, I agree; please see my second post in this thread.

Bill

 Hi Bill,
  I did some further checking on the mazda connection to the Tempo Diesel, and it would appear that the Mazda 626 2.0 diesel is the motor used in the diesel Tempo. The good thing about that and the connection to the mazda B22 diesel pickup, is mazda has a history of sharing block castings on their platforms. Example : the 323 FWD mazda and the Miata early models. This could help if you are serious about this conversion. The rest of the challenges with driveline compatibility are "doable". I would suggest a chat with the Mazda forum guys and confirm the compatibility, then you'll  really know what to get into next .
 
 Best of luck,
 Pintosopher

An interesting thing I found while I was perusing 2.3 stuff online.  Apparently 85-87 Rangers had a diesel option (so did earlier ones, but the 85 up had fuel injection), but it was made by Mitsubishi, not Mazda.  Funny thing is, this motor has been a option in Monteros and Pajeros in various displacements (2.3-2.6) since the mid 80s thru the late 90s, including turbo variants.  The only problem is they weren't a very popular option back then because not too many people were worried about fuel economy quite as much here in the states as they were in say Europe.  Bill, I know you are no longer going forward with this project, but I figured I would throw this out there for those that may want to try it themselves.