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Author Topic: Motor & Trans Help Needed!  (Read 4580 times)

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Offline 80_2.3_ESS

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Motor & Trans Help Needed!
« on: September 30, 2012, 07:28:02 PM »
Okay, so this winter will be the time for me to update the engine & trans in my Pinto, due to the current motor smoking and burning oil.

Currently, it has the stock 2.3 motor, with a Offy intake and Holly 390 4-barrel, and stock 4-speed manual. Car is a 1980 ESS.

My plans are as follows. Instal new motor, convert to mustang T5, swap out the 3.00's in the 8" rear for different gears, and install a LSD.

I recently came across, and bought, a race car (Moddified Mini-stock) from my grandfathers brother. In it is a 2.5 liter truck motor, out of a Ranger. It has a ported head, is bored .030 over, and has a 4-speed on it. I also have a line on a 2.3 liter mustang with a T5, that I can get the whole motor & tranny out of.

So, my plan is to use the 2.5 liter motor & head, use the bell-housing and tranny out of the mustang, and swap out the gears in the rear end.

So here's my questions, I have a few.
 1.) What mods are needed to install the T5? If I recall correctly, I need to do something with the clutch cable, and cut a wider hole in the floor for the shifter. Con someone please outline these issues?
 2.) What fly-wheel do use? Do I use the one off the 2.3? Or does the 2.5 require a different one?
 3.) The current 2.5 has an underdrive pulley due to being a race motor. What harmonic ballancer should I use in place of it?
 4.) The cam that's in it now is an esslinger 2259, power ranger from 3500 to 7500. I think this will be a little too high for my liking. What would be a better cam to run?
 5.) What carb should I run? Should I stick with the Offy intake and Holley 390? Or should I convert to a 2-barrel?
 6.) Other? Anything else I should know before tackling this project?

Thanks so much guys!

Edit: Thought of another question. What gears should I swap to with the LSD? 3.55's? 3.72's? Rear tire size is 245-60-R14's. I don't need them to bake the tires at every launch, but a good burnout would be nice to be able to do, but highway cruising is a must, so I don't want the motor to be at 4k when doing 70 cause of the gears.
Nick in CT

1980 2.3L Pinto ESS

Offline Bigtimmay

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Re: Motor & Trans Help Needed!
« Reply #1 on: September 30, 2012, 08:59:15 PM »
So here's my questions, I have a few.
 1.) What mods are needed to install the T5? If I recall correctly, I need to do something with the clutch cable, and cut a wider hole in the floor for the shifter. Con someone please outline these issues?
 2.) What fly-wheel do use? Do I use the one off the 2.3? Or does the 2.5 require a different one?
 3.) The current 2.5 has an underdrive pulley due to being a race motor. What harmonic ballancer should I use in place of it?
 4.) The cam that's in it now is an esslinger 2259, power ranger from 3500 to 7500. I think this will be a little too high for my liking. What would be a better cam to run?
 5.) What carb should I run? Should I stick with the Offy intake and Holley 390? Or should I convert to a 2-barrel?
 6.) Other? Anything else I should know before tackling this project?

Thanks so much guys!

Edit: Thought of another question. What gears should I swap to with the LSD? 3.55's? 3.72's? Rear tire size is 245-60-R14's. I don't need them to bake the tires at every launch, but a good burnout would be nice to be able to do, but highway cruising is a must, so I don't want the motor to be at 4k when doing 70 cause of the gears.
1. Clutch cable will need a bracket to push the cable a little higher then were it bolts to the bell or notch the crossmember otherwise itll rub.Hole for the shifter needs cut larger since the shiter is a little closer towards the dash I think I cut out like 3/4-1" forward for mine.And youll will have to add a 4"x4" piece of metal to the back side of the crossmember and drill new bolt holes.
2. 2.3s and 2.5s use the same bolt pattern for the flywheels and they should be interchangeabl e so use the better one.
3.  2.3/2.5 dont use harmonic balancers.And the pulleys off your stock 2.3 should bolt right on or you could prolly get away with the under drive if you wanted too.
4.Id try it first before yah yank it for another. But if its too large a cam for yah you can always run a 90-96 I think is the last year ranger roller cam they produce more low end but kinda fall off up high since they are cheap and you can get them at almost any junkyard just make sure yah get the roller followers too. Or call esslinger/racer walsh and see what they recommend.
5.I would leave the intake and carb alone.
And for your gear question I dont know about with your tire size but my Turbocoupe had 3.55 and a T5 and it was a great highway runner 70ish at around 2k but I got a feeling its 16s are taller then your tires I can try to measure them tommorow for a refrence point for yah.
1978 Mercury Bobcat 2.3t swapped.Always needs more parts!

Offline 80_2.3_ESS

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Re: Motor & Trans Help Needed!
« Reply #2 on: October 01, 2012, 10:18:14 AM »
Thanks so much for your input. I am more than likely going to try the cam first. If I don't like it, it will be super easy to swap, and I can do it overnight if need be.

And as for the carb & intake, I was thinking about running the Offy intake, and buying a new Holley for it. The one that's on it now is a little temperamental, and I can't seem to get it to run right all the time. I figured I would just invest in a new one and be done with it. I was looking to see if Demon made a carb like that, as my dad has one and loves it, but they don't make a 4-barrel with that low of a CFM rating.

One other thing that got me thinking, is the distributor. I see that MSD makes one, as well as the mating box. Is this worth the money? I've never had an issue with the Ford one, and don't think I need to upgrade, but I thought I would throw that out there.

Oh, and one more thing. While I have the motor out, I am also going to throw on one of those adjustable cam gears too.
Nick in CT

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Offline 72pair

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Re: Motor & Trans Help Needed!
« Reply #3 on: October 01, 2012, 01:31:47 PM »
I have both a MSD style distributor and a Mallory Unilite. Neither one will clear my Offy dualport intake. I'm using a stock distributor triggered by a MSD 6AL. Works great.
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Offline 80_2.3_ESS

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Re: Motor & Trans Help Needed!
« Reply #4 on: October 08, 2012, 09:21:34 AM »
Thanks for the input 72pair.

Pulled the 2.5 apart this weekend, and it looks brand new inside. I am also going to try the cam that's currently in it. If I don't like it, I'm sure I can get something different. I also checked the head, and it was planed, so the compression should be a little higher too in the motor.
Nick in CT

1980 2.3L Pinto ESS

Offline 80_2.3_ESS

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Re: Motor & Trans Help Needed!
« Reply #5 on: October 08, 2012, 09:27:50 AM »
Thought of another question regarding the swap.

What driveshaft would I need to use with this swap? Motor is the 2.5 (same as 2.3 outside), the mustang bell-housing & T5, and an 8" rear end from a Mustang II.

Would I need to grab the driveshaft from the Mustang when I pull the motor & trans? Or would the Pinto one work? Or will I need a custom one made?

Thanks!
Nick in CT

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Offline 78_starsky

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Re: Motor & Trans Help Needed!
« Reply #6 on: October 08, 2012, 10:58:15 AM »
"I am also going to try the cam that's currently in it. If I don't like it, I'm sure I can get something different."

Hi,  is the cam still in pretty good shape? if so and you want to save a bit of money, you can check out this place.

http://www.coltcams.com/   and  go to profiles.

If you know what type of performance you are looking for you can get your cam ground to your needs.  Geoff is very easy to talk to (i live 20 miles from there) you can send them an email with all your questions and needs. (or call direct)  I had to give him my cam and lifters (lifters to get refaced) and he gave me back my original shaft with a custom street grind for about a 1/3 the cost new. Including the refaced lifters.

cheers

Offline D.R.Ball

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Re: Motor & Trans Help Needed!
« Reply #7 on: October 08, 2012, 09:25:37 PM »
80_2.3_ESS you can use the Pinto driveshaft but you will need a T-5 slip yoke from a Mustang and a 1310/1320 U-Joint.Also you will have to change the clutch, pressure plate and throw out bearing as well.You will need the flywheel as well the clutch in the Pinto is not the correct size.

Offline Pinto5.0

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Re: Motor & Trans Help Needed!
« Reply #8 on: October 08, 2012, 10:46:31 PM »
I wasn't sure if the Pinto flywheel would work with the D9 bellhousing so I went on Advance Auto Parts online & ordered a flywheel #50-703 for $54.49 & clutch kit #MU47827-1 for $123.99
 
All parts are for a 1987 Turbo Coupe & Perfection is a Zoom brand so they should be quality parts.
 
BTW, I got the clutch kit for $83.99 + tax & free shipping using discount code FABU at checkout. I did a 2nd order with the flywheel & some other parts to get my total above the free shipping minimum & used the same code & the flywheel ended up costing me $35 + tax.
 
That's $119 for a new flywheel, pressure plate, disc & TO bearing & it even came with an alignment tool. All shipped to my door for free. God, I love those discount codes.
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Offline 80_2.3_ESS

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Re: Motor & Trans Help Needed!
« Reply #9 on: October 09, 2012, 07:33:45 AM »
80_2.3_ESS you can use the Pinto driveshaft but you will need a T-5 slip yoke from a Mustang and a 1310/1320 U-Joint.Also you will have to change the clutch, pressure plate and throw out bearing as well.You will need the flywheel as well the clutch in the Pinto is not the correct size.

Thanks for the info. When I get the T5, I'm gonna pull the motor, trans, and drive-shaft. If worse comes to worse, I can have a custom shaft made by a shop a couple towns over.

I knew I was going to have to change some of the clutch items, which I was kinda pi**ed about. When I redid the car in the summer of 2010, I spent the extra dough on a Ceterforce dual-friction set-up. Though, I did learn to drive stick on the car, so maybe it is time for a new clutch LOL. The thing still works just like the day I bought it though, so I know those things can take some punishment LOL
Nick in CT

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Offline 72pair

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Re: Motor & Trans Help Needed!
« Reply #10 on: October 09, 2012, 11:39:37 AM »
You could get away with just a different clutch disc and t-5 t/o bearing. Regular 2.3 t-5 mustangs used an 8.5" clutch just like the pinto, but had a different spline count.
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Offline Pinto5.0

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Re: Motor & Trans Help Needed!
« Reply #11 on: October 09, 2012, 03:07:00 PM »
T-5 trannies take a 10 spline disc.
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