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Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: rowdyrunabout on September 21, 2015, 06:43:25 PM

Title: need a rear sump 2.3 to be a front sump
Post by: rowdyrunabout on September 21, 2015, 06:43:25 PM

I recently found a complete 78 2.3 motor with about 60k on it. I also picked up a 78 cruisin wagon with no motor. Thought I had a cheap route to getting the pinto back on the road quickly. The motor is out of a mercury zephyr and has a rear sump oil pan. How can I make this motor work in my pinto. I understand that I'll need to change the oil pick up and pan. WHAT do I do about the oil dipstick being in the wrong place on the block? Thanks.

Title: Re: need a rear sump 2.3 to be a front sump
Post by: pinto_one on September 22, 2015, 05:38:21 AM

There should be a small plug near the fuel pump , when you change the pan knock it out from the bottom and put it in the rear old location, the block is already drilled for it ,

Title: Re: need a rear sump 2.3 to be a front sump
Post by: rowdyrunabout on September 22, 2015, 04:33:48 PM

Well that would just be too easy! I'll take a look- Thanks.

Title: Re: need a rear sump 2.3 to be a front sump
Post by: 76hotrodpinto on September 23, 2015, 11:41:55 AM

I just did this. On mine there was a oil pick up tube mounting bolt on one of the main caps, the front sump won't clear it. You need to either get another main cap bolt, without the mount on it, or tape off the open case and motor to cut it off. Tape it VERY well.

 And the dip stick for the rear sump sits at a different level than at the front. I had both sticks and used the one the came with the front sump, but the difference between the ones I have is only in the tube, not the stick. The front one had only one maria(the stop point formed in the tube), the rear sump one has two marias. The bottom one being for the rear sump stop length, and the next one lined up perfectly with the front sump one. Meaning you can cut off the tube, just above the first, and should read correctly for the front position.

Title: Re: need a rear sump 2.3 to be a front sump
Post by: pinto_one on September 23, 2015, 02:52:39 PM

dont worry about cutting the stud off the bolt , just swap it to the front main and torque to 90 ft lbs , on the dip stick you can dump in 5 qts of oil , new filter and run for a min , check with the dip stick you have , if it does not touch you use a tubing cutter and cut the tube shorter , alittle at a time , until reads full , if the stick reads to high remark the stick with a file , do this if you can not find the one you need ,

Title: Re: need a rear sump 2.3 to be a front sump
Post by: rowdyrunabout on September 30, 2015, 05:25:39 PM

Great info.. Thx. now I know it can work.