I'm wondering if anyone has done a 2.3L swap from say a late model Ranger that is RWD and has the fuel injected 2.3L Duratec engine.  It's something I've thought about doing, but I've never swapped an engine (I'd take it to a shop to be done but I'd love to learn).  I'm just wondering how much work is involved in a swap like that.  I see it in TV shows all the time and they make it seem so easy, but I'm wondering realistically how feasible it is.  Thanks in advance!

That's awesome!  How hard was it to do the swap?

I have an '87 Mustang EFI 2.3/T5 that's going into my wagon in a year or two. It will all be a simple bolt in with the exception of the computer & wiring.

That's why I'm using the '87 Mustang. It seems to be a much simpler EFI harness than later years. As far as I can tell the one computer runs everything for the engine & very little else. This Stang has no ABS, no gauge package, nothing. It has working cruise control which I plan to keep but that should be fairly easy to do. I can't wait to dig into this one 

A Duratec swap would be sweet, you would have to build a oil pan, the computor and wiring would be the tough part, I found a place in the UE that has a plug and play stand alone for  this swap, but hold on when you ask the price..  If you do it, try and get a 2007 or later, from what I've found/read, they have a better flowing head.  It sounds like they make close to 200hp with a header, good cold air intake and tune....

Thanks everyone, lots of good info here.  My next question is that I have found that they do have aftermarket fuel injection for a general set up and with a new intake, this engine could be set up with EFI that way.  It looks like it would cost about $4K just for parts but I also would like an overdrive trans, so that would cost even more.  Anyone have any experience with what would be cheaper then?  Buying a complete new engine and trans to drop in, or buying the FI kit and getting an overdrive trans to install?  Seems like 93 mustang or roughly 94ish ranger engines would be a much easier swap than a Duratec?

Thanks everyone, lots of good info here.  My next question is that I have found that they do have aftermarket fuel injection for a general set up and with a new intake, this engine could be set up with EFI that way.  It looks like it would cost about $4K just for parts but I also would like an overdrive trans, so that would cost even more.  Anyone have any experience with what would be cheaper then?  Buying a complete new engine and trans to drop in, or buying the FI kit and getting an overdrive trans to install?  Seems like 93 mustang or roughly 94ish ranger engines would be a much easier swap than a Duratec?

87-90 mustang 2.3,91-93 mustang, pretty much the easiest of the ranger engines to swap in are gonna be the 86or87-94 After 95 I think it was they went to the newer wiring which you could use but I got a feeling it would be harder to wire up.
The only real differences between any of the 2.3s is that 87-90mustang/earlier rangers pre-90 has 4 sparkplugs and a Distributor. The Later 91-93 Mustang/90-94  rangers went to 8 plugs and DIS setup with no Distributor.
If your pinto had a 2.3 stock then all you have to do is put the pinto engine mounts on and swap on the pinto front sump oilpan/pickup tube an bolt it in the car and you could use the ranger 5 speed trans but you would prolly be better off with a mustang trans (T5) they are a little stouter and they use a cable clutch instead of hydraulic.Then after hooking up the engine wiring and installing the ECU, High pressure fuel pump and such your good to go.
 
Ive looked Into the duratech swap after seeing them in a SVO mustang and 90s model ranger GT. It would be a nice motor lots of aftermarket parts and they can make great power plus they weigh less then the old iron 2.3. Pretty much If you go this route your gonna end up making your own engine mounts and more then likely a oil pan/pick up or go big $$$$ dry sump system.There is a front sump pan that cam on the focus 2.3 duratech but as for if it will work in a pinto I don't know for sure that's why I said more then likely you will have to make one. Then after all that just to get the engine in the car you would still need to use a ranger trans or (better plan) buy a duratec to T5 adapter bellhousing which is about $600 alone then instead of using horrible stock wiring that's gonna be a huge pain go stand along engine management which could cost anywhere from 500-2000  depending on what system plus it'll still need tuned either to the stock engine or more if you do more performance upgrades to the engine.

For the time any money you wasted on doing a duratech swap in all reality you could just drop in a LS1 and have more power then the duratech and weigh about the same as the stock Iron 2.3.

The other problem with the T-9 is that the British car clubs are using them in their M.G.s etc.....You can find them in some of the British car club web sites etc....

So here's some more questions after reading your responses: You can laugh at me and call me girly, but I'll be honest and admit I like and want an auto trans with OD.  I'm assuming the Mercur XR4ti engine would mate with the auto?  From what I can gather in doing a turbo swap, the only auto trans that was available came on the Thunderbird coupe, but I imagine it also would mate with an SVO Mustang engine?  2nd question: Would the fuel injection system be able to be adapted from a later model car to the 70's 2.3?  Also, what type of injection do the 93 cars use - is it a TBI type set up or direct injection?  Thanks!

all fi injected 2.3s use the same style of fuel injection which isn't Direct injection as Ford just now started using that setup here lately. An Its not TBI like you would find on a Chevy engine. They use MPFI since 4 injectors/injector rail are located in the intake and not in the throttle body and the throttle body is up stream of them.

The Turbocoupe that was made in 87-88 is the only one that had a 4 speed auto a4ld (Junk trans that couldn't hold up to a stock 2.3turbo) all the other turbocoupes 83-86 had c3 trans if auto just like the merkur,Svo never had a auto stock. All the engines can swap trans with no problem just like any other Lima 2.3.

The fuel injection could be swapped over from a newer 2.3 but if your trying to use 89-94 ranger or 91-93 mustang fuel injection setup you will need the head also to go with the intake due to its a 8 plug setup and the head and intakes are different.