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Author Topic: new FI 2.3L swap  (Read 7804 times)

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Offline waldo786

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new FI 2.3L swap
« on: October 13, 2012, 05:08:29 PM »
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!


Offline Fred Morgan

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Re: new FI 2.3L swap
« Reply #1 on: October 13, 2012, 05:53:26 PM »
I installed a 94 Ranger 2.3 with the 5 speed in my 73 but used carb. instead of injection.   Fred   :)
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Offline waldo786

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Re: new FI 2.3L swap
« Reply #2 on: October 13, 2012, 08:11:10 PM »
That's awesome!  How hard was it to do the swap?

Offline Fred Morgan

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Re: new FI 2.3L swap
« Reply #3 on: October 13, 2012, 08:58:52 PM »
I will get you pictures later, your install is simple then mine because of late model for mount's. I also did 2.3 74 Mustang 2 auto 4 spd. in 79 Ranchero and it does look funny rad. bigger then engine !    Fred   :)
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Offline Pinto5.0

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Re: new FI 2.3L swap
« Reply #4 on: October 14, 2012, 01:56:28 PM »
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.
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Offline blink77

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Re: new FI 2.3L swap
« Reply #5 on: October 14, 2012, 04:10:44 PM »
I put a 2.3 from a 93 mustang in my 76 pinto wagon.
When I finally got the wireloom "weeded" out it was
really quite simple. I have had a few late model rangers
with the new 2.3 and I don't know if there is an oil pan
that will fit in the pinto. I'm not familiar with what else
if anything that they put that motor in. I've thought
about it myself, but without a front sump pan, I don't
think I would attempt this swap. I think an earlier ranger
2.3 wireloom with a 2.5 would be my next attempt. I
think the ranger loom would be better, as with the mustang
loom I had to use some secondary computers from that car
as I couldn't make it run without them. I think they could
be eliminated, but I didn't have a clue how. It was a pain
finding a place to put them. All in all it is a pretty clean swap
for a EFI non-turbo.

Offline Pinto5.0

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Re: new FI 2.3L swap
« Reply #6 on: October 14, 2012, 04:34:08 PM »
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  :)
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Offline Bigtimmay

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Re: new FI 2.3L swap
« Reply #7 on: October 14, 2012, 06:45:51 PM »
If its the older fuel injected 2.3s its a quite easy swap really just read up on it. As for a duratech thats a different stroy its gunna require alot more work and custom fab work cause its not a bolt in deal.
1978 Mercury Bobcat 2.3t swapped.Always needs more parts!

Offline fast64ranchero

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Re: new FI 2.3L swap
« Reply #8 on: October 14, 2012, 09:49:43 PM »
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....
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Offline cabecho

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Re: new FI 2.3L swap
« Reply #9 on: October 15, 2012, 04:45:42 PM »
It depends what transmission you are trying to use, if you use the transmission  that comes with the motor it will make your life some what easier, if not they do make modules and wiring for the computer and stuff, i have build a formula ford car and i can give you some of the info i have, however on the oil pan, i dont know if they make a front sump oil pan, but i do know they make a dry sump for that motor it will be expensive but that will solve your problem.
the swap is not that hard they make almost everything you need for it, it will be a nice specially if you want to make it turbo, you can make thous thing run fast.
Aerodynamics is for those who can't build engines

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Offline waldo786

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Re: new FI 2.3L swap
« Reply #10 on: October 27, 2012, 03:31:48 PM »
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?

Offline 71HANTO

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Re: new FI 2.3L swap
« Reply #11 on: October 27, 2012, 06:40:31 PM »
One of the easiest ways to go if you can find one is the stick shift Merkur xr4ti. It can be bought for cheap ($1200? or less?). It comes with a turbo 2.3, a T-9-5 speed (careful, some came with auto trans), and a stand alone wiring harness that is the easiest to adapt to any car. The extra money can be put into a rebuild if needed. Just my 2 cents.
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Offline Bigtimmay

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Re: new FI 2.3L swap
« Reply #12 on: October 27, 2012, 07:20:02 PM »
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.
1978 Mercury Bobcat 2.3t swapped.Always needs more parts!

Offline 78cruisingwagon

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Re: new FI 2.3L swap
« Reply #13 on: October 28, 2012, 10:30:52 AM »
One of the easiest ways to go if you can find one is the stick shift Merkur xr4ti. It can be bought for cheap ($1200? or less?). It comes with a turbo 2.3, a T-9-5 speed (careful, some came with auto trans), and a stand alone wiring harness that is the easiest to adapt to any car. The extra money can be put into a rebuild if needed. Just my 2 cents.
71HANTO

Yes indeed. Since the T9 IS the FOG 4 speed with 5th in the extension housing, it is the easiest transmission to swap to. Shifter in same location, mounts in same location, same input shaft, same overall length, etc., etc. Problem is finding one (for cheap!) since most XR4Ti's are auto.

Offline D.R.Ball

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Re: new FI 2.3L swap
« Reply #14 on: October 28, 2012, 08:51:12 PM »
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....

Offline waldo786

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Re: new FI 2.3L swap
« Reply #15 on: October 29, 2012, 01:05:15 PM »
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!

Offline Bigtimmay

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Re: new FI 2.3L swap
« Reply #16 on: October 30, 2012, 11:52:31 AM »
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.
1978 Mercury Bobcat 2.3t swapped.Always needs more parts!

Offline 71HANTO

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Re: new FI 2.3L swap
« Reply #17 on: November 08, 2012, 07:56:55 PM »
One of the easiest ways to go if you can find one is the stick shift Merkur xr4ti. It can be bought for cheap ($1200? or less?). It comes with a turbo 2.3, a T-9-5 speed (careful, some came with auto trans), and a stand alone wiring harness that is the easiest to adapt to any car. The extra money can be put into a rebuild if needed. Just my 2 cents.
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