I have a 71' with a 2.0 in it. My dad races mini-stocks and uses mostly 2.0 stuff. He wants the engine out of the 71' and is going to give me a 2.3 to put back in it. The car is an auto but I'm not sure what tranny it has. I was just wondering my options. I know I could just pull out the auto and replace it with the pinto four speed, but what about hooking the 2.3 to the existing tranny? What have some of you done? Thanks.
Uncleamin,
It's not a quick swap, You need the 2 Frame motor mounts for a 74 or later 2.3 L Unibody. The Trans bell housing will have to be for a 2.3,( or use stepped dowels) The pedals assy from a 2.3L manual car with a corresponding clutch cable that matches the bell housing. The cross member for the trans near the drive shaft may be different. And then the throttle cable and linkage will be different. Exhaust and other related plumbing, and even wiring too.
I would think that if you really want to do this swap, get a donor car 74 2.3L or later complete with the manual trans, to get pieces from. You'll save a bunch of time & money.
Good luck,
Pintosopher
To use the 2.3 engine with the 2.0 bell, you have to use stepped diameter dowel pins... you also need a set of frame towers from a 2.3 car.
I have a few sets I got from 77turbopinto, that are OEM quality steel.
Let me know if you are interested, thanks.
Jim
Hey guys thanks for the responses. I think I'm just going to go ahead and use a spare 4 speed tranny and bell from a 2.3 car instead of trying to keep it auto. I just wanted to be able to drive the car around while I'm building the 2.3 turbo set up for it. I just hate to see the car sitting under a tarp wasting away. I wasn't really aware of any wiring issues that I would run into though. What will I need to do regarding wiring?
I am doing 1 of those now. 2.3 into a 73. 71 frame across is 23 and a 1/2". 74 is 24 and a 1/8". Tried 74 mounts no worky. I fabed my own and using Ranger engine steel mount they are flat horizontal. wiring is minor. Fred :)
I think 77turbopinto recently gutted a 72 2.0 4spd and MIGHT have pedals/parts for sale.
May want to PM him and see.
Jim
I could use a 4 speed from a later model car though right? Do I have to have the clutch and pedal assembly from a 73 or earlier car?
On the wiring, It depends on what kind of distributor your 2.3 came with ( excluding ranger 2.3 motors with electronic and twin plug heads & ignition, that's a real conversion!) And more importantly do you have to smog check the car? That could really cause grief later.
On the Pedals I've heard that there are differences there too, ask Fred Morgan.
The transmission is simplest if you stay with the PINTO 4speed, Mustang II boxes change the shifter. The Pinto trans is commonly referred to as a "rocket box" by Quaife Engineering (really expensive). In 1974 the Pinto was offered with both 2.0L & 2.3L engines, as they were consolidating for the Mustang II platform and discontinuing the 2.0L, so the trans issue might be important if you need to adapt.
Big can of worms, I would have done my '72 to a 2.3L just to get access to Esslinger 2.3L goodies :-\
Pintosopher
I am installing 94 Ranger 2.3 with 5spd. hydraulic clutch, point dist. and the larger 2 bore 2100 model carb. it came with factory headers. Like Pintosopher says check smog, I get around that by adapting propane for check. Fred :)
I used 74-up frame mounts in my 72. Worked fine, just the upper 2 bolts lined up and I welded the bottom. You have to have 71-73 pedals. Easy swap, just slide the pin out, remove the single pedal, put the new pedals in. The pin is welded to the clutch pedal. The 2.3 is longer so you have fan issues in the 71-73. I used an electric fan in front of the rad. I've always used an MSD 6AL in that car with both stock & aftermarket electronic distributors, so no real wiring problems. I've had several different engine/trans combos, so a lot can be made to work. Just remember it's all fun! Good luck! JT
JT I thought those mounts would have worked just like you explained but I could not fit them. On the 74 plates I have for frame dont line up with holes at top I need to pick 1 or the other hole. I dont know pulled these out of wagon. Got me ??? on this 1. Fred :)
are you uncleamin from turboford that had the turbopinto? why not just do the 5sp swap while its out?
Hey Steve, yes this is Amin from turboford we met at Curtis' house a couple years ago. I thought about just sticking the T5 in there but wasn't sure it would work with the N/A 2.3. Plus I don't have a spare T5. You have one for sale? I would need a different bell though right?
Thanks for all the replies they have been helpful. This 71' that I have is sooooo much nicer than my 79' that I sold. I'm going to take my time and do this one right despite the urge I have to throw it all together as fast as I can!
just check youer local pick and pulls for mustangs or tbirds. the wct5 came out in 85.5 and continued through all of the fox mustangs to include the na 2.3 mustang. also the mustang or early 83 to 86 bird have the bell you need for youre setup.
Yeah I seem to not be as lucky as a lot of you guys when it comes to getting 2.3t parts. My local yard wants 450$ for an 86' TC motor and 350$ for the T5....where do you guys get these good deals?? ???
I hear you on that, at one point i saw an 86 2.3T on carparts.com for $750. They must think its made of gold. Had 125k on it.