Pinto Car Club of America

Just removed my intake manifold and found a crack in it.  My question is -what other types of 2.3 manifolds will fit my 1997 2.3 engine

I have been told a Ranger truck 2.3 manifold (bottom) off of fuel injection will fit and I can bolt a carb to it--is that true?

Will Mustang 2.3 manifolds fit??

Thanking all in advance that respond

Lefty

PS

It would be difficult to adapt carb to late model 'D' ported head due to the 2 intake opening's. I have used early 2.3 intake with 1/4" steel adapter plate to mount on 'D' port head and running a 2500 carb.  Fred   :)

By the tone of your question, I am assuming you may have meant 1979 and not 1997.  Using the lower EFI manifold with a carb is common in the circle track arena according to the literature.  This is a D port manifold so there will be some port mismatch with the 79 oval port head.  The manifold used is found on the late 80's 2.3 and has the runners coming to a square pattern at the top.  The injector bosses will need plugging plus there may be a bolt or two that need adjusting.
http://racerwalsh.zoovy.com/product/RWA1231C/RWA1231C---manifold-efi-intake-the-works.html (http://racerwalsh.zoovy.com/product/RWA1231C/RWA1231C---manifold-efi-intake-the-works.html)
http://racerwalsh.zoovy.com/product/RWA1232A_ALUM/RWA1232A_ALUM---adaptor-efi-2bbl-1-Alum.html (http://racerwalsh.zoovy.com/product/RWA1232A_ALUM/RWA1232A_ALUM---adaptor-efi-2bbl-1-Alum.html)

If you truly have a 1997, I believe you are stuck with the late 90's style manifolds.  Although a D port head, the 97 outboard ports are straight in (not angled like the early 2.3's).  Making a adapter plate like Fred described would be the way to carb a 97.

If the crack is not structural, I would try fixing the cracked manifold with JB-weld or epoxy.

Sorry for the mistype, it is in fact a 1977 2.3 engine and I am currently running a FORMOCO 2bbl carb on the manifold -but would like to run a small 4bbl would that work on the 1980's 2.3 efi manifold? A fellow hot rodder keeps trying to talk me into installing a small block ford V8 but I think I would rather stay with the 2.3.  Are there any inexpensive ways to hot rod the engine (increase horse power) I am running a hedman header and that is the extent of any upgrades.

thank you guys for responding I appreciate it

Lefty

Hey Lefty:

  Back "in the day" I had a '79 wagon with a header (can't recall brand) and a supertrapp muffler, which sounded good but afforded only a small amount of horsepower increase if any.

  The key is AIR FLOW - the best "bang for the buck" is to get (at minimum) a port and polish job on the head to increase the air flow and reduce turbulence. More? Get a valve job, install oversized valves to allow more fuel/air into the chamber. More? Shave the head to increase your compression ratio. More? Tack on a better flowing intake (Esslinger) and a four barrel carb. Radical? Head for the block, go .030" over and get yourself some better pistons, hav ethe block blueprinted and balanced. Get a hotter spark. Etc., etc.

  Well, that's overboard - though I do strongly suggest you get head work done at a minimum. Increase the air flow through the head, get better effieciency and fuel burn, and get an appreciable horsepower increase.

Chris