Yea i have a 1980 pinto with the 2.3 would a 302 bolt up to the trans or will i have to change. Im mechanically dumb so i dont no
First of all WELCOME!
the simple answer to your question is "no". You're going to have to replace the entire drivetrain. Engine, Trans, & Rearend, All are way too weak to tolerate even a mild V8. Mind you they'll "work", but not for very long. In the long run it's better to do them all at once, you'll save yourself a LOT of headaches down the road.
This may not be what you were looking for, but it's the absolute truth. Many of the guys here have done the V8 swap & any of them will be GLAD to help you in any way they can.
so wat ur saying is i can do it but its probably gonna blow up in my face later on. if so how long do u think it would last. and would it be all right to do a little at a time
I would leave that 2.3 in there for now and enjoy the car. I suggest that you research the project and collect up the parts you need so that when it comes down to doing it you will be ready to follow through and won't have a poor pinto conversion project waiting to be done.
CrazyHorse is right, although the conversion is doable it is not something for the faint of heart.
High_Horse
well im not gonna like beef it up just keep it stock i just want something to where when i hit a hill it will go on and stuff like that im not wanting to race it or nething like that
i dunno if this will make any difference but its an automatic will it still bolt up to a 302
Hey Shocker,
I drove a '76 2.3 automatic for a while. It had some power to it, but it had a leaky head gasket. If you have a nice tight, strong engine, I would think that your 2.3 would already be able to make it up a hill without any trouble, especially being an automatic. Maybe some of these fellers can tell you about the "Turbo". That might be an option that might entail less modification to your car. I myself do not have the knowledge about the "turbo" to speak on it. Or maybe a 2.8 would bolt right to your current tranny (I am not sure if it will, but I'll bet someone in this forum can speak on that)? I kinda know how you feel, though, I have a very nice looking pinto but it is GUTLESS in 4th gear. But, you know, I just put my arm out the window and cruise. I don't need the power in 4th. If some jerk tailgates me, I just pull over and let the doof fly by in their SUV-like everyone else drives. I stand apart from the rest in my groovy little pinto! Can we see some pics of your ride? Don't let the lack of power in your baby get you down, Shocker, chicks LOVE pintos!! ;)
Well said Sage. The 2.3 is pretty easy to "hop up" even without the cost & complexity of a turbo. You can get well over 150hp with basic mods. I'm farly handy with a wrench, but I have like NO budget. I'm working on getting a Ranger(pickup) cam, lower fuel inj. intake, & shorty exhaust header. Bolting these on should net me 130hp. (up from the stock 88) the minor port matching I intend to do should net me another 10hp for a nice 1hp/cubic inch. All this from junkyard parts & a minimum of elbow grease
I drove a 2.3 to work and back for 10 years.(20 miles one way---freeway) It was in front of an automatic. And sitting inside a Cruising wagon. When I got the car it had a ticking noise which turned out to be a loose front piston. So I had the engine bored to the next size over and while I had the motor out I ported the heads. I mean to tell you that this thing hauled tail. I had no power problems. But, there is one thing that I want to say that may help the 2.3 owners out is that I found that The oil supplied to the head goes though the cam and supplys oil to the rockers and lubes the cam bearings via small holes drilled in the lobes and bearing ways. The centrifical force of the spinning cam acts like a centrifuge and will force the heavy metals in the oil to collect on the I.D. of the cam channel and build up around the holes. Restricting flow to the rockers and bearings. There are plugs on both ends of the cam to enable a bore brush to be pushed through there and a drill bit of similar size can be used to poke the holes in the cam to open them up a hair. It is not something that can be done with the cam on the car. Usually it is the bearing ports that plug first and will result in a squeaking noise. The oil pump in a 2.3 is one of the best I have ever seen. The additional restriction may be notable through a notice of oil seepage where the head meets the block on the drivers side rear of the engine. The gasket is very narrow arround that corner and is the first place it goes. This will also happen if one starts there car in cold temp. and does not give it time to warm up.
oops... there I went.....................................High_Horse
hey guys thx alot im looking at turbo but its pricey. mine does have an oil leak somewhere when i run it for like 15 mins and when i give it to much gas it dies. im not gonna be on for a while though cause i got to go camp so anymore help or suggestions would be appreciated. i will get some pics when i get back. thx all
I'm not speeking of personal experience but only of every other person who's purchased things from a certain ebay store when I say DO NOT BUY IT FROM SS bla bla what not from ebay. Go to a reputable source.
got another question i have an old 80 s model ranger with a 2.9 v6 fuel injected and an automaict trans. would my trans bolt up to the 2.9 or should i just use all of it and do u thinkit would be worth it