is the thunderbird turbo. Other than that, what is the best donor car for a good 2.3 and automatic transmission? I'm looking for a little more go than the stock 2.3 and sloshomatic, but on a tight budget.
From reading your other post, can I assume you have a v6 in your pinto?
'Cheap' is also determined by how much of the swap you can do yourself.
If you are looking for a newer 2.3 to put in you car, I think you will only find them in mustangs and rangers, and maybe the bronco II. Any that are efi will either need to be converted to the older carb, or you will have to hook-up the engine harness and comp., as well as all the all the other little things (like hood clearence issues, fuel pump,...). All the little 'detail' parts to get it running can get pricey. If you get one that is the dissy-less, you might not be able to convert it to a carb. (never worked on one, so I am not sure). Doing a 'newer' type carb. might requier comp. work as well. Spark-chasing with the comp. systems during a swap can add up to some big bucks fast.
If you use the tranny from a donor other than a pinto, you MIGHT need to have a custom drive-shaft made. A good and well maintained stock c3 (or pinto c4) SHOULD hold up to a tweeked n/a 2.3.
Easy, and the tightest budget? If you can find a donor pinto with a 2.3, that would be my best advice for either. Find a wrecked/rotted runner, and you will be able to harvest some spare parts too. Even if the donor pinto has a bad engine it can still give you most of the parts you will need for the newer 2.3 install.
Bill
I am still in search of a Cruising Wagon in the NC/SC area - I was speaking with a gentleman about a V6 model, but don't know if anything will happen there. I'm asking now about 2.3 options since I might end up with a 4cyl model instead of the V6.
Quote from: 77turbopinto on December 10, 2005, 10:44:05 AM
From reading your other post, can I assume you have a v6 in your pinto?
Ok. I think you would be better off tweeking a stock 2.3 than swapping for a newer one. Even with the efi, they don't put out that much more power (more trouble than it's worth just to stay n/a).
Bill
i just recently bought a '73 full-glass hatch with a 2.3T out of a 85 t-bird, and the car has a 4 speed, the guy who had it before me blew the clutch, so im planning on puttin in a 5-speed from a later model year mustang lx or something, and a stage 2 clutch, with a different rear-end, maybe just might go with the one from the stang. but if this helps then im happy for you if it didnt, ill try harder next time. lol ;D im definatly going to have to get the drive-shaft re-done or get a new one to compensate for the longer 5-speed.