I've got my eye on a 72 wagon and want to use the driveline and electronics from my 94 Ranger. The Ranger has the 2.3 DIS EFI with a hydrolic clutch 5speed. I rrebuilt the motor last summer and she runs great but I am just not into having three trucks. I already have a 96 Ford duelly and a 59 Ranchero. I found a 72 wagon and have been looking for one for a few years now. How difficult will the change over be? Has anyone out ther done one of these conversions? Ultimately I would like to ad a turbo as well. Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks.....Rob (osiyo59)
Hello Rob,
You will have to cut and re-weld NEW motor mounts.
Wire all the ignition stuff and the F.I. stuff..
The 2.3 is longer so you may have clearance issues with the radiator?
From Pintony
Thanks Pintony, I thought the 2.3 seemed a little bigger than the 2.0. What about the driveshaft? I gotta finishe this thing by the end of May and I will be out of the country in Australia for the month of April. Thanks again...Rob
Hello Rob,
the tranny will not work The shifter will com up about a foot in front of the original Pinto shifter hole.
I don't know about the drive shaft or rear axel.
A Mustang donor would make for a much better swap.
From Pintony
I guess I will have to find a 5 speed out of a late model mustang then. What other Ford cars came with a 5 speed that will work? Thoughts anyone? ???
IMHO: Find a carb, manifold, and the electrical stuff from a n/a 2.3. For all the work involved with the EFI, it might not worth the effort for the few hp difference (basicly the same as a turbo swap). The stock EFI over the valve cover intake will not clear the hood without modification to the car and engine, or the hood itself.
The radiator support is different on the older pintos. When ford went to the 2.3, they re-worked it and it curves forward to make room (from the photos of older ones I have seen). You might want to get one from a later pinto. The t-5 with a later pinto 4spd. bell will work, and you can use the stock pinto pedals and clutch cable (this is what I have ready to intall). The shifter hole will be about 1.5" forward.
The driveshaft will depend on all the other parts, includin the rear axle, so until you get ALL that figured out... I posted some driveshaft info (link) in my thread about the turbo swap in the FAQ section.
You might want a pinto exhaust manifold, check the FAQ section about the "ranger header", as the other ranger manifolds might have the same issues in a pinto.
Bill