OK so here are the questions I have. I have searched on here and have found that with the purchase of some 2.3L motor mounts and welding these mounts lower onto the frame one can succesfully put a 2.3 into a car that originally had a 2.0. My questions are as follows:
Will the 4speed manual tranny that was mated with the 2.0 fit on the 2.3?
Where can I purchase the motor mounts?
If the 2.0's 4 speed doesn't fit on the 2.3, should I just get the tranny out of any car that was equipped with a 2.3? Or is there any car that has a tranny that would be a "best" fit?
If there is anyone else here that has some information that one should know before taking on this project please let me know. I thank you all fo your time.
Adam
I have a set of 2.3L frame and motor mounts from my 80 parts car. PM me or send me an email if you are interested. I think the 2.0L bellhousing is different between the two cars but I have heard that the transmission can be used with the correct bellhousing but I have not tried it.
Would suggest that you do some research in the FAQ and Projects section of this site. There have been numerous requests similar to yours in the not so distant past, particularly where the transmission is involved.
I would go with a 2300 tranny unit, (auto or manual), if that's what you intend for an engine, just for the ease of the install.
Al
Quote from: ahawes on November 24, 2006, 01:09:48 PM
OK so here are the questions I have. I have searched on here and have found that with the purchase of some 2.3L motor mounts and welding these mounts lower onto the frame one can succesfully put a 2.3 into a car that originally had a 2.0. My questions are as follows:
Will the 4speed manual tranny that was mated with the 2.0 fit on the 2.3?
Where can I purchase the motor mounts?
If the 2.0's 4 speed doesn't fit on the 2.3, should I just get the tranny out of any car that was equipped with a 2.3? Or is there any car that has a tranny that would be a "best" fit?
If there is anyone else here that has some information that one should know before taking on this project please let me know. I thank you all fo your time.
Adam
The 2.0 is a better engine!
Maybe you have never heard if GERMAN enginering ?
Y would you choose to go throught the hasssle of installing a 2.3?
If you want a 2.3? Buy a 74-up Pinto
the 2.3 is the better engine.... best swap I ever did to my 72 before I put a V8 in it...less trouble even when it is damaged they tend to run alot longer than the little 2L.... better oiling, more stock peices to choose from...
Any more I take the 2L and put them in the ditch at the farm and look for a hydrolic cam motor....
Frank
I want to put the 2.3 in because we have raced mini stocks and they always had 2.3's in them and that is what I have knowledge of. It also seems as though the parts are a lot more available than the 2.0's and it is easier to make more power with the 2.3 as well. I suppose it is just a personal preference and a 71 pinto is what i currently have so I will make it work.
Adam
Quote from: FCANON on November 26, 2006, 10:11:58 AM
the 2.3 is the better engine.... best swap I ever did to my 72 before I put a V8 in it...less trouble even when it is damaged they tend to run alot longer than the little 2L.... better oiling, more stock peices to choose from...
Any more I take the 2L and put them in the ditch at the farm and look for a hydrolic cam motor....
Frank
HEY fRANK,
tHATS COOL....
I just think the 2.0 is a better engine because all the FAMOUS racing engines are solid lifter engines.
You are totally entitled to your opinion.
As far as Parts I do not seem to have any problems finding them.
Not sure what that is all about???
From Pintony
I think both the 2.0 and 2.3 are good engines. The 2.0 will outlast the 2.3 and the 2.3 will be easier to build big HP. Depends what you want to do.
Pintony, who is your source for parts for the 2.0's? I have heard that the heads are much more workable on the 2.3's than the 2.0's as well. What is your opinion on this? I know that we ran the 2.3's in pintos and that there were some who ran the 2.0's and remained competitive. I just don't know a lot about the 2.0 so I tend to lean more towards the 2.3/2.5 side of things. I won't be doing much of anything for another month or so, I am just doing the research on my options as of right now. If I could get some decent power out of the 2.0 for a reasonable price I would love to be able to just keep it in the car and not have to deal with the transplant issue. I thank everyone who has weighed in on this topic thus far, it is really making me think, which is a good thing!
Adam
Well Pintony definitely has more experience with the high horsepower 2.0s.
However my experience was that on MINE it had about ohhh maybe 75,000 or so miles and it bent the crank enough to wipe the center main bearing. Now is that too long to expect out of a 30yo "performance" 4 banger?? Don't know.
I sold the engine Carb to header and the guy who bought it down in San Diego went through it and told me that it had a bent crank. He began to mention that the Circle Track racers that use the 2.0 have "ritual" of having the cranks straightened "on a regular basis" . Now I'm not saying that that is every case, its just for me that was enough to stop doing the 2.0 thing. (Although i had already had enough problems for not much N/A horsepower.( bout 125 with my lack of tuning ability's and in front of a c4 as well)
Now Pintony for example had made some MAD power out of his spearco turbo-ed 2.0 and in front of a T5 so maybe that would be a good thought? Although I cant speak for him on reliability or replacement parts.
I can say that I had problems getting parts and the cost of rebuilding them when it came time to. Esslinger Engineering USED to carry a bunch of parts for the engine. Not anymore. They may have some left over but they have all but abandoned the engine. Also when i asked about re-boring the .03 block i had they said "probably wont go .04 And even if i did i might have cooling problems or cracked cylinder walls later"
My opinion is that if you have access to the 2.0 engine and its related parts and know your way around it then go for it! If not id say go with the 2.3 and then your "world" is opened up to you (relatively speaking). But from what Ive read its not so easy in the short nose 71,72,73 Pinto as Ive heard the 2.3 is slightly longer. You might have packaging problems with the radiator.
Bent Crank??? Thats interesting.
Racer Walsh has good parts for the 2.0 and Esslinger has parts.
The heads on the 2.0 are already HIGH flow heads on the intake side.
Just 5 minuets required per-port.
The exhaust side needs help.
maybe 30 minuets per-port.
I like the solid lift cam and the bulit-proof bottom-end.
I suppose that if I were racing? the 2.3 might be a good choice???
For the street the 2.0 is MY choice.
Have you gotten the PCCA calender?
Look on the dec. Pinto
This Pinto HAULS THE MAIL!!!!
from Pintony
Also you can try here http://www.batinc.net/main.htm
Quote from: turbopinto72 on November 26, 2006, 05:19:04 PM
Bent Crank??? Thats interesting.
YES VERY!!!!
Back in the day...
I used to race a 2.0 with 24 lbs boost and Nitrous.
I NEVER had a bent crank related falure.
LOTS of burned Pistons and some spun bearings. + some parting of the crank and flywheel. ;D
BUT ALL, falures were due to HIGH-HP and some poor engine building technics.
Is the nose shorter on the early pintos? I wasn't aware that there were major differences other than some bumper and grille changes....
yes t
Quote from: ahawes on November 26, 2006, 06:16:51 PM
Is the nose shorter on the early pintos? I wasn't aware that there were major differences other than some bumper and grille changes....
Yes it is. If you look at a 71 early style front radiator support vs a 74 up support youll see that the support on the later models are pushed out about 3 inches.
I went out and looked at my engine compartment earlier and saw that the 2.0 does fit pretty tight to the firewall already. I was aware that the 2.3 is a bigger engine, but I don't really know how much bigger exactly and where it is bigger, height or length-wise. I was thinking while I was looking and it seemed as though if I were to run into problems with clearance that there is definately enough room in the front of the radiator for an electric fan setup if it was necessary to go that route. I priced out rebuilding the 2.0 compared to just buying a 2.3 that I know to be in good condition from one of the local salvage yards and it left me really leaning toward the 2.3 that much more. While I do find the 2.0 to be an intriguing option I think I'm going to just go ahead and go for the 2.3 swap and do the extra work necessary. It seems like a lot of places are starting to phase out the production and sales of the 2.0 parts and in the long run I just can't help but feel that the 2.3 is a better option. I thank everyone for their input and help on this topic, it has been an excellent thread!
Adam
I had moved my motor back about a half a inch when I installed the 2.3L. a after market flex fan fit but it was tight so I went with the pusher style electric fan in front of the radiator.
I ran a stock hood for about a year with no issues.
The 5 speed is a sweet swap but first gear was too short for my tast with the 3.55 rear gear in my car.
I later converted my 2.3l to a solid lift cam and different carb combos.
the circle track and off road crowd have really pushed the 2.3L to limit. and with the right stock parts you can make a fun car come to life with little money and with out going turbo.
I have a couple custom intakes on my wall all tested and driven on the street. Using 2 and 4 barrel carbs...
even if your just want a streeter the 2.3L will fit and run cool in the early body, I opted to get a rad for a car with AC but I really dont think it was a must...
Best of luck
Frank
www.PintoWorks.com
Besides Esslinger and Racer Walsh, here are a couple of other parts vendors for 2000 and 1600 engines.
Pegasus in Wisconsen, www.pegasusautoracing.com
BAT in Florida, www.batinc.net
Al
I talked to a friend who used to race Pintos and he says the 2.3 is flat better than the 2.0. The 2.3 has a bigger bore so bigger valves are easy. It has the option of eather solid or hydrolic cams. The stock rods are stronger. The head is better suited to high RPM due to it having 4 instead of three cam towers. And the block is stronger. The 2.0s were race competative because of weight breaks for the smaller 2.0s. BTW this still dosnt stop him from loving the 2.0. He raced many of them and won alot against the 2.3s. I would mod mine (2.0) if I could find any decent parts for it. 2.3 turbo motors are everywhere and have forged pistons for almost no money. I think a carbed turbo or nitrous car would be easy using one of these.
Sorry for digging up and re-animating this thread.... :-)