Author Topic: 2.3 Turbo Transplant project (Read 8413 times)

Cheeseliner · « **on:** December 06, 2010, 06:32:08 PM »

Hi Everyone. I am going to take my 2.3 out of my 75 and replace it with a 85 2.3T from a T Coupe. I know i have to swap oil pans and oil pick up tubes. It looks like the 2.3T is "taller" so im not sure if its going to fit under the stock hood. I thought i read somewhere where you cut the motor mount holes a little bigger so it will set down lower in the engine bay.....Does anyone have a suggestion on this? Also any other advice on this swap would be greatly appreciated. Fred Morgan is working with me on the transmission issues and has been a big help.

Thanks! Kenny (Topeka Kansas).

Pinturbo75 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 07, 2010, 07:49:31 AM »

if you use an upper intake from a 87-88 turbocoupe it will clear fine....

dave1957 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 07, 2010, 10:21:17 AM »

if you have a non ac car the o2 sensor will hit the fan i read somewhere tha you can use another (mg?)heater motor to fix this problem

dholvrsn · « **Reply #3 on:** December 07, 2010, 11:38:57 AM »

I drilled and tapped a hole on the side of the exhaust elbow for the O2 sensor. IIRC, it takes a 18mm spark-plug tap.

Cheeseliner · « **Reply #4 on:** December 12, 2010, 06:22:20 PM »

Thanks! Ive got a spare 88 TC motor. (frozen). I will yank the upper intake off of it and use it. (i think it looks better anyway!)

Good idea on the elbow for the O2 sensor too! Thanks soooo much.

Kenny

dholvrsn · « **Reply #5 on:** December 12, 2010, 09:23:06 PM »

The later valve covers also have a valley in the center to clear the lower intake and throttle body.

Cheeseliner · « **Reply #6 on:** December 13, 2010, 06:35:05 PM »

OK. Ill look at the valve cover too. I am still trying to work out the clutch/brake pedals to the T5 tranny. The car was originally an automatic. Hopefully i can get something worked out.

Kenny

Cheeseliner · « **Reply #7 on:** December 13, 2010, 06:56:55 PM »

OH, is there any modification (out side of the fuel pump) that i need to do to the tank or the lines to get this thing to feed the motor? It looks like the fuel lines along the frame and going into the tank are kinda small. Kenny

little red · « **Reply #8 on:** December 21, 2010, 05:44:23 PM »

me i use the stock hard lines in my 73

little red · « **Reply #9 on:** December 21, 2010, 05:49:37 PM »

i just had to drill the hole bigger to get the fuel to return to the top of the tank.where the stock vent
is on the tank

CHEAPRACER · « **Reply #10 on:** December 22, 2010, 11:20:03 PM »

Mine is a 74 and the same combo does not clear the hood using stock mounts.

Cheeseliner · « **Reply #11 on:** December 24, 2010, 09:19:34 AM »

Thanks LIttle Red and Cheapracer. Cheapracer, are you talking about the 88 upper intake or the 83? I havent been out there to look at the 88, but i do think its shorter than the 83 upper intake. Ill do some measuring with the stock motor and hood clearance then some measuring on the 2.3T one. Looks like i may have to end up making a clutch pedal for the dang thing. No one seems to have a pedal set up for a 75 HB. either that or making a steel belhousing for a 2.3 to C4. A little "fabrication" never hurt anyone!.

Bigtimmay · « **Reply #12 on:** December 24, 2010, 03:24:42 PM »

Quote from: Cheeseliner on December 24, 2010, 09:19:34 AM

either that or making a steel belhousing for a 2.3 to C4. A little "fabrication" never hurt anyone!.

you could buy a quicktime sfi approved 2.3/c4 bellhousing.

Cheeseliner · « **Reply #13 on:** December 24, 2010, 03:53:52 PM »

Dang, i was just on Quiktime the other day. I could not find the 2.3 to C 4 bellhousing. Unless it is listed as a diffenent number and not just a 2.3 to a C 4. Unless it is listed as something else. I ll do it again. I was in a little bit of a rush last time. Thanks Big.

Bigtimmay · « **Reply #14 on:** December 24, 2010, 07:50:50 PM »

http://www.quicktimeinc.com/applications.pdf
Page 3 part# RM-4057

Cheeseliner · « **Reply #15 on:** December 25, 2010, 06:39:26 AM »

Thanks Tim. Thats actually says 2.3 to C4, im not sure what the heck i was looking at! This helps alot. Thanks. Merry Christmas.

rkk · « **Reply #16 on:** December 26, 2010, 03:35:29 PM »

Just a note on your hood clearance problem. I didn't want to lower my motor mounts because then my clutch cable would not clear. What I did was use a 88 turbo valve cover and intake and mill the intake down about 3/16. It clears just barley but it clears.

dholvrsn · « **Reply #17 on:** December 27, 2010, 01:09:26 PM »

Did you mill the bottom surface? Did you use a shell mill or other likely bit?

rkk · « **Reply #18 on:** December 27, 2010, 04:21:44 PM »

I milled the bottom surface of the top plenum. Thats about as much as you can take off with it not hitting the valve cover.

Cheeseliner · « **Reply #19 on:** December 29, 2010, 04:21:56 PM »

Damn. OK. The upper is easy enough to take back off. Its been too cold to go out and measure the 88 valve cover so ill wait a little longer. Its going in there one way or another ! Kenny

rkk · « **Reply #20 on:** December 29, 2010, 06:00:27 PM »

About 3/16 is all you need . The mounting flanges look real thin after your done, but I haven't had any problems in 3 years and I run the car pretty hard and have even taken it to the track to see how it ran. No issues runs strong.

Cheeseliner · « **Reply #21 on:** January 01, 2011, 06:40:40 AM »

Nice. I am toying around with the idea of making a mold from my good hood and making some fiberglass hoods from the plug.

little red · « **Reply #22 on:** January 13, 2011, 07:11:01 PM »

hey cheeseliner if you can when you get to the wiring let me know how you went about it so
i can compare notes. Im useing an 85 T/C wiring my self that i pulled out of my doner car
I dont know if you plan on going with the stock harness from a doner.
but there is missing peices that dont make sense i could
use the help. thank

Cheeseliner · « **Reply #23 on:** January 16, 2011, 10:04:34 AM »

OK Little Red. I sure will. I have the harness from the 85 TC too. Sorry i haven't been on here for a while. I'm getting tire of the snow and cold here! Anyway, ill let you know how it goes. I have a friend that's done it before. He laid all the wires out on the garage floor and had his book. He eliminated all the wires that he would not need and it worked out great. He put the motor in an ole model T pick up truck. Catch you later. Kenny

Pinstang74 · « **Reply #24 on:** February 08, 2011, 01:08:03 AM »

Nice looking Pinto. I did an 89 2.3L EFI swap some years ago and always thought that the Turbo coupe would be a nice swap. The height of the 89 2.3L EFI fit perfectly with sock mounts and T-5 trans.I worked the engine bay to fit the 351C some years before so the newer 2.3 went in fine. Everything should fit ok with stock mounts. The only thing you may run into it the trans mount for what ever you are going to install. The Pinto is a tough little guy that can take a lot of changes. The Power Rack and Pinion from an 89 Stang will fit and work great also if you drop the mount holes and inch. Just be carful if you get a high rate rack and pinion as you can easily over steer and spin out with the Pinto's short wheel base. ( know this from experience ).

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Author Topic: 2.3 Turbo Transplant project (Read 8413 times)