Head swap 2.3 NA to Turbo

ILLEGALCONCEPTS · Sep 27, 2015

Can an 89 turbo block have a 96 8 plug head put on it?

I've already had my head worked over and even the turbo valves installed in it. In a lot of ways it would be easier to keep the 8-plug head. The guy that did the head feels the heads would flow about the same considering the work put into the current head. The compression ration would be slightly lower with the 89 head but I'm thinking I would prefer to keep what low end grunt this engine has.

I use to know all this stuff, but my memory is not what it use to be.

Thanks guys,
James

ghunt81 · Sep 28, 2015

If my memory serves me correctly, I believe you can run the 8 plug head on any older 2.3. You just have to find a way to plug the driver's side spark plug holes if you're using a distributor.

I honestly thought the heads were almost identical except for the driver's side plug provisions on the newer heads.

ILLEGALCONCEPTS · Sep 28, 2015

I don't plan on using the distributor. I prefer the coil packs. I believe I'll have to do something for the Crank sensor with that scenario .............I've been digging through old info I have.

James

redhurricane · Sep 29, 2015

they are very different. Can you use one? Yes. Will it need port work, chamber work to flow as well? Yes.

Lots of information here:
http://www.merkurencyclopedia.com/Motor/cylinderhead.html

ghunt81 · Sep 29, 2015

Ah, I forgot about the different size chambers.

ILLEGALCONCEPTS · Sep 29, 2015

That's the thing, the 8-plug has already been gone through. My original plan was to put the turbo pistons in the current block and modify things as needed for the turbo. I'll be getting an 89 engine/tranny complete. The 8-plug head has been worked over and is said to flow very well.

James

scotts90ranger · Sep 30, 2015

The heads are interchangeable, you just have to keep your current intake manifold.

I'm with ya on the forgetting stuff

, it's been a long time for a lot of things, and now I'm going to have to rebuild another engine... hopefully this one lives longer than the last rebuild...

ILLEGALCONCEPTS · Sep 30, 2015

While the 4-plug head has better options for intakes, I believe I have a plan to convert mine to a better design. Dave and I were going back and forth over this years ago and he made a mock up for me that "almost" fit. The biggest obstacle in my way was the wiper motor. I saw a smaller version on an Explorer but never pursued it as life got in the way. If I can find that motor and it'll work on the Ranger, Dave's mock up would almost be perfect.

James

kbeers93 · Sep 30, 2015

You can do it. You will have to change the cam gear or crank gear depending on the belt u run. Older motors ran square tooth timing belt the newer ones ran round tooth. To put the crank sensor would will have to drill and tap the block (its not that hard i did it to my first turbo swap before just sticking with distributor for the next motor).

Sent from my LGL31L using Tapatalk

Head swap 2.3 NA to Turbo

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