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87' FM145 to 2.3? Will there be issues?


$300DollarRanger

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So I have a question that I hope someone can answer for me. I have an 87' Ranger XLT 4x4 with a 2.9 V-6, and it has over 160,000 miles and has sat for 9+ years. I really don't want to mess with it, and I would like to hop up and swap in a carbureted 2.3L. I want to keep my stock Mitsubishi FM145, but I wanted to know if it will bolt on, or will the bellhousings be different? Any other potential issues/required parts for this change?

I am still fairly new to working on my Ranger (old full size Fords are what I used to drive), and I don't know the interchange on most of the drivetrain parts yet.

Any info would be greatly appreciated!
 


Earl43P

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2.9 and 4.0 are the same bolt pattern.

2.3 is different.

Here is more than you asked for....


Ford Lincoln Y-block pattern
• 317 V8
• 341 V8
• 368 V8

Ford Ford Y-block pattern
• 239 V6
• 256 V6
• 272 V8
• 292 V8
• 312 V8

Ford MEL pattern
• 383 V8
• 410 V8
• 430 V8
• 462 V8

Ford FE Gen 1 and Gen 2 pattern
• 352 V8
• 360 V8
• 361 V8
• 390 V8 (the engine in Steve McQueen's Mustang GT 390 in the film Bullitt)
• 391 FT V8
• 410 Mercury V8
• 427 V8
• 428 V8

Ford early Windsor V8 pattern
• 221 V8
• 260 V8
• 289 V8 - five bolt block

Ford later Windsor V8 pattern
Note: this is commonly called the Ford Small-block V8 pattern, though it is used in some "big block"-sized V8's as well as some V6's and I6's.
• 255 V8
• 289 V8 - 6 bolt block
• 302 V8
• 351 Cleveland V8 (not the 351M "Cleveland" engine)
• 351 Windsor V8
• 400 M-block V8 aka 400FMX (certain 1973 casting numbers D1AE and D3AE, mated to the FMX transmission)
• 3.8/3.9/4.2L Canadian Essex RWD 90 degree V6
• 300 I6
• 4.6L Modular V8 (first two casting runs, numbers F1AE and F2VE)
• 5.0L V8

Ford 385 V8 pattern
• 370 V8
• 400 M-block V8
• 429 V8
• 460 V8
• 512 V8

Ford Big block 335/Cleveland V8 pattern
• 302 Cleveland
• 351M V8 (Not the 351 "Cleveland" which uses the small block V8 pattern)
• Boss 351 V8
• 370 V8
• 429 V8
• 460 V8
• 512 V8

Ford Taunus pattern
• 1.2/1.5/1.7L Taunus V4
• 2.6/2.8/2.9/2.9 Cosworth/4.0L Cologne V6

Ford Pinto EAO I4 pattern
• 1.6L/2.0L EAO I4

Ford Canadian Essex FWD pattern
• 2.3/2.5L HSC FWD I4
• 2.3L HSO FWD I4
• 3.0L Vulcan V6 (FWD and RWD)
• 3.0/3.2L SHO V6
• 3.8/3.9/4.2L Canadian Essex 90 degree FWD V6

Ford Pinto OHC RWD pattern
• 1.3/1.6/1.8/2.0/2.3/2.5L OHC I4 RWD

Ford Duratec pattern
• 2.5/3.0/3.5L Duratec V6
• 3.4/3.6L DOHC SHO V8

Ford Modular V8 pattern
• 4.6L SOHC V8 (later castings, F3VE and up)
• 4.6L DOHC V8 (later castings, F3VE and up)
• 5.4L DOHC V8
• 5.4L "Triton" SOHC V8
• 5.4L "Triton" DOHC V8
• 6.8L "Triton" SOHC V10
 

$300DollarRanger

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Yes, the 250 I-6 does use one of the patterns, the small block V8 pattern. The other Falcon sixes (144, 170, 200) use a different pattern, and the big sixes (240, 300) also use the small block pattern, but are much larger in physical dimensions.

So, are there any adapters to use a FM145 with a 2.3, or do I need to look into another transmission/transfer case setup altogether? Because looking at the bellhousings (since they are detachable), it looks like the bolt patterns for the tranny on the 2.3 housing and the 2.9 are very close. Anyone have measurements of the bolt spacing and center hole for either housing?
 

$300DollarRanger

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So pulled a bellhousing off a manual trans 2.3, and the bolt pattern for bellhousing to transmission is identical to that of the 2.9/FM145 housing. Swap is off to a good start at least. Now for everything else...
 

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