2.3 to 2.3 dual plug swap, help

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daveesl

New Member

May 8, 2004

13

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0

Sep 2, 2004

#1

• Sep 2, 2004

• #1

Hi all,

Well, I solved the problem of the engine knock, it was a rod bearing. Anyhow, I just got a 93 2.3 in excellent shape with the twin-plug head for a great price. So I'll swap the old 87 engine for the 93.

5spd manual tranny in the 87, new engine comes from an automatic.

Has anyone done one of these swaps? I know the EEC number is different between the years, but has anyone found it necessary to change it? Any other problems during the swap?

Thanks in advance,

Dave

 

mr_woodster

Active Member

Jul 28, 2003

1,314

0

36

Riverside, CA

Sep 2, 2004

#2

• Sep 2, 2004

• #2

ive never done the swap, but off hand i know the wiring is differnt! 87-90 ran a dizzy and speed density. 91-93 has DISS and mass air! If your gonna do a motor swap, you might aswell put a turbo motor in...id bet its less of a hassle

 

The Shape

Founding Member

Jan 11, 2002

2,224

8

49

East ARKANSAS Delta

Sep 2, 2004

#3

• Sep 2, 2004

• #3

I have had my '93 4 popper for about a month and ahalf now. I still can't figure out what th extra 4 plugs are for? All I know is that a couple on the drivers side are a pain to change!

 

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Dan'l

Founding Member

Aug 2, 2001

1,539

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0

wisconsin

Sep 3, 2004

#4

• Sep 3, 2004

• #4

Daviees, If you're not in a hurry, my 91 will get parted by spring, what's your location? pm me with what ya got and what ya need, they are 2 completely different styles of engine management. I too am interested in how you would repin the harness to make a dp work in the 89 harness. Good luck(and leave a trail to follow)

 

1

1fastfox

Member

Jan 18, 2004

113

0

16

Goose Creek, SC

Sep 3, 2004

#5

• Sep 3, 2004

• #5

davee ive had a 93 lx for about 3 years now. whatever they did for these years (i believe a roller cam and some other goodies) did not work too well. still slow as balls. go ahead and save ur self some time and just do the turbo swap. ull be glad u did.

pat

 

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TheNoachSHO

New Member

Nov 1, 2003

79

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0

Sep 3, 2004

#6

• Sep 3, 2004

• #6

Awww crap I just started a thread like this....

 

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140cilx

Founding Member

Sep 7, 2001

2,385

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0

GA

Sep 3, 2004

#7

• Sep 3, 2004

• #7

just use the bottom end from the dual plug engine. I believe it has the distributor "hole" that's got a cover or plug on it or something. Then you don't have any weird wiring change overs to do.

 

mr_woodster

Active Member

Jul 28, 2003

1,314

0

36

Riverside, CA

Sep 3, 2004

#8

• Sep 3, 2004

• #8

does the DISS motor come with the same auxilary shaft? what do they use in the hole? a crank position sensor? ( i know they did this with 3.8's).

 

D

daveesl

New Member

May 8, 2004

13

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0

Sep 3, 2004

#9

• Sep 3, 2004

• #9

2.3 swap

Hi all,

Well, the reason for the swap, first the replacement engine was dirt cheap and now that I'm into it, it looks like a recent rebuild, it is super clean internally (from the oil pan side, haven't removed the head yet.)

The car it came from was in great shape, until it got T-boned. The interior (which I also bought cheap) is like new.

I considered doing the head swap thing, considering using the roller cam from the twin plug into the old head, but seems like the cost of the computer and harness may be less than doing a complete head job. However, I haven't pulled either head, so it is possible that the old head may be in good shape (the old engine ran great, just knocked like hell, #3 rod).

If the old head is good, has anyone done the head swap between a 2.3 EFI and a 2.3 twin plug? I understand the roller cam in the twin plug is the same as the one in the ranger and will fit right in the 87 head. Is this true?

Thanks all. Yes, I'd like a turbo, but that'll come later.

Dave

 

J

JohnnyMustang88

New Member

Aug 15, 2004

22

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0

Sep 4, 2004

#10

• Sep 4, 2004

• #10

Dan'l said:

Daviees, If you're not in a hurry, my 91 will get parted by spring, what's your location? pm me with what ya got and what ya need, they are 2 completely different styles of engine management. I too am interested in how you would repin the harness to make a dp work in the 89 harness. Good luck(and leave a trail to follow)

Click to expand...

What's the interior color? I need alot of the interior. The seats carpet center console, and more. Let me know!

 

Ray III

New Member

Feb 10, 2004

586

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fixin Boomhower's John Deere in Troy, NY

Sep 5, 2004

#11

• Sep 5, 2004

• #11

Don't use that damned dual plug head. Keep the one off your old car and just stick in the roller cam and followers, will make more power.

I don't see why you need to pay for a head job if you swap them? Just a head gasket and cam seal... (Just to throw this out there, put the seal in first then slide the cam in from the back of the head) Anyways if you do want to pay for it, you can get some more power milling some off the head and getting a 3 angle valve job done... probably $150.

The cleaner appearance and reliability and ease to service alone is reason enough to use the older head.

 

D

daveesl

New Member

May 8, 2004

13

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0

Sep 5, 2004

#12

• Sep 5, 2004

• #12

The Head Swap

Thanks all for the comments on this...

After reading what you all said and then talking with my nephew (who I found out works in a shop that specializes in Mustangs) I'm going to use the 93 block which was recently rebuilt and the 87 heads.

I also figure I'll use the roller cam from the 93, knowing that I also have to change the valve springs. The reason for this all is that I got the engine for less than what a ring-kit would cost for my old engine. So, I get the rebuilt block, no hassle heads and a slightly better cam, plus I can use the existing computer and wiring harness.

I've been racing Hurricane Frances trying to get the old engine out, but looks like a rain delay now for a day or so. I figure I'll rebuild the old block into some kind of little beasty, over the course of the next year.

Thanks all for the advice.

Dave

 

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TheNoachSHO

New Member

Nov 1, 2003

79

0

0

Sep 5, 2004

#13

• Sep 5, 2004

• #13

I say go with the whole 2.3 DP motor. I'll post pics later of the 88 I have with a 93 motor. I like mass Air much better.

 

YellowLightning

New Member

Feb 26, 2004

146

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0

Montana

Sep 7, 2004

#14

• Sep 7, 2004

• #14

What's the difference? They are both gutless as hell!

 

D

daveesl

New Member

May 8, 2004

13

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0

Sep 8, 2004

#15

• Sep 8, 2004

• #15

Old School is Me

I'm of the ancient ones, so I got my "need for speed" out of my system in the 60's and 70's. 570 hp '55 Chevy, Lotus Europa, Turbo Opel GT, '66 396 Corvette, 327 Vega (not to mention the assortment of motorcycles, Norton 850, Kawasaki 500 Mach III, Ducati 450 Desmo).

Now, my little mustang is my toy. I thought of putting in a 302, but I like the weight balance of the 4 banger. Yes, I want more power, which will come with the rebuild of the doinked engine, but for now, I just like driving it.

So, I hand off the mantle of speed to the new generation. Oh, and 300-400hp is definately doable with a 4 banger, you can buy a crate motor for about 9 grand that will spank almost anything around.


Dave