I am building a 47Cj2a jeep and want to use a 2.3 / Pinto engine. My question is what all ford vehicles came with the 2.3 for a donor? My plans are a 2.3, c-4 , D18 transfer case with 5:38- 1 gears. Did this engine come fuel injected and if so how difficult would it be to keep the fuel injection. It seems like everybody wants to use a chevy v8 or chevy v6. Thanks for you help.

 

It came in a lot of vehicles over the years in various forms. Introduced in '74 it came in the Mustang II, Mercury Capri and the Pinto/Bobcat, then later in the Fox body Mustang, Ford Courier, (which was also offered with Mazda engines) Ranger/Bronco II, a turbocharged version came in the Mustang SVO and the Thunderbird S/C...the list goes on. It came carbed for much of its life but in later years came with EFI, and the distributor was dropped for a crank trigger ignition. There were different heads as well, most with round intake ports and some with D-shaped ports. Also, there was a version with 2 sparkplugs per cylinder.

Beware of the 2.0 built during the '80s and offered in the Ranger/Bronco II. It looks just like the 2.3 and is just a smaller bore version of it. There was an earlier 2.0 that was built from '71-'74 but it looks a fair amount different from the 2.3 and is physically a bit smaller. It's getting a lot harder to come by so you probably won't run across as many of them.

In the '90s the 2.3 evolved into a 2.5 by stroking it. They are (I believe) all crank trigger ignition and so don't have a distributor, nor a provision for one. Whenever you find a vehicle that has what you think may be a 2.3 you'll need to check the engine compartment decal to be sure. If it's a Ranger or Bronco II depending on what year, it may be a 2.0 or a 2.5.

You can keep the EFI if you're prepared to do some wiring. There are quite a few sensors needed, and in some cases wire size and length can be critical to giving the proper signal to the computer. In that vehicle it would certainly be easier to keep it carbed but I like a little challenge and would opt for the EFI. I'd get the complete wiring harness from the donor vehicle and adapt it to fit the Jeep.

Sounds like an interesting project. Keep us informed.

 

Hey TigerDan and thanks for all the info. I sure like the sound of the turbo version and I will post up evey now and then. I have a few prospects and still debating on the EFI or carb. Again thanks.

 

i would use one out of a88-91efi mustang ,don't like the dual plug heads,non distributer engines,bunch of junk to me.like carrying an extra dizzy in my tool box in case the hall effect sensor goes bad,hate dealing with dis coil on plug stuff,put a ranger, or h.O camshaft in it from esslinger.com,i love the 2.3 motor,one of the best engines ford made,will never die,always trusty,wish ford made a mini van with a 2.3,,but now everything is d.i.s garbage or aluminum headed garbage,,stick with efi from the mustang,carbs are ok but efi is better for cold climates and reliability

 

USE a pinto intake and you can run a standard ford 2 barrel carb

 

I will have to disagree, in a nice kinda way, in regards to the DIS being crap. It is better than what it replaced. It isn't exactly too futuristic, from the vibe that mustangman gives about it, either.

I will NEVER miss changing a dizzy out EVER AGAIN. Or the cap or rotor, for that matter. Shoot, when I had my MGB, I could not believe the prices on the dizzys offered....thank goodness, I got a 3.4L v6 Camaro with coil packs. $500ish for a dizzy....$100ish for a coil pack, if that....no contest.

Aluminum heads, DIS, COP, are all fine with technology these days. If I have learned to embrace electronic AUTOMATIC transmissions or slushboxes period, anyone can take a leap forward.

The fuel injection should not be too difficult to keep. 94-earlier used speedo cables still, so that helps, plus the engine harness comes right out after unplugging from the firewall. Since 47 model anything doesn't have much wiring, splicing should be easy. Run an inline fuel pump as be done.

I've had 3 carb 4 cylinder vehicles then the Ranger. The Ranger wins easily in ANY aspect of performance or maintenance.

 

gee its fun when you have to wonder which coil on plug is fried on a v10 or having to change the crank sensor or when your aluminum head warps or cracks,used dizzy's are dirt cheap,easy to rebuild them cheap,with everything new there is a new problem,ah iam stuck with oldschool tech,,,to each his own,,