i had an idea last night that seemed pretty interesting to me.. i'm gonna try to put a 3.8 liter v6 into an old courier around here and i want to know how much of the firewall and stuff like that i'd have to trim or if it would even work.. all i want is to build something i can play in the mud without a liftkit and huge tires.. nothing serious.. just to go play

 

Dude.. I love those little trucks!!!!! You should have no problem space wise(if memory serves correct). Unless you already have that engine, i would get a 2.3 4 cyl. and bore it out, put a little cam--I had a courier with a 2.3 with a factory 2bbl--so just put a larger 2bbl on. Get a header... Man, with no pollution s#!* on it, that thing would haul @$$ !!!! AND you would not have such a headache with the wiring and computer. Sorry this post was so long...i got excited...

Jon
oldblue18

 

i saw a 74 2.8 mercury capri engine in one. looked like a good fit. the engine is the same as pinto/mustang II, but it had rear sump on oil pan and the carb sat sideways on the intake.
it was hooked to a c4 automatic. just remember that the courier is a mazda product, not a ford product, so you will have to fabricate mounts, etc.

 

well i'm glad someone shares my passion for these little things.. i wanted a ranger, and i'll still have one *building it myself with a 91 model 4cyl under the hood.* i still wanna try this little truck with my mercury 3.8 i dunno if it will work or not.. but for now its gonna be the 4cyl.. it has a broken piston ring... but i just want that motor to play with.. mudride and all.. a header does sound like an idea.. i just gotta get some type of job... *money sux*

 

I have to say, if I could find a courier up here in Canada, that wasn't rusted out, I would buy it in a hurry. My job keeps me traveling all over the province,so I keep my eyes peeled for interesting, rare stuff, and I can say that I have only seen 1 running. I also have a buddy with a junkyard, and he has 1 and 1/2 couriers there.

Les

 

well this one has its share of rust.. but is still very solid... sturdy.. all i gotta do is put gas in it and drive it away.. i love these little things almost as much as a ranger

 

Well, i'm originaly from Holland, moved to Colorado over years ago. We started our own business in home improvement (painting/landscaping) we bought an "79 Courier 2 years ago, it doesn't look to nice (rusty front fenders) but it's reliable.
I hauled grassclippings, branches, firewood, gravel, timber, dirt etc. with this truck. It's a 2.3 aut. not to powerfull but it does the work. I replaced the brakes, fuel pump and waterpump but for $800 this was a good buy. Now i'm gonna work on the body, i love this truck !! If anyone knows about a website for the Courier please let me know.
Aalbert.

 

Where can i get "hot" parts for the 2.3 ?

Aalbert

 

Since you guys are talking about the courier theres a 75 I just saw on ebay in the junk parts section that did not look like junk. One mans junk is another mans treasure!

People who say it can't be done should not interrupt the person doing it.

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 12-Aug-01 AT 01:13 AM (EST)[/font][p]I had a 78 with the 2.3 an 4spd. Man, it would burn tire in all 4
gears. A friend had the same in a long bed. It was alot faster than my short bed. Another friend put a V-6 out of an Mustang 2 into his.
Really small. Like a 2.8 or something. It fit and bolted just fine. I can't remember for sure, but he may have used the trans from the mustang. If your truck has the 1800cc(?) Mazda engine,
I'm not too sure how things would work out. I've also seen ref. to a Brit made 4 cyl in certain models, but am unsure of the displacement.
Another friend built an 80 model into 4x4 with CJ5 (?) axles.The truck was new at the time. I believe he used a Dana20
transfer case. Just a few ideas.


https://www.ford-trucks.com/dcforum/User_files/MEPHISTO_XES/3b57c2103cd9b841.gif

"There's a little red button there,kid...don't ever, ever touch the red button!"

Garett

 

I found one! But, it is a Mazda, but still, it is a 76, 1800cc with 4 speed, never winter driven, and 21,600 miles on it!!! He wants $4100 OBO canadian.
Any opinions? What would I have to change to make this look like a ford, rather than mazda?

Les

 

$4.1K is a ripoff! You can find decent "shells" (body+frame, needs motor etc...) all day long for a few hundred. Why pay for a running truck that you plan to rip the engine out of?

As I remember the Capri V6 engine, you want to beware of the rocker assembly. It's a tube with rockers mounted on it, and sludge can build up in them so bad you cannot clean them out. In fact, I once saw a professional mechanic install an external oil line in one to lube the rocker assembly from above!

The 2.3 is prone to crack the stock cast iron exhaust manifold betwen cyl's 2 and 3, even on the Turbo models that came in some mustangs.

I have a truck with a 3.8 sixpack the motor from which is about to go bye-bye in favor of a diesel. These motors are mounted normally in trucks, and a whole 'nuther version of the same engine is found in Taurus cars. In the Taurus, it has factory fuel injection, and an "Engine Control Module" (ECM) but in the trucks ('82, for example) it was normally carbueretted, with a basic Electronic Ignition setup. I think Jacobs Electronics may even have a unit that will work, OR you can retro-fit a 6 cylinder "POD" (Plain Old Distributor)


Good luck, I'll try to follow your progress...


>=o)

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 17-Aug-01 AT 07:36 PM (EST)[/font][p]lol i thought everyone forgot about this post.
Well needless to say i gassed her up and drove it off about a week after i put the engine together, and back in it. I had to do some inner fender mods and a few mounting tweaks. the 3.8 went in rather nice... used the trans out the the Mercury from which i got the 3.8 and had to have a driveshaft made. It runs great, does pretty good in the mud too. Needs new tires though, something more suited for this.

Haven't tried the highway much in it because its not insured and i don't think my grandfather still has the title to it after all these years, hes just happy to see it move under its own power

 

Hi Desperado,
What excactly did you have to change/modify to put that engine in ? I got the 2.3 with automatic but won't mind some more power. Maybe you can give me some tips ?

Thanks,
Aalbert

 

the power is definetly there, i can get it to smoke the 1,2 gears in the automatic... i've got a 2bbl stock motorcraft sitting on top of the intake and it still gets decent gas milage although i haven't ran it on the road. The modifications were fairly simple indeed, but i can't recall the exact figures i know i have them written down or something around here, but it did require a little metal work to get the exhaust manif to fit down in there. I had to have the oilpan changed *the shop did this and installed the motor* Thats what they told me at least, changing the oilpan that is. If you do the conversion its a blast to drive but of course..mines for offroading so i dunno how she runs on the road.