Looking for an overview of the 2.3. From What year has it been produced? What changes to the block/head? When did it go ohc? Bore x stroke? Changes in cranks/rods compression ratios? Inductionexhaust systems, carbed until when? Anything and all helps. thanks Matt.

 

Me, too...

 

To get into specifics will require some research and checking of facts for me (some folks keep all that in their heads...I can't, it's already full!) I have to get to work so I don't much time right now, I'll just give you what I have off the top of my head and then get back to you this afternoon after work if no one else has filled in the blanks between now and then.

I started typing this and then found this on Wikipedia:

The 2.3 Lima engine was always OHC and was introduced in 1974, based largely on the German-designed 2.0. It has a 96.0 mm (3.78 in) bore and 79.5 mm (3.13 in) stroke. This version lasted until 1997 in various guises. The earliest units produced 66 kW (88 hp) and 160 N·m (118 ft·lbf). This engine has also been known as the Lima engine, after the Lima Engine plant in Lima, Ohio, where it was first manufactured (it was also later manufactured in Brazil).

In the 1980s, a turbocharged and intercooled version (with 0.1 mm less stroke) was used in the famous Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe. This was made practical by the introduction of Ford's EECIV port fuel injection system; 1984's 2.3 Liter Turbo was the first production implementation of that advance in technology, which paved the way for across the board use in many Ford passenger car and light truck engines (the turbo version never made it into any ford truck body). Output for this turbo/intercooled version was 142 kW (190 hp) and 325 N·m (240 ft·lbf) for the 1987-88 models with the (T-5) 5-speed manual transmission. The turbocharged and intercooled 2.3 was also used in the 1984-86 Mustang SVO, while the 1983-1984 Mustang TurboGT, 1985-89 Merkur XR4Ti, 1983-1986 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe and 1984-1986 Mercury Cougar XR7 skipped the intercooler on their turbo versions (the non intercooled only produced 180hp and 205ft lb of torque).

A dual-spark version (with two spark plugs per cylinder and distributorless ignition) was introduced in the 1989 Ford Ranger and 1991 Ford Mustang. This version produced 78 kW (105 hp) and 183 N·m (135 ft·lbf).

Applications:
Non-turbo
Ford Pinto
Ford Ranger/Mazda B-Series
Ford Mustang
Ford Taunus Argentinia models
Ford Fairmont
Mercury Bobcat
Mercury Capri
Ford Mustang II
Mercury Zephyr
1983-1986 Ford LTD (Optional)

Turbo
1979-1980 Ford Mustang, Mercury Capri (carbureted)
1980 Ford Fairmont, Mercury Zephyr (carbureted)
1985-1989 Merkur XR4Ti
1983-1986 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
1984-1986 Mercury Cougar XR7
1983-1984 Mustang TurboGT (W Code)
1983-1984 Capri Turbo RS

Turbo/Intercooler
1987-1988 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
1984-1986 Ford Mustang SVO

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Pinto_engine

 

Thanks for the reply. Has there been any differences in deck height or intake/exhaust mounting surfaces/bolt patterns? For example if you had an exhaust manifold off of a mid-90's ranger would it bolt up to a head from the late seventies etc? Are the heads interchangable? Internal chnges? Are all the bell-housing bolt patterns the same? Are these internally or externally balanced, any changes to balance weight like the 28 vs 50 oz on the 302? Thanks, Matt.

 

Wow, THAT'S off the top of your head?? I'm impressed!

What you have there is plenty for me; I could not make the connection between my '87 and my buddy's Pinto, but now it makes more sense.

It will be interesting to see your answer to Mattri's 2nd post, but I'm satisfied...

 

No no no...don't give me too much credit. This much was off the top of my head:

The rest came from the Wikipedia article!

 

Hahaa! Why tell us, Dan, just bask in the glow...

 

I'll get to that as soon as I can...in the middle of about a million things right now, getting ready for the storm that's supposed to hit tonight or tomorrow...

 

Okay, here's a bit more info:

2.3L SOHC (Lima)
Years produced: 1974-1996
Block: Cast iron
Head: Cast iron
Bore: 3.780″
Stroke: 3.126″
Bore spacing: 4.173″
Main journal dia.: 2.3986″
Rod journal dia.: 2.0468″
Connecting rod length (mean): 5.2047″
Crankshaft centerline to deck: 8.368″
Compression distance: 1.583″ piston pin to top of piston

Note: A 2.0 version was produced from 1983-1987 which shared all the dimensions of the 2.3 except for the bore, which was 3.520" as opposed to 3.780" of the 2.3.

As you can see there were no major production changes to the basic structure during those years. Some significant changes however are mostly to be found in the heads. There were oval-port heads, D-port heads, twin-plug heads...carburated and fuel injected versions...these are the areas where you'll find the differences in manifold configurations. D-port manifolds should be used on D-port heads etc.

The racers are the guys who can tell you the hot combinations. But as far as I know any head can be used on any block.

Also, these engines were internally balanced. The bellhousing bolt pattern was never changed and is shared with the German 2.0

 

Awesome, thanks for the information.

 

Excellent, Dan, thanks very much!

 

I am not a professional, but I did sleep at a ... Heh.
I *thought* that the crankshaft had some journal diameter/width changes in there somewhere, so that they could lessen friction.
I do not remember any Squaremont or Zephoid having a turbo charged engine,
just the bird, mustang, and merkur.
FWIW, the 2.5 is a stroked 2.3, all else being equal.
tom

 

The block had several changes thru the years.
*A tapped boss was added on the passenger side for turbo oil return.
*Rear main seal was changed from 2 piece to one piece in 1986.
*On the oil pan, two bolts were eliminated and all of the bolts became the same size.
*Late pans will not bolt to early blocks without modification.
*Oil pan gasket changed to one piece rubber. Alum pan had O ring seal.
*Late 88 the crankshaft main journals were reduced in size to 2.205"
*1994 the fuel pump and distributor provisions were removed and the oil pump was driven directly off the aux gear.
*The connecting rods are the same until rod length changed in 1995 to 5.457"
*The 2.5 used the longer 5.457 rods.
*The material used for the rods changed in 1998.
*Major change in intake side with the 8 plug heads. From 1974 to approx 1989 intakes will interchange with slight modifications. Exception is the early 1980's ranger round port head.
*The exhaust bold pattern has never changed, the position of the ports have been moved slightly. However not a problem with manifolds or most headers.
*The ONLY part that was specific to the turbo was the use of forged, dished pistons from 1975 on.
*There is more info on the site www.powerbyace.com

 

Hah. Many thanks, guys, I'm gonna print this off, it is too valuable to hope to find again...

 

Excellent info guys...thanks!