Engine Swap...

I've seen a Bronco II for sale on the side of the road. It has been there a couple of days. Not knowing Fords too well, and not knowing the age of the vehicle, I was just wondering if an engine swap out of that vehicle into a CJ-5 would be a good idea or a waste of time and money. I have a T-98 tranny, with D-18 xfer case. Anyone heard of this being done, or should I just pass it on by?

 

If it's the stock motor it's a 2.9L v6. It's about the same power and reliability as a GM 2.8 v6. Underpowered and not super reliable. My step dad had a Ranger with a 2.9 and the motor let go right at 20k miles.

 

Waste of time

 

Not worth the cost of fuel to drag it home if it was free.

 

If you're looking the Ford Direction, the 2.3L 4-Cyl out of the pintos and rangers is a good little engine, and I think the only one that's readily adaptable to an ECJ, I know Novak sells a kit to hook a T90 up to them, and you can get a Bellhousing that will hook a Ford T-18 right up to them. The 3.8/4.0 V6's are good engines, and have a standard SBF Windsor Bellhousing pattern, but I don't believe I've *ever* seen anybody use one in an ECJ. You'd be in uncharted waters. If you're wanting to do an upgrade, as much as it pains me to say it, as a Ford guy, you're probably better off picking up a 4.3 GM somewhere, or even a Dauntless.

 

Ouch you guys are mean. A 4.0 ford Ranger motor seems like it would work, they are compact and everywhere. I like my Hurricane just fine though.

 

Maybe, but the bronco 2 only came with a 2.8 or a 2.9 iirc neither of which I would bother with for an engine swap.

 

I've got no doubt that a 4.0 Ranger motor would be an excellent ECJ transplant, I've just never seen one done. It would require a fair bit of knowing what you're doing to make it happen, and you wouldn't have a bunch of resources to see how other people did it, just adds some difficulty to the mix.

 

if you dead set on a ford engine , then it's got to be a V8

 

I am very familiar with the 4.3 engine, but it was underpowered for the 1997 Chevy s-10 I had. The engine was only rated for 175 hp. I did everything I could do to the engine to beef it up and still keep it smog and CARB legal here in California, and after doing that and changing tire size, beefing up the suspension and Hyperteching it, it was a very good machine. The only issue I have is that in 1997, the engine, tranny and everything was controlled by an ECM that was looking for a lot of inputs from different sensors. Are you talking an older 4.3? If so, what vintage?

I am also very familiar with the Pinto 2.3 liter engine, having actually owned one. It actually had enough low end torque to squeal the tires. The main thing I liked about the Pinto was the rack and pinion steering. It was a fun little car to drive. Anyone know the net horsepower for that engine?

 

Not dead set on any engine, just a good one that will not be a total hassle to put in the Jeep. I would just like to be able to drive it on the highway and the F134 is stretched to handle that. I don't like having to rev it close to redline to hit highway speeds.

 

Well, What exactly are you looking for? I mean, the Dauntless in stock trim was only rated at like 140hp (I think), and even if you had a 4.3 at 175HP, that what, *doubles* what the F134 puts out?

As far as the 2.3, I want to say they're right around 100 or 110 HP

 

Yeah, that Weber 2-bbl I put on it just made it too much to handle. Truthfully, though, I have a friend with a CJ-5 and F-134. We went through the gears a few days ago and I got him from the start and kept pulling away. I think the Weber does a great job. Just curious what it will do when I get it in the hills. Maybe a couple of weeks from now, if my schedule will quit choking me...

 

Yeah, I was just surprised that the 4.3 engine, which was like a 350 with 2 cylinders missing, only put out 175 hp. It was a good engine, but then again, I had the one with the sequential fuel injection and not a throttle body. My concern is what year engine would be the best for a swap. Any ideas?

 

Not surprising, a 350 Chevy wasn't much good for more than about 200 HP, if that for most of the eighties, due to emissions, and the crap head designs that came along with them. I don't know that any particular year of the 4.3 is any better than any other. If you're dead set against dealing with the injection, I know you can get 4 bbl manifolds for them. I've never done a 4.3 Swap, I just know that it's generally one of the more popular options in an early CJ, and most of the guys that have done it are pretty pleased with it.

 

Dauntless 225 was rated at 160hp gross, the 4.3 was rated st 175hp net. The standard Chevy 350 was rated at like 205-215hp through the 90's.

 

The Vortec version of both the 4.3 and 350 seem to run a little stronger than the plain versions. I know the Vortec heads were an improvement in both power and torque.
-Donny

 

Some of the 1500 series pick ups with TBI went up to like 185 HP as I recall. Search the web and you'll find plenty of info on engine codes and which ones were rated at what HP and what vehicle to find them in. We had a 1990 1500 W/T that had the higher HP engine in it. It had over 200k on it and was beat but would have made a good rebuild engine. I missed the bidding when they sold it. Still kicking myself.

 

If you want a carbed 4.3 they came with a quadrajet in fullsize Chevy's in '85 and '86. Rated at 155 hp net and 240 lb ft torque. You could always try and find a turbo 4.3 out of a GMC Syclone or Typhoon if you want a lot of power, 280 hp net and 360 lb ft of torque