ShopTalk Forums | Aircooled VW Tech & Restoration Help

anyone out there know of anyone who has any insight into putting a 2.3 ford into a 914?
will it fit,etc etc

I'm interested too, but into a Bug instead.

The 2.3 will fit in a bug with one of those spacer kits for the rear deck lid. The valve cover will not clear a stock lid. I have been told that it fits better in a 914 because it has a bigger engine compartment but I don't know anything about those first hand.

-Mark


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Blind Chicken Racing
www.blindchickenracing.com

Marc, is your 2.3 Turbo in the baja bug running well? Have you been able to take it out much? Your how to on the website is really cool. I am thinking about doing a ford swap in my Thing all your info is great.

I know a guy running a Subaru six in his 914 with no problems as far as size. Has anyone ever cut a notch on the deck lid and fabbed up a cowl type lid?

Well it looks something like this



Runs very well. I can pick the front end up at 50mph if I try hard enough and that thing is all about pucker factor.

-Mark


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Blind Chicken Racing
www.blindchickenracing.com

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by goatmaster187:
I know a guy running a Subaru six in his 914 with no problems as far as size. Has anyone ever cut a notch on the deck lid and fabbed up a cowl type lid?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I saw a jetta engine in a bug that he made a low wing for. Looked ok since he had a drag car look but would look strange on a cal look or similar.




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Blind Chicken Racing
www.blindchickenracing.com

Marc, Is the 2.3 litre the same 4 banger found in the ranger pickups? I know they came in pintos and mustangs but I am just wondering what other cars to look for. You used to have the non-turbo pinto in it. Would that swap be worth it or is the turbo the only way to go now that you have done it? Wiring harness did not look like fun. Thanks for you help.

the 2.3 comes in the pinto, mustang, t-bird, merkur, ranger and cougar. I liked the normally aspirated engine for the torque and overall power but that turbo motor is awesome. I was suprised at the power difference and when the turbo fires off it really gets with the program. I think it is worth doing. The wiring harness was time consuming but not difficult. The hard part was figuring out the wiring diagram.

-Mark


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Blind Chicken Racing
www.blindchickenracing.com

Ford made another 2.3l. It is a pushrod engine and has no interchangable parts with the 2.3l ohc. I have one in my Tempo and its specs are 96hp and 130ft/lbs. The Rangers had the pushrod one to my knowledge.

I have the opportunity to get an engine from a late 80's 2.3l turbo Thunderbird for free. I was thinking of taking the turbo and adapting it to my Focus.

What should I take besides the turbo? And if I do take the whole engine what else should I take with it? (i.e. ECU wiring etc.)

All ford's with the 2.3 four cylinder and rear wheel drive came with the OHC engine. All front wheel drives with the 2.3 had the pushrod motors.
The pushrod and OHC engines are not interchangeble for anything. The other problem is the pushrod motors are not very durable (the heads fall apart and are prone to cracking) and do not like high RPM's.

-Mark


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Blind Chicken Racing
www.blindchickenracing.com

Thanks for all the good info Mark. I am thinking the 2.3 is going to be the way to go for my offroad engine. Sounds like a great swap, your baja proves it.

There's also lots more parts availble for the ohc engine. I looked for parts for my Tempo and had no luck. If you happen to have a pusahrod laying around they make good torque so they might be useful for some applications.

I just bought a complete running Thuderbird turbo coupe, just for this conversion..

I see mentioned a How-To artical on someones website. I'd be really gratefull for the knowledge I could gain without making my own mistakes. Thanks, John