86 mustang 2.3 into my 96 ranger 2.3?
 

Hey guys I have a 1996 ranger 5 speed manual 2.3 xlt 2wd. My engine recently overheated, so I’m looking for a replacement, and I always wanted to have a 2.3 turbo engine swapped into it. I found a 86 mustang, someone’s doing a 5.0 swap on, but it still has the 2.3t running and driving. He’s willing to sell me everything including the wiring harness, dash, fully dressed engine. Is it possibly just to do a straight swap with everything? Will the motor bolt up in the same motor mounts? Can I modify the t5 trans to fit? Thanks guys

Welcome to the forum

Yes they are exactly the same engine(2.3l SOHC Lima) so mounts are the same

T5 shifter will come up thru the floor at the front of the Ranger seats, so not ideal, but you can make a custom bent shifter to make it usable
I have read you can swap out the T5 Mustang tail shaft for an T5 S10(truck) tail shaft, but never done that myself
S10 T5 trans: https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/...LdZ/s-l225.jpg
Mustang T5: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/PrgAA...xGT/s-l225.jpg

You can see the Mustang's shifter is about 5" farther back that the truck shifter

You would also need a different drive shaft, not sure if there is an off-the-shelf one that fits, or if you have to make one

Your current Rangers M5R1 transmission will bolt to the 2.3l Turbo, so you can use it, and drive shaft would be the same

thanks for all the help and information! So should I just use the whole wiring harness from the svo? Would it be easier to do that with the stock svo ecu or just run a standalone?

You have to use the "computers" whole wiring harness from the Mustang, its a totally different system that the N/A 1996 wiring

1996 Lighting and power distribution will stay

You will need to splice wires for power and grounds to the new computer, won't be simple, but its just a step by step process until all systems are working

Ford makes and sends out an EVTM(electrical vacuum trouble shooting manual) for every model every year
These are used by Ford Shops, they come with shop manual set for that model that year

1986 Mustang EVTM should have wiring for Turbo version, but not sure: https://www.ebay.com/itm/OEM-Repair-....c101198.m1985
The 1983 Mustang did have an added supplement for the turbo version, but don't see that for later years which makes me think its included in 1984-1986 EVTM

And the 1996 Ranger EVTM will have your Rangers wiring: https://www.ebay.com/itm/1996-Ford-R...-/163591908888

These are a great help when doing swaps like this