I'm researching info for a project.

I am in the US and have a 1993 Ford Mustang. It is equiped with a 110 hp 2.3L four cylinder engine. Which has roots back to the pinto of the 70's.

I have read numerous times that the head from a Cosworth Turbo RS500 will not fit the US spec block. This has never been confirmed nor denied by Ford, but usually denied by Builders.

However I have looked at pictures of both blocks and it seems to me the blocks are much more similar than people think. Very very similar.



What I need to find out if the head will fit or not, is either a rubbing, or preferably a paper or carboard template made to match the mating surface of the head. And if the oil/cooling passages could be labelled, it would be a major help as well. A good sturdy piece of thick paper and an exacto knife would do the job well.


Any one willing to help a stupid american?


While I am an american, I can assure you I am no way affiliated with Bush, and voted for the other guy.

 

would a used head gasket do?

 

lol dont think there's a single Cossie owner that doesnt have a used headgasket somewhere in their garage.....sounds the best bet tho chap

Never heard of this being done before tho...good luck m8

Stu.

 

Thanks guys, but the head pics I have seen don't seem to match up line for line with the coolant passages and oil passages on the gaskets.

I am already pretty sure the bolt holes line up, but if the oil from one flows into the coolant passage of another, it may present a problem.

If someone would like to take a small grinder to it and fill out the rest of the holes to match perfectly with the head, that'd be great.

Cossie604, that sounds a bit discouraging m8, I don't like changing head gaskets all the time, yet 350 hp could make me think twice.

 

The 2.3 Sohc is about 1 1/2 inches longer than the 2.0 Sohc or Dohc. The heads don't fit There are very little of the parts on the 2.3 that will fit the 2.0 or the other way around.
There is a head that can be made to fit which is from a Volvo

Have a look here http://www.mnsportcompacts.net/forum...73&mode=linear

 

hmmmm,

I didn't know there was such a difference in length. In pics, they look really similar. Anyone care to measure a gasket length and width wise and let me know the exact measurements? I can probably scale a photo of one against a photo of a 2.3L gasket, as long as I get the measurements.


EDIT: if you're right, then I won't like you anymore.

 

And, I have seen the Volvo swap.

From the amount of fabrication work needed, I don't think it is really worth it. Since I can't weld at all myself, I'd need to pay a lot of cash to get all that done.







Another EDIT:

I just opened up the files again, and it looks WAY too similar to be that different. The only thing that looks different is the bore size, looks bigger on the 2.3

So, not gonna give up til I get a template of the head mating surface.

 

I have a gascket in the garage but i'm heading for bed now so will look later, but from my CAD drawings i did of it the bore centers are 103mm.
If it was possible to change parts from one to the other then i wouldn't have had to build my own turbo exhaust manifolds i could have used one from the 2.3 turbo. They are to long.
I know the 2.0 head will not fit the 2.3. But if you want to keep your hopes up until someone else say the same then its up to you.

 

just measured up a new head gasket for you roughly with the wifes sewing measuring tape.

gasket length 457mm, width 146mm

bore centres 103mm, gap between bores 9mm

from front edge of gasket to front edge of no1 bore 22mm

from back edge of gasket to back edge of no4 bore 36mm

that should give you enough information to say yay or nay

just thought, maybe mm is difficult for you? 25.4mm = 1 inch

 

Unfortunately if the bore size is larger on the 2.3 then its obvious the cossie head won’t work on the 2.3 block cos the bore centres would have to be further apart on the 2.3

 

Not really, there could just be less material between cylinders....

 

Thanks for the measurements, thankfully most of the measuring devices with US standards usually have Metric on the other side, so mm is fine.

Converting from Cubic inch to CC or the other way around is the real fun one.

 

if all else fails,
I do know there are still a few Pintos in the US with the 2.0 engine. I know I could get my hands on one some how.

Then I'd just have to build up a nice rotating assembly, shipping on a Cossie head would be bad enough, then I'd have to worry about shipping the crank, but I do know a company that offers the full forged set up out of Turkey. LOL.

 

lol I didnt mean fit a second hand gasket if thats what your saying?? End of the day, Fords do break and quite often in Cossie ownership you have to take off the head lol

Stu.

 

def not thinking of fitting a used gasket, lol.

My ford's have all been quite well to me, no major breaks, just one timing belt out of 6 mustangs.

 

 

even worse, I learned more about him after I voted that makes me even more sick about him than ever. I truly wonder what people are thinking.

Such as the bush family owning a major chunk of Haliburton (sp?) which is the company getting most of the contracts for reconstruction work in Iraq.

in other words bush and his family are directly profiting from the war in Iraq.

And somehow this bullshit is not illegal.

Anyway, sorry for the off topic rant....