2.3 Turbo - Head Compatibility?

Topic: 2.3 Turbo - Head Compatibility? (Read 3560 times) previous topic - next topic

2.3 Turbo - Head Compatibility?

October 23, 2006, 02:35:45 PM

It looks like I've blown the head gasket and cracked the head in the '86. Awesome.
There's an '88 Merkur XR4Ti in my local boneyard. Can I c00ch the loaded head from that engine and drop it onto mine? Will I have to change anything else?
Is there a chance I damaged the block?
I'm considering a total rebuild with a fresh turbo at this point. Any ideas?
Thanks.

2.3 Turbo - Head Compatibility?

Reply #1 – October 23, 2006, 02:42:28 PM

Same head....no changes needed.

Little chance of a damaged block. Just clean it all up good, and use the FelPro 8993(?) gasket. If your head bolts are the 12-pointers you can reuse them. If they are 6-point they are TTY and can't be reused. Some folks would say use the FelPro 1035, but unless you are doing a rebuild and plan on having the head/block decks "cleaned" up, there is a chamce that one will leak too. It is stronger than the 8993, but not as forgiving to mating surfaces that aren't perfect.

2.3 Turbo - Head Compatibility?

Reply #2 – October 23, 2006, 04:26:58 PM

I can't add anything to what Chuck said but just to help you out when you head to the parts store.
The full part number for that Fel-Pro head gasket is 8993PT-1, it's about $15.

2.3 Turbo - Head Compatibility?

Reply #3 – October 23, 2006, 07:57:26 PM

Awesome. Thanks for the replies.
Here's another question:
If I install a clean head with fresh valve seals, will that have an adverse effect on the rings? My Dad mentioned something about how engines can age and tolerances decline over time. I'm wondering if a fresh head will begin to pull oil past the rings and cause the engine to smoke.
I'll be pulling the head off the car on Thursday to see if I cracked/warped it. I suppose I will then send it to a machine shop to have it cleaned and magnafluxed, then new valve stem seals will be installed. They are worn out anyway.

2.3 Turbo - Head Compatibility?

Reply #4 – October 23, 2006, 08:10:54 PM

Shouldn't have any effect on the rings. Freshen up the head, and install it.

2.3 Turbo - Head Compatibility?

Reply #5 – October 23, 2006, 10:01:55 PM

Quote from: cougarcragar;109725

Awesome. Thanks for the replies.
Here's another question:
If I install a clean head with fresh valve seals, will that have an adverse effect on the rings? My Dad mentioned something about how engines can age and tolerances decline over time. I'm wondering if a fresh head will begin to pull oil past the rings and cause the engine to smoke.
I'll be pulling the head off the car on Thursday to see if I cracked/warped it. I suppose I will then send it to a machine shop to have it cleaned and magnafluxed, then new valve stem seals will be installed. They are worn out anyway.

I'd be more worried about killing your trans with that new found power:cool:

2.3 Turbo - Head Compatibility?

Reply #6 – October 26, 2006, 10:23:59 PM

Well, there's good news and bad news.

Good News
I got the head off without any serious problems. No broken bolts, no stripped threads, etc. It actually wasn't too bad of a job!
It also appears that the head may not be cracked. I'll take it to a machine shop tomorrow and have it cleaned up.

Bad News
I feel like finding the previous owner of this car and kicking the out of him/her (not Karl, but whoever owned it before him).
Somebody must have had absolutely NO knowledge or mechanical inclination when working on this car. I've found missing bolts on the lower manifold (!), broken wire plugs everywhere, and the worst part: the entire cooling system is TOAST in this car. I thought it was bad that the radiator and heater core had multiple leaks, but I had no idea it was so bad.
For example, the freaking thermostat was lodged sideways in the head, and all of the hard lines are far beyond repair. There is so much rust and corrosion in this system that the coolant passages in the block and head were clogged. Absolutely amazing.
Some of the hard lines are so corroded that the metal is dangerously thin. You can see that it has been eaten away to the point that the metal has jagged edges after the flared ends.
I'm convinced that somebody filled up the cooling system with a garden hose and drove it like that. I'm pretty pissed off about it.

Oh yeah, something was dropped into the #1 cylinder at one point in time and the engine was started. There are lots of gouges and dings in the top of the piston. I'll attach a picture.
I'm amazed at what I uncover with this car. It's almost like somebody was intentionally trying to destroy it.

2.3 Turbo - Head Compatibility?

Reply #7 – October 26, 2006, 10:25:49 PM

Here are some more pictures.
You can see the clogged coolant passages in one shot, and the piston abuse in the other.

I'm seriously considering a brand-new engine for this car.

2.3 Turbo - Head Compatibility?

Reply #8 – October 26, 2006, 10:53:18 PM

Holy hell!

I have a spare turbo piston or two if you need one.

You might just bet better off to source another longblock though.

2.3 Turbo - Head Compatibility?

Reply #9 – October 26, 2006, 11:00:57 PM

What the hell could do that to a piston?

2.3 Turbo - Head Compatibility?

Reply #10 – October 26, 2006, 11:02:06 PM

What would you do in my position? I'm still new to the turbo world, so I would like to get some other ideas.
It's all original with 140k miles.

If it gets to the point where I have to pull a piston, I'll just start fresh with a whole new engine. At least the frame and body are in good shape.

2.3 Turbo - Head Compatibility?

Reply #11 – October 26, 2006, 11:06:49 PM

IMO just go for a new engine.

2.3 Turbo - Head Compatibility?

Reply #12 – October 26, 2006, 11:13:59 PM

Well what did the rest of that XR engine look like?

Really 140K isn't bad for a 2.3, but with the apparent maintenance issues this one has had, at the very least a jy longblock regasketed might be in order. I hate breaking them apart if you don't have to.

The bottom ends are really durable, and barring any damage like you have, or really horrendous maintenace, you could get years out of a used motor. At the bare minimum witha used longblock, replace the oil pump and install new gaskets. The engine I used for my Ranger swap was a 150K motor. I did the above and ran it. Never smoked or used a drop of oil.

2.3 Turbo - Head Compatibility?

Reply #13 – October 26, 2006, 11:25:12 PM

get a new longblock man, save yourself some time further down the road

thats a hellacious job that the past owner did man...

*cringes*

2.3 Turbo - Head Compatibility?

Reply #14 – October 26, 2006, 11:25:19 PM

NEW, new engine? or new USED engine? If you're thinking of pulling the engine from that XR4ti you may wind up in the same boat a year from now. Especially if you live in the north and it's been there for a while. My recomendation, if the wallet can handle it, have the block and heads rebuilt. They can clean the water jacket out good as new and it would give you the option of going to a slightly higher compression piston.