I know its a downgrade, but I have a good 2.3L engine, and a line on an 88 with a bad 2.6.
I think it would be a pretty direct swap. Am I right?

Almost. It'll bolt up ok. Problems that arise are fuel and ignition. With fuel, you'll have to swap out fuel parts. The 2.6 is fuel injected and will have a high pressure pump in the tank. The 2.3 is carb and can't be run with the 2.6 pump (at least as is). You'll have to switch that stuff around. And since the 2.6 is fuel injected, you'll have to rework the wiring harness to eliminate all the fuel injection related wiring.

Having been behind both engines before, I'd personally rebuild the 2.6 rather than put the 2.3 in. The 2.6 is anemic for this size vehicle as is and it puts out a considerable more power compared to the 2.3.

Richard <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Assuming the 2.6 head is good, couldn't I just use the 2.6 top end on the 2.3 block and keep it FI?
Are the 2.3 and 2. 6 blocks the same except for the bore?

Same block, different bore/stroke/crank/piston/rod/etc.

While the 2.6/2.3 heads will physically bolt up, they are different heads beyond the type of fuel delivery. 2.6 head on a 2.3 block will yield lower compression. 2.3 head on a 2.6 block will yield higher compression. You don't want to lower the compression at all. It'll become even more anemic than it already is.

Richard <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Just thinking, if you are dead set on using the 2.3, maybe looking for an head/intake off of a 95 Isuzu Pickup with the 2.3. That's the first (only?) year that the 2.3 had fuel injection. Not sure if that will work or not though. They might have changed the combustion chamber for that too.

Richard <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

AS RICHARD [POSTED YOU WILL LOOSE A LITLE BIT OF POWER , WE HAVE DONE TWO OR THREE THESE IN THE PAST, IN 88 TROOPERS , WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS USE THE COMPLETE 2.6 INTAKE MANIFOLD SYSTEM, AND THE 2.6 DIST AND THE WIRING HARNESS FROM THE 2.6 ENG OVER TO THE 2.3 THEN USE THE 2.6 EX MANIFOLD ON THE 2.3 HEAD, BUT DONT SWAP THE HEADS LIKE THAT OR IT WILL BE A DEAD FEELING ENG. THE ECM WILL CORRECT THE FUEL FLOW WITHING 2 MIN OF RUN TIME AND IT WILL RUN JUST FINE , ESP WITH A 5 SPD, AN AUTO WILL BE A BIT LAZIER , THERE WAS A 10 HP DIFF IN THE 2.3 INJ ENG AND THE 2.6, THE 2.3 SEEMS TO REV QUICKER THAN THE 2.6 BUT DONT EXPECT ANY MILAGE GAINS, IT JUST WONT HAPPEN. ONCE YOU GET THE ENG IN YOU CANNOT TELL IT EXT, FROM A 2.6,JERRY

Thanks for the info everyone. Maybe I'll make the guy an offer.
kp