A hose let loose on my 86 trooper when my wife was driving it the other day and long story short I'm looking over options for head gasket, head, or full motor swaps. Its obvious the head is coming off the stock 2.3L (water runs out the rear like a faucet) so I'll know more once I get it opened up, but it looks like at the least I'm getting the head surfaced and a new gasket. Depending on the damage, and the expense involved I've come up with a few other options to capitalize on the chance to really wrench on the motor.

Option 1: low budget, repair the current 2.3L head or buy a cheap replacement (rebuilt or rebuildable) I'm out machining costs or the price of a redone head plus gaskets. I already have everything but the head gasket and valve stem seals in hand preping for a fuel pump replacement. (Provided I don't have to drill any bolts or break anything) The end result of this option is running, no gains in performance, and the same nagging question of reliability of the head against cracking, etc.

Option 2: AMC head from aluminumheads.com or perhaps one of their slightly less pricey head options for the 2.3L. I could maybe add a delta cam to the build, but otherwise I'm still looking at minimal gains in performance but a more solid reliable top end on a well used bottom end.

Option 3: Go Frankenstein and dig up a running 2.6L and coax it into the 2.3's place. From what I've gathered up to now reading here, the 2.3L Intake and carb should bolt to the 2.6L head, the oil pan may need to be swapped over, and the rear plate/spacer that the trans bolts to would need to be swapped in. I infer that I'd be using the 2.3L flywheel, clutch, and pressure plate. Also there may be issues with accesory mounting on the front of the motor, and I'd need to rig an electric fuel pump. The stock 2.3L carb should move it down the road, but a Weber 38 could follow as a replacement to help it breathe and drink properly. Delta cam, nice header, Weber carb, and I'd have a clean simple power plant to go in place of the 2.3L with enough more hp to really notice. Depending on my luck in finding a donor rig with some other issue, this option could run the budget range from cheapest to on up, but the gains wouldn't be subtle at all.


So my main question is for some of you 2.3-2.6 or vice versa swappers out there. (I know I've read a couple comments here over the past year or so hinting at 2.6/2.3 interchange) What am I looking at in getting a 2.6 block and head in place of the 2.3 I have? My research and thinking says I just need a 2.6L block and head and then I start bolting on 2.3L parts to complete it out. I don't really want to get into making the 2.6L trans fit and replace what I have just to avoid possible driveline and trans mount issues. So, am I way out there, or am I on the right track?

Also, feel free to kibitz some of the other options. I know the budget option has its pitfalls, but right now I've got less than $1000 into the rig as a whole and not much more to pour into it, so keeping the spending down is attractive.

Almost but not quite as simple. The intake manifold bolts up - piece a cake, fly wheel - not a issue, must use the 2.3 distrubitor - the gears will line up correctly with the cam. Replace the fuel pump with electric rated at the pressure for the carb. OK - keep in mind on emergency cut off. Oil pressure switch is a good call.

Opps what about the belts for AC / OIL / Power Steeering... Take it from me.. there alignment sucks.

I ended up taking the main crank pully wheel to a machine shop and removing around 5-6 mm (millimeters) Not sure, been almost year. It worked mostly but ended up putting spacers ( washer) in front of the power steering pump.

Others on this site, If I remember correctly moved all or most of the gears and swapped them from the 2.3 to the 2.6. This seemed to resolve the spacing issue.

Opps forgot to add, You should use the 2.3 flywheel and starter on the 2.6 engine. I was told the teeth are different.

Sounds like I'm not far off then. I wasn't thinking so much about the pulley alignment in the front though, that heads up is most appreciated. I don't have AC, but the alt and PS pump could be fun. If I have to I could just lose the AIR pump. If I go this route I was planning to do it with a full donor rig, so I'd have both sets of parts to swap around. The alternator is the only one I can imagine might be an issue for cross compatibility, but that can likely be worked out.

Right now it looks like the budget option is going to be the path of choice. However, I did find another blown up 2.3 based Trooper that I might pick up later as a project and 2.6 it. I'm also still digging through old posts here and gathering info. Once I get a good list of cross compatibility info and links to old threads on the subject I'll be sure to update this.

I swapped a 2.6 into my 2.3 Pickup, it was pretty much a bolt in swap- I had to convert to an electric fuel pump as the 2.6 head has no provision for a mechanical pump- make sure to block off the opening in the 2.3 intake where the fuel pump was, or you will have a massive oil leak. I had to make a new bracket for the clutch cable where the engine meets the transmission as the 2.6 oil pan interfered, everything else bolted right up