I have two 87 escorts that both have the Mazda 2.0L RF 14 diesel motors in them. Ford made the escort for a few years back in the mid to late 80's with a diesel motor. They both get 50MPG on the E-way and about 40MPG in the city.

One of these cars I have is not worth saving do to EXTREME rust so I was going to pull the motor and keep it for a back up.

Do any of you think it would fit in a 89 mighty max 4x4 and would it have enough power to run the truck and last if I wanted to put it in?

Could it work?

Escorts are front drive. You'd need to create a bell-housing, wiring, engine mounts, etc for the swap. Would more likely be worth you effort to use the Mitsu 2.3L, 2.5L 4-cyl diesel for a swap.

Toasty will tout the 2.4L MFI engine in later MM/D50 chassis as a better, easier idea for a swap.

I have never attempted this kind of thing before but wouldn't it be cheaper to just have a bell housing made than to buy another diesel motor and all the electrical components I would have to change than to use what I already have and make a few parts?

Which is why you should start with something that at least bolts into the truck. Making a bellhousing is not trivial work. Then the motor mounts are all off, etc.

I have never done a bell housing but I know someone who could make one. I and my pops have swapped engines before and had to change out motor mounts electrical and harness and brain box but this would take he cake if I tried it. I would think I could get an adapter made for the bell housing right?

It may not work either. I am not sure if the motor could handle the truck or the RMPS. I mean its not like that little 2.0L diesel is a over powered or anything and in the Escort at 70 MPH it runs about 2300 RPMs. It barley gets out of its own way but it will climb the hills and hold speed for the most part whereas the 2.6L Mitsubishi is a dog and has its tongue on the ground by the time it gets over a big hill. Its pretty bad when a loaded semi passes you going up a hill on the e-way. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

This just sound like a nightmare to me. You're are putting all this time into doing a swap but you are using a crap motor that is hard to find part for. The 2.3L 4d55 is the logical swap and they can be had for about $1500 in good condition.

If your 2.6 is running that bad, then I suggest you get that fixed. Running properly, its not that bad. Mine originally had a secondary that would not open, needed a tune-up, got horrible mileage, the whole bit. Some work later, and I have a reasonably well running truck (its current transmission issues notwithstanding). I can hammer it at 55mph in 3rd gear pushing over 3000rpm up a steeper hill if I really want to, but there's no need. If you're looking for more power, putting a 2.0L diesel surely isn't the way to go.

I was not looking for more power but when the motor gives it up it may be an option to swap and get incredible mileage that's all. The power I will assume would be neck in next. Both engines are terribly underpowered. The 2.6 even more so IMO.

The 2.0L Mazda Diesel is a far better motor than the 2.6L Mitsubishi that's for sure. I own 2 of these diesels now and have owned them in the past and pushed 2 of them over 300,000 miles and they still ran well. I have yet to see a Mighty Max or D-50 with over 300K on the original motor and trans.

What are you basing 'they are a crappy motor' off of?

Also I am not saying I will for sure do this. I may go with a different motor like the diesel that pretty much can be put in this truck. I have seen a few of the conversions online and they looked like an interesting option.

The reason I started this topic was to get ideas and I am getting them. I also wanted to know if the motor like that in an escort diesel can even take the RPM's of the mighty max gearing?

I was wondering about the bell housing after you brought it up. Couldn't I just have a bell housing adapter made to blot between the original trans bell housing and the new motor instead of making an entirely new bell housing?

I am certain I have seen something like that before but I could be wrong?

There are several things that you are confused about regarding this swap. The 2.0 Perkins at 52hp and 74ft lbs of torque is only half as powerful as the 105hp 145ft lbs of torque produced by 2.6 Mitsubishi motor. To say the 2.6 is more underpowered does not make sense.

To put this in perspective for you, the 2.2 Isuzu diesel rated at 58hp moved the PUP from 0-60 in 25.4 seconds. It was a complete dog. The 2.0 Perkins at 52hp and 74ft lbs of torque will probably be closer to 30 seconds going from 0-60. I would not wish that up anyone.

By crappy motor I mean it is a used motor with 300K miles on it. When it was new it made 52hp but chances are it is only making 40-45 hp after 30 years of service. It's just a bad idea all around. Chances are the vehicle would not even be drive-able.


On the opposite end of the spectrum you have the 2.3 liter Mitsubishi Turbo Diesel that moved these trucks from 0-60 in 10.9 seconds. From 1983-85 the Mitsubishi 2wd 2.3 Turbo Diesel was the fastest production truck sold in the United States. It was faster than all the big block fullsize domestics and all the imports. The Mitsubishi turbo diesel was a performance truck but it still achieved excellent MPG's. What a fantastic combination. Even today the new fullsize Ram 3500 with the 6.7 Cummins which makes 385hp and 850ft only goes from 0-60 in 9.4 seconds.


As far as the gearing is concerned, it is a crap shoot because you need deep enough gearing to move the vehicle because the 2.0 Perkins is completely gutless, but you need it to be high enough to reach highway speeds. Personally I doubt both of these goals can be achieved with this motor. In the first gen trucks the 2wd's had 3.55 gearing.

I am not trying to talk you out of it, I just hope you to look at all the information objectively before spending all this time and money doing this conversion.

My diesel motors have under 150,000 on them. One has 99,000 on it. If they had 300,000 on them I would scrap them.


I understand what you mean about the power difference between the 2 motors. I know what the numbers say but I also know my little Escort with that 2.0L RF diesel in it will smoke the 2.6L mighty max in a race on low end and top end. Granted the Escort is much lighter.

I have traveled though KY and TN several times and that Mighty Max will not come close to holding speed through the mountains. You hit those steep grades and your going 50 and worried about being run over instead maintaining 65 or 70. My Escort with that Diesel will hold its speed at 70 without flooring it.

My original thought was the Diesel might perform about the same as the 2.6L regardless of what the HP and torque numbers say. Diesels power curve is different and I cant image that it would be any worse than this 2.6L unless the might max is to heavy.

I see you mentioned my diesel is a Perkins. It is not a Perkins. I thought the same thing when I 1st bought it but after trying to buy parts and researching it I discovered it is a Mazda. Maybe you are thinking of the 2.2L Perkins that was put in some older ford Rangers? This Escort motor is different than that one.. Mine is a Mazda 2.0L RF 14 motor.

I have yet to see this conversion after scouring the net. Some people have put them in other little trucks but never the Might Max. I may just try to find the 2.3L and work on it little by little so its ready when this 2.6L gives out.