I have an 86 ranger ext cab with the 2.3L, auto, 2wd. The motor is very sluggish, im assuming that it needs rebuilt or replaced but ive heard it cost around $1,000 to rebuild the little sucker. The truck aint even worth that with its ventalated floor boards. All ive been able to find localy are early 90's 2.3L and i now they are the disrubuterless motors. Can they be swaped in easily? If anything what years are interchangable with what i have now? any info would be greatly appriciated

yes you will be able to use the short block,, is your 86 EFI or carb?

you will have to swap some parts over from the 86 to the 90's short block,
you have a 4 plug head, so you will want to swap that over, also if you are carb, look at where the fuel pump mounts on the 90's short block, it may be cast or may have a cover plate, if it is cast over, you will A) have to grind out the the FP hole OR B) buy a 7psi eletric fuel pump

being an 86 engine, I would start off by pulling the VC and inspect your cam, you have a slider cam from the factory, and they do wear bad, and will cause the truck to run sluggish, you may be able to swap in the later model roller cam ($50-$100 off ebay) and solve your prob....

you can also build the 86 for less if you short cut the build, do an overhaul.. a backyard build if you like... just get rings, bearings, and gaskets, maybe $300.. yes you may still have some blowby if you have excessive wear in the cylinders....

the best thing to do is what is the budget you have in mind ? is the truck EFI or carb? but from the sound of it, its going to be $300-$500 no matter how you go

It is fuel injected and i think the backyard overhaul is goin to be my best bet but what about the valve train? can i get away with just a cam. i have a bad feeling that the cylinder walls are goin to be scored up but i guess i wont know till i tear it apart. thanks for the info

when you have the head off.... fulid test the valve seats.. if you do not leak.. you should be fine change the valve stem seals and check it for flat, mill the head if needed, and call it good.........