How much are you looking to spend? I priced this conversion when I rebuilt my engine 3 years ago and decided cost vs. gain just was not there. But if you can get it on the cheap then maybe it is worth it to you. You will not be able to put a distributor onto the 2.5 block. Also most do not like to use the 89 up block because it is considered to be alot weaker. Heres some info for you.
Major engine specs are
.......................................2.0........ .2.3 Early....2.3 Late.....2.5
Bore...............................3.520........3. 780.........3.780......3.780
Stroke............................3.126........3.1 26.........3.126......3.401
Bore Spacing...................4.173........4.173...... ...4.173......4.173
Main Journal Dia..............2.3986......2.3986.......2.2055.. ....2.2055
Rod Journal Dia...............2.0468......2.0468.......2.0468. ....2.0468
Con. Rod Length..............5.2047......5.2047.......5.204 7.....5.457
Crank Center to deck.......8.368........8.368.........8.368......8 .368
Piston pin height...............1.583........1.583.........1. 583.....1.2105
Differences between major engine parts are as follows:
Blocks-
2.0 is an underbored 2.3, with the exception of the bore the blocks are identical to all
2.3’s.
’75-’88 2.3’s are interchangeable.
’89-’94 same as ’83-’88 2.3’s but have a smaller main journal saddle, the oil pan seal
surface was changed in ‘87 to eliminate the 4 piece seal and holes were added in
the front to bolt on the DIS’s crank trigger assembly.
’95-‘01 similar to the ’89-‘95’s but a Cam Position Sensor was added behind the aux
sprocket, the hole for the distributor was eliminated and the oil pump was moved
in place of the aux. shaft itself.
Turbo blocks are identical to the ’83-’88 Ranger blocks but have an additional boss w/ a
hole threaded in the pass. side about ½ way back that provides a place to drain the
lubricating oil back into the engine from the turbo.
Cranks-
2.0 and early 2.3 cranks are identical.
Late 2.3 cranks have smaller main journals.
2.5 cranks are identical to 2.3’s except they have a longer stroke.
Rods-
2.0 and 2.3 (including turbo) rods are identical up through at least ’94. In fact they still
have the original D4 (’74) casting number on them.
Pistons-
The 2.0 pistons are unique and don’t interchange.
The 2.3 pistons are all the same excluding the turbo versions, which were forged. Low
compression (8.0-1) in the ’83-‘88’s and high compression (9.0-1) in the ’79-
‘81’s.
The 2.5 pistons are similar to the 2.3’s but have a different wrist pin height.