2.3T Swap Help

[fordandmopar21]

I was hoping to get some help from the 2.3 guru's on this one. I swapped the motor out of my 84 turbo coupe into my 90lx and and its almost complete, everything is bolted down and ready to go but car wont crank over.

I did the 87-88 ecu, vam and injectors, followed the stinger guide as much as i could but the car wont crank over.

Im pretty sure its a ground problem but not positive. I have a ground going from the head to body, starter bolt to the body and starter wire to the engine (not a mini starter, only has a main power wire going to starter). I even try to jump the solenoid but it doesnt work, it just makes a thump noise and all power cuts out.

I also have one more question...Will the stock 84 turbo coupe clutch cable work in the mustang? it seems to be a few inches too short.
If someone could please give me some help i would really appreciate it and even some other tips for this swap that i could use would be great.

Thanks

[yeahloh95]

i know this may be the last thing your thinking, but is the battery ok?

[fordandmopar21]

yeah i even have a jumper pack hooked up to it to be positive so its definately pushing some voltage

[Martin0660]

To your last question first....

What bellhousing and clutch cable are you using? The 84 donor would have a bell crank style, if you used a direct pull the cable wont work. If they are both from bell crank set-up's, then you likely just need to lift your clutch pedal to pull out the slack then install. The quadrant will take up the slock when it's loose.

Also on the clutch cable, there is a clevis on the end of the 2.3 combo, do you have that in place?

On the no start .... The car should crank no matter. The solenoid send power to the starter so it shoudl crank even if therer is a lot messed up. Have you jumped the solenoid or clamped power directly to the starter side? If the battery is in the trunk I'm done ;)

[fordandmopar21]

hmmm, I think its bell crank style but im not positive what you mean by that. Lets put it this way it is the 84 bellhousing and cable and it is connected with all the parts on the bell part but it just wont reach to the end of the quadrant.

I just realized have it a little buggered up and thats probably whats wrong so ill have to mess with that.

..and yes the battery is in the trunk lol does that make a diference? but i did jump the solenoid, i didnt try anything with the starter yet.

[map351]

Sounds like you have a ground problem..
I think you mean the starter relay not (solenoid).

Mike

[fordandmopar21]

yeah i did mean the relay, i thought the starter solenoid and relay were the same thing lol

Any other ideas for grounds? If its not the actual starter wire ground itself then im stumped. Thats my last option im gonna try as for grounds.

Sounds like you have a ground problem..
I think you mean the starter relay not (solenoid).

Mike

[Martin0660]

..and yes the battery is in the trunk lol does that make a diference?

We went through a lot of diagnostics on a 2.3 swap and the issue ended up over battery in the trunk. Lousy ground paths back there and voltage drop to the front. I wouldn't take anything for granted if that is your battery location.

[fordandmopar21]

If thats the case then i will end up moving it back up front soon. Ill just check the grounds for now because all i want is for it to crank over!

[yeahloh95]

thats why i said battery i moved mine to trunk in my svo and while i was doing the swap,the battery went bad?? i replaced everyting and i mean everything, then i put a new battery in and it started right up, i even added extra grounds from motor to frame and ran a ground to the battery from the front of car no problems since.

[map351]

If thats the case then i will end up moving it back up front soon. Ill just check the grounds for now because all i want is for it to crank over!

Just a test move the battery to the front and see if it eliminates the problem, the battery could be a little short on cranking amps..

Mike

[fordandmopar21]

ok ill try that now

[fordandmopar21]

I put the battery up front and nothing changed.

I tried starting it with the key and nothing, literally nothing happened. No clicks or anything and when i jumped the relay it did the same, made a thump noise and that was it...

im out of ideas lol

[yeahloh95]

bad starter ?

[fordandmopar21]

It worked fine when it was in my tc but it could have gone bad over the past month or two. Ill test it by running a wire straight from the battery to the starter.

Maybe the starter relay is bad? i have a couple extras ill try on it too.

[map351]

It worked fine when it was in my tc but it could have gone bad over the past month or two. Ill test it by running a wire straight from the battery to the starter.

Maybe the starter relay is bad? i have a couple extras ill try on it too.

The engine does turn over by hand?

Mike

[fordandmopar21]

i havnt tried but im 99% positive it will.

I was driving the turbo coupe around less than a month before the swap. If it comes down to it then ill crank it over by hand to see if thats the problem.

The engine does turn over by hand?

Mike

[map351]

i havnt tried but im 99% positive it will.

I was driving the turbo coupe around less than a month before the swap. If it comes down to it then ill crank it over by hand to see if thats the problem.

Pull the plugs turn it over by hand make sure it's not loaded with fuel.

Mike

[fordandmopar21]

ok ill try that and if it does then ill test the starter and starter relay.

[fordandmopar21]

Ok so the engine cranks over by hand, definately not locked up.

I ran a wire straight from the battery to the starter and the starter will not engage. It just clicks once.

I have a ground going from the starter wire to the motor mount and a ground from the starter bolt on the bellhousing to the body so i dont think grounds are the starter problem.

Maybe a bad starter? I dont know, Im just trying to narrow some stuff down.