88 2.3 (ford)omc where to find parts?

nowakezone

Cadet
Joined
Apr 19, 2008
Messages
18
so i was on the lake last year broke a lifter took out a cam follower and a lobe on the camshaft. So needless to say i need parts, and what do i find out the parts are no longer availible. Now i no you should never put automotive parts in a marine engine but what else can i do. just seeing if anyone can point me in the right direction!
 

PINESOL

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Oct 19, 2007
Messages
99
Re: 88 2.3 (ford)omc where to find parts?

those parts i believe dont need to be marine specific ...

welcome to iboats ....

use the search feature also .. most things like this have been talked about before ..
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,088
Re: 88 2.3 (ford)omc where to find parts?

Ayuh,.......

In your case,..... Fixin' a Dead Horse,......

I'd use about Any Ford parts I could find, that'll fit the motor......

Did they ever use the 2.3l in any pickup trucks,..??..?? That's where I'd start lookin'.....


Btw,.........

Welcome Aboard to the forums here at iboats.com.......
 

HT32BSX115

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 8, 2005
Messages
10,083
Re: 88 2.3 (ford)omc where to find parts?

Howdy,

There's specific things that "MUST" be marine, like carburetors, ignition parts, starters, fuel pumps, etc.

Some "hard" parts are not necessarily marine.....like valves, pistons, heads, and the like.

The cam is absolutely marine but you should be able to buy one of those. the lifters and rockers are usually standard automotive.

You have an alternative too.....

If this boat is a REALLY good one and in good shape. Now would be a good time to find yourself a damaged boat with a Mercruiser in it and buy it. pull the Mercruiser engine and drive and swap the whole mess out and end this problem once and for all.


Cheers,


Rick
 

nowakezone

Cadet
Joined
Apr 19, 2008
Messages
18
Re: 88 2.3 (ford)omc where to find parts?

well the mustang (4 banger)and ranger ran those parts. esslinger.com sells highperformance parts for that engine also the marine engine has very little lift according to my manual but i wanna know how much lift i can give the motor!

the cam is also discontinued how is the cam different?
 

HT32BSX115

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 8, 2005
Messages
10,083
Re: 88 2.3 (ford)omc where to find parts?

Marine camshafts are usually ground to minimize the possibility of reversion (good explanation of marine exhaust reversion here)

You might be able to use a stock pickup engine cam if they used that engine in a pickup.








well the mustang (4 banger)and ranger ran those parts. esslinger.com sells highperformance parts for that engine also the marine engine has very little lift according to my manual but i wanna know how much lift i can give the motor!

the cam is also discontinued how is the cam different?
 

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
Re: 88 2.3 (ford)omc where to find parts?

The 2.3 engine was used in the Ranger pickup. In the case of obsolete parts, rather than pay through the nose and spend a great deal of time looking for an exact replacement, head to your local bone yard (auto salvage yard) and buy a Ranger truck cam. Plop in a new set of lifters and go. If you do happen upon the proper parts later, it's not a major operation to swap them again. But then all of this is moot if the boat is your pride and joy and you really want to keep it 100% original. Its all a matter of money and desire.
 
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