2.3/2.5 Duratec/MZR help please

I've got a mazda B2300 with the Duratec 2.3 and a holed block (PO tried the "no oil" mod) that I'm trying to get on the road sooner rather than later. The cheaply acquired Duratec/mzr 2.5 with more displacement and a better head seems like a no brainer if I don't want to mess with different trans or motor swaps.

The main hurdle seems to be intake manifolds and VCT/cams. Who knows this engine platform well? Is there another manifold option that points the right way, or is the stock ranger 2.3 the only option? Could I swap in the ranger or another 2.3 cam (focus?), swap the ranger cam sensor in, and add the cheap VCT delete? What about just locking out the VCT?

I may buy a motor tomorrow, so any help sooner than later would be awesome.

Thanks!

I did a 2.3 for 2.5 swap in an 07 Mazda3.  Basically, swap everything from one long block to the other, including oil pan and pickup, accessory drives, valve cover, manifolds.  The ports on the 2.5 intake side of the head were so much bigger than the 2.3 that the manifold did not seal well so an adapter plate was used from a guy that sells them on a mercury Milan forum (amazing there is such a thing).  

In your RWD application you would be looking at ranger 2.5 or Miata manifolds.  On the 3, the intake manifolds were quite different between it and the donor 2012 Fusion, so we kept the stock one, keeps the ECU happy. 

I did the same swap into a 2008 3. Sonic hit most of the major points. Pre 2007 models have different cam timing than the later models. If you need that plate, I had 2 made and can send something your way for a fair price. 

I PM'ed your gmail account linked to GRM.

Errr. Ok, now I'm a bit more confused than I was before. The "swap everything to the 2.5 longblock" makes sense, but I can keep the 2.5 cam without ill effect? There are pre-2007 2.5 motors?

Sonic, I'm assuming you mean the 2.3 ranger manifold since they didn't have 2.5 in this motor, only the previous Lima based ones.

Thoughts on the 2.3 ranger vs. 2.0 Miata manifolds for this app?

Thank you!

RossD said:

I PM'ed your gmail account linked to GRM.

Came through as a Google drive Link and is downloading now. Thank you!!

Here is the cam timing diagrams. Depending on the year of the truck, you may have to change the intake cam on the 2.5L to the older one to keep the computer happy. 

So basically I need to re-use the 2001 b2300 cam and manifold in order to keep the stock computer? 2.3 or 2.5 injectors?

And I'll need the plates for the b2300 manifold?

VVT cams are often not very good when run without the benefit of VVT

In reply to bluej :

I used the 2.5 injectors. 

Suprf1y said:

VVT cams are often not very good when run without the benefit of VVT

Yeah. I remember when the Coyote 5.0L came out, one of the first swaps ran some standalone ECM that couldn't manage VVT and it only made 300hp to the tires.

Bumping this up. There's an nc partout on the forum and I'm thinking of trying to pick up the Miata intake. 2.5 long lock is swapped in w/ most of the ranger bits already attached/in place and I'm at the point of manifolds/accessories.

Future plans include boost, so which Mani would be better in that case? I worry about the tumble flaps in the ranger Mani. I gutted the bits/flaps, but it could still be a leak point I think..