nealcain wrote:
Ha fellas, I have been down with that nasty Flu
. Feeling better and eager to put this truck back on the road.
I would like to pick up a new clutch and will need motor mounts.
What is the recommended clutch for this combo?
Are all 2.6 mounts the same or is there a mount that will bolt up with out mods?
Thanks for your great Luv wisdom
The clutch depends on what flywheel you're going to use. A 2.3 flywheel, engine plate & matching clutch should fit your 4sp tranny fine, the clutch will be an upgrade to a 8.5" from the stock 8". To use the 2.6 flywheel and 9.5" clutch you'll have to space the tranny back a bit for the clutch to clear the bellhousing- use two 2.3 engine plates sandwiched together or the thicker 2.6 engine plate. The 2.3 engine plates may or may not have special features for the clutch cable routing, the 2.6 plate for sure won't. A 2.3 engine (and a 1.8 engine) has a bracket to hold the clutch cable end near the bellhousing, a 2.6 engine doesn't since it uses a hydraulic clutch mounted on the opposite side of the tranny. You'll need to see if a 2.3 clutch cable bracket will bolt to the 2.6 engine or fabricate something that will work.
As to motor mounts they should bolt up, but you never really know until you try them.
Remember you will also need a 2.3 carb, intake & distributor to replace those parts on the EFI 2.6 engine. You will also need anything that externally bolts to the 2.6 engine- all accessories & brackets, fan, fan shroud- they're all different between the two styles of engines.
Your radiator will need to be in excellent condition to handle the extra heat of the larger engine, have yours professionally boiled out & rodded or replace with a new one.