This past winter, I made a commitment that when it got too hot to work outdoors, to investigate the possibilities of installing a Zetec into Rusty, my parts car. Well, it is now 100 degrees in the shade. That not only is too hot, it is too damned hot!
The plan was too look at two transmission option. The Ford Type 9 and Ford Ranger M5R1. The Type 9 should install into the Alpine without tunnel modification. Not so the M5. Both locate the shifter in the wrong place, but can be relocated without huge problems. The Type 9 is from a Merkur, which means it has the same bell housing bolt pattern as the M5. That is an issue.
Here is photo of the Zetec bell housing pattern laid on the Type 9.
As you can see, only 3 bolt holes align. Once again, an addressable problem. But not at this time.
Another problem. Starter location.
This is an issue that needs to be addressed as starter interference is a major issue when swapping engines into the Alpine. I'm pretty sure that a Ford 2.3 starter would fit, but the engine block would have to be trimmed. Unfortunately, the M5 transmission locates the starter in the same location.
Bill
The plan was too look at two transmission option. The Ford Type 9 and Ford Ranger M5R1. The Type 9 should install into the Alpine without tunnel modification. Not so the M5. Both locate the shifter in the wrong place, but can be relocated without huge problems. The Type 9 is from a Merkur, which means it has the same bell housing bolt pattern as the M5. That is an issue.
Here is photo of the Zetec bell housing pattern laid on the Type 9.
As you can see, only 3 bolt holes align. Once again, an addressable problem. But not at this time.
Another problem. Starter location.
This is an issue that needs to be addressed as starter interference is a major issue when swapping engines into the Alpine. I'm pretty sure that a Ford 2.3 starter would fit, but the engine block would have to be trimmed. Unfortunately, the M5 transmission locates the starter in the same location.
Bill