by capev86 » Thu Mar 21, 2013 9:07 pm
other than electrical issues there isn't too much to keep you from going to a different year engine. i would advise against going earlier and suggest you look at a 90's car for a donor for the long block. 1989+ turbo and tbi used the "common block" engine block, roller camshafts were phased in in 1988 (most 2.5's got them that year), and 1991+ tbi should have cross drilling in the cyl head and block like the turbo counterparts got a few years earlier. the 2.5tbi came out in 1986 so you could just find a computer for your year to replace that 2.2 tbi. just use your existing intake and exhaust manifold. the aries & reliant weren't available with the 2.5/5spd combo, but i bet you could get the computer from a same year daytona that is thus equipped and have a very zippy car with a stick shift.
on early 80's cars the big thing to consider is there's no fuel pump hole on a common block, so you will want to get a later tank and run the tbi or turbo fuel delivery system or stick with a 1988 or earlier engine block (even the 87/88 turbo II block had the hole). you could also upgrade to fuel injection if you have a donor car. the beautiful thing about these cars is that all their spawn share the same under-hood dimensions and design parameters so most swaps are pretty much a plug and play. i'm putting a 2.5T1 w/ T2 package, 523/568 hybrid 5spd, Daytona Shelby CS front sway bar and rear axle, 1991+ k frame/control arms/knuckles, and Spirit R/T 4 wheel 11" vented disc brakes into my 1986 K wagon. the only thing requiring some fab work is grafting the 1992 daytona iroc 2.5T1/5spd harness in place of the tbi engine controls and just keeping the lights. deleting all that crap for the second computer, the original gauges will still work and i even get to keep cruise control because the donor car had cruise.
now, putting my spare 2.5 engine from my 91 dynasty in my 87 Ram 50 (carb) and keeping it all mitsubishi otherwise....that will be very hard!