1987 Mustang 2.3 upgrade to turbo

Racer Walsh

Go to or call racerwalsh, they have a good article on this, i think they carge for it, but i found it for free after a google search. It tells what parts are the same from 2.3 to 2.3 turbo, and which need to be upgraded. The list is smaller than you'd think. I ended up with a 2.3 from an 88 TC so the point was mute, but the articel will be helpfull for the 2.3 NA folks.

I think the '80s 2.3 cranks are all the same, turbo or not and that they are nodular iron like a 5.0's. I think the rods are the same forged steel parts between turbo and N/A 2.3s also. If you're already in the process of getting your engine built, don't sweat getting a junkyard turbo engine as there are pitfalls to that also.

If you research using a J3 port plug-in board for the N/A 2.3 EEC, then you can use the mass air computer with your turbo setup. A J3 board is about $50-60 from moates.net and an EPROM programmer(chip burner) is anywhere from $40-500+, depending on where you look. Most will say you need a wideband also, so thats $250-300(you need it with a Megasquirt, too).The learning curve is steep, but its the next best thing to getting a MegaSquirt. The MS also has a steep learning curve, but it also has a larger knowledge base and more flexibility. You can also get a turbo-specific ECU, vane air meter, and injectors and go that route. I got a PF2 ECU for an '85 Merkur 5-speed for $14 shipped through fleabay. Small VAMs are usually $20-40, and stock 30 or 35lb/hr injectors are about the same.

I found that document, email me if you want it.