In the process of building up a beasty 2.3L - any ideas on power output to expect?

JadeFalcon

JadeFalcon

Founding Member
Mar 28, 2002
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Arlington, TX
#1
I'm going to be doing the following to my 88 TC engine.

I'm purchasing a RPM Machine rebuild w/ forged lightened pistons, manley rods, clevite 77 bearings, all the good stuff. I will be using a ported iron head, stinger tubular header, T3/T4 hybrid turbo, 40Bob 65mm complete Intake, and 2.5" intercooler piping to a volvo front mount intercooler. What kind of power should I expect out of this motor? I've found most of the information sites to be quite vague on what to expect.
 
#2
If you are wanting to make a lot of hp I would ditch the volvo intercooler for something a tad bit better.
Also what efi are you going to run?
what hybrid?

Later
Randy
 
#3
Save some money for the computer/tuning. Either go stand alone or EEC-tuner + wideband o2 (wide band ive been finding is a "musthave" if you want the power...tuning-diagnostic without it is like playing russian rullet)

Sounds like a killer build, a better intercooler would be suggested (like randy stated). The volvo will become a restriction...if it doesnt blow the plastic end tanks off first ;)

Cam?
Intercooler?
Computer?
Injectors?

get those things straightend out, you got a 300-400 hp setup :)
 
#4
I'm a big 5.0 guy, so the 2.3l's are new to me, every night I read up and try to get accomidated to how these motors respond to mods and what mods seem to be the most effective. Unlike 5.0's, no one around here has any experience with 2.3l's so everything I learn is from the internet and my own experience. I wasn't sure how the volvo intercooler was rated, Apparantly it sucks, and that will have to change. I've seen a few people use powerstroke intercoolers w/ the 3.5" inlet/outlets. I use to be a ford tech, and I'm sure some of my friends that are still in the biz can get me one for free, would this be a good idea? I've seen the intercoolers plenty of times, where the hell would you mount it? As far as computer/tuning, I was planning on using a FAST system w/ wideband, however that will most likely be post-first run, I'll run it on the stock computer just to daily drive until I can get all the equipment I need to do it right. As far was which hybrid to use, I've been trying to get some 2.3L flow numbers so I can look through compressor maps and choose which wheel I Want to go with, and what trim exactly. Any suggestions?
 
#5
How much HP do you want?

I have a farirly cheap combo
stock bottom end
home ported head with bigger valves
Esslinger 2277 cam
home ported intake
home brew tubular header
holset hy35w
NPR ic
Holley commander 950 stand alone with LM-1 wideband.

with this setup and 25# of boost it cranks out just around 405hp at the wheels
At 30# of boost it put of 416hp and 432ft#'s at the wheels

Later
Randy
 
#7
Eville140 said:
How much HP do you want?

I have a farirly cheap combo
stock bottom end
home ported head with bigger valves
Esslinger 2277 cam
home ported intake
home brew tubular header
holset hy35w
NPR ic
Holley commander 950 stand alone with LM-1 wideband.

with this setup and 25# of boost it cranks out just around 405hp at the wheels
At 30# of boost it put of 416hp and 432ft#'s at the wheels

Later
Randy
Click to expand...

My evil opposite :D but awesome #'s :nice:
 
#8
JadeFalcon said:
I'm a big 5.0 guy, so the 2.3l's are new to me, every night I read up and try to get accomidated to how these motors respond to mods and what mods seem to be the most effective. Unlike 5.0's, no one around here has any experience with 2.3l's so everything I learn is from the internet and my own experience. I wasn't sure how the volvo intercooler was rated, Apparantly it sucks, and that will have to change.
Click to expand...


You read everynight to learn ...under the cover of darkness, the way of the 4 banger! lol , your not alone. There really are not to many people out there who know anything about a 2.3, let alone a turbo 2.3.

2.3T's best "effective" mods are opening it up to breath (just like a 5.0 ;o). The head dont flow to well, and the most gains will be seen with opening it up. The harder you breathe on it, the more you want to open its ability to flow....Hence the Ported head, big vavles (only effective if ported right), a nice cam with good lift and duration.

The volvo intercooler is a good cheap-midrange intercooler...the surface area alone darfs most other junk yard pulls, not to mention its abundant. Its down side is its overall "flow" ability start to restrict it (rumor'd...home tested conclusion's from what i have seen). Some people have said the end tanks pop off (plastic..crimped on)...i havent seen that personally.

A power-stroke intercooler would be awesome, if i recall the demensions are to big to fit in a mustang, it has to be shortend (and the front core support modified a little)....im *guessing* it was Brantley who had the powerstroke? maybe he will pipe up.

Overall the volvo cooler is good...im using something similar (a Saab 9000) ..its just wider than the volvo one (still plastic end tanks). I plan on making 300+ by the end of this year with it...so its all about what you want your combo to be :)

mine is close to randy's...kinda ;) i set it up so *hopefully* i dont have to open it up anymore to do mods.

2.3 86 t/c block honed , re-ringed/bearing/seals. stock crank/rods/pistons.
=======================================================
Pinto oval port head, ported & polished chambers, portmatched big valve's (1.89 intake 1.59 exhuast)
-Ranger cam-roller (someday a planned a-237)
=======================================================
Ported E-6
Gutted/Ported/knifedged tall (pre-87-88) intake
===================================
Computer-
La3 with Big vam +k-N filter

Boost-
Homemade boost controler
Stock (polished :) ) T3 (oil cooled)
2.5 inch IC piping
Saab 9000 IC

Kill list(worthy of saying anything about)
94 GT mustang
---- trick flow intake and full MAC exhuast(shorty- ProChamber-flow path catback)

200X? turbo Focus
---- not sure the specs...guy didnt stop and chat after his lesson :)

soon to come-----
Finish my nitrous-works install (just drill the dang hole in the intake for the foger!!)

wideband (hopefully next week's paycheck !!!!!)
kirban(or similar) AFPR

dreaming sometime end of this year...
Tubular header
MAYBE....a hybrid, i want over 300hp on my stock t3!
 
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