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  • 2.3L (N/A & Turbo) Tech

N/A boost

  • Thread starter Thread starter JamesBaumann
  • Start date Start date Aug 2, 2004

JamesBaumann

Member
Nov 26, 2003
624
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16
Vancouver Island
Aug 2, 2004
#1
  • Aug 2, 2004
  • #1
Here's a topic starter. I had a thought today. I have read on this forum that some guys have boosted there naturally aspirated motors without pulling it apart and putting in forged pistons/oil return line. I also thought I read somewhere that 1psi of boost is worth about 7hp. Correct? So, would I have a problem with running about 5-6 psi of boost on my n/a motor? That should theoretically give me somewhere around an extra 35-42hp, seems like a worthwhile mod to me. So, is there anything stopping me from just bolting up a t3 turbo or something and setting it to around 5-6psi of boost and letting fly?

If I can get around another 35-42 hp, then that combined with the CAI, exhuast and the head mods (port&polish, roller cam & followers, milled potentially, oversize valves potentially) which are all underway as we speak by the way I should be looking at somewhere near 200hp, probably a little less, but somewhere between 150hp-200hp anyway. Thanks for any help you can give me.
 
B

BELL

Founding Member
Feb 21, 2002
722
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California
Aug 2, 2004
#2
  • Aug 2, 2004
  • #2
your better off putting the 2.3t motor in, just as much time to pull the head as it is to swap the engine. You'll be far happier with the turbo block then trying to outfit a n/a block to make it work. Your machine work for the n/a head is a waste of money. Use the 2.3t head if your going to do all that stuff... just my opinion
 

Stinger

Founding Member
Jul 7, 2001
7,754
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118
Basehor (Kansas City), KS
Aug 2, 2004
#3
  • Aug 2, 2004
  • #3
Well, they didn't just "bolt it on" and go...they also did the "turbo swap" minus the actual turbo motor. They swapped computers, vam, did the wiring changes, swapped injectors, etc.

IF you do all of that, sure...go for it.
 

JamesBaumann

Member
Nov 26, 2003
624
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16
Vancouver Island
Aug 2, 2004
#4
  • Aug 2, 2004
  • #4
BELL said:
your better off putting the 2.3t motor in, just as much time to pull the head as it is to swap the engine. You'll be far happier with the turbo block then trying to outfit a n/a block to make it work. Your machine work for the n/a head is a waste of money. Use the 2.3t head if your going to do all that stuff... just my opinion
Click to expand...

The n/a head work is already underway. I know that I'd be better off with a turbo motor, but I'm not going to swap one in. The only thing I wanted to know is will it work running only a few psi of boost. If it won't, then I simply wont turbo at all.
 

JamesBaumann

Member
Nov 26, 2003
624
0
16
Vancouver Island
Aug 2, 2004
#5
  • Aug 2, 2004
  • #5
Stinger said:
Well, they didn't just "bolt it on" and go...they also did the "turbo swap" minus the actual turbo motor. They swapped computers, vam, did the wiring changes, swapped injectors, etc.

IF you do all of that, sure...go for it.
Click to expand...

Alright, that was helpful. I'm thinking that considering all the other turbo swap stuff is required then I would be better off just swapping in a whole turbo motor. We'll see where things take me. How much psi of boost can i run without blowing up a n/a motor?
 
W

Willy0314

New Member
Jun 3, 2004
178
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0
Western Ny
Aug 2, 2004
#6
  • Aug 2, 2004
  • #6
Its not how much boost you can run, its how much HP you can make. Boost is a measure of how much resistance the intake charge has as its trying to make its way into the motor. Example: If you have a turbo motor, take it apart, port the head and intake, and bolt it back together making no other changes.... your boost will drop, but you will be making more HP. Considering your having head work done, how much boost you can run depends on the extent of the porting, the overall condition of the motor and the tune up / setup for the turbo and how hard you drive it. I wouldn't be surprised if you put a con-rod threw the oil pan before 10psi tho.
 

MSM0075

Member
May 13, 2003
741
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Central Jersey
Aug 2, 2004
#7
  • Aug 2, 2004
  • #7
If your going to go through all of that, Just find a complete turbo motor for a couple hundred.

Hell I got a complete working '87 TC for 350$
 

bhuff30

Founding Member
Dec 11, 2001
6,037
35
129
Olathe KS
Aug 2, 2004
#8
  • Aug 2, 2004
  • #8
I did it as stinger described. Ran great until the vacume hose popped off the fpr and caused fuel pressure to drop 15psi.
 

JamesBaumann

Member
Nov 26, 2003
624
0
16
Vancouver Island
Aug 3, 2004
#9
  • Aug 3, 2004
  • #9
bhuff30 said:
I did it as stinger described. Ran great until the vacume hose popped off the fpr and caused fuel pressure to drop 15psi.
Click to expand...

How much psi were you running?
 

bhuff30

Founding Member
Dec 11, 2001
6,037
35
129
Olathe KS
Aug 3, 2004
#10
  • Aug 3, 2004
  • #10
JamesBaumann said:
How much psi were you running?
Click to expand...
was running 9, got greedy and went to 15 without a problem.
 

Stinger

Founding Member
Jul 7, 2001
7,754
24
118
Basehor (Kansas City), KS
Aug 3, 2004
#11
  • Aug 3, 2004
  • #11
The rods and crank are the same as the turbo motors. The only difference is the cast pistons and higher compression ratio.

If you don't go lean, detonate, etc., I don't see why you couldn't run 20psi. The problem is cast pistons like to destroy themselves at the first sign of trouble, which is bound to happen at some point (bad tune, detonation, a sneeze, whatever). When that happens, you take out the block as well.
 

JamesBaumann

Member
Nov 26, 2003
624
0
16
Vancouver Island
Aug 3, 2004
#12
  • Aug 3, 2004
  • #12
All this will give me somethig to think about. However, Im thinking that considering the fact that I am probably going to have my head milled out some, that will increase my compression ratio even higher and could cause more trouble. I think what I'll do is start a 2.3T project on a different Mustang, not this one. I was just hoping that I would be able to run somewhere around 7psi without too many mods, therefore giving me approximately another 50hp or so to put me up at around 200.
 

WANNA_BE_GT

Founding Member
Aug 5, 2000
1,019
2
38
Seattle WA USA
Aug 4, 2004
#13
  • Aug 4, 2004
  • #13
Hey man, I was doing the same thing before I bought the Saleen and I have a set of brand new in the box 2.3L forged pistons. They are 9:1 and I was gonna run that with the turbo. You should have fun with those, and I just wanna get rid of them. PM me man
 

mr_woodster

Active Member
Jul 28, 2003
1,314
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36
Riverside, CA
Aug 4, 2004
#14
  • Aug 4, 2004
  • #14
9:1 flat tops? why the heck did you get such a high compression ratio piston for a turbo motor? Those are stock replacements for the carb-drawthru turbo's in the late 70's early 80's. I wouldnt recomend using them in a car that you'd like to make Good boosted power out of.
 
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