• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2.3L (N/A & Turbo) Tech

N/A or turbo 2.3?

  • Thread starter Thread starter d3xt3r
  • Start date Start date Jul 18, 2006
D

d3xt3r

New Member
Jul 12, 2006
18
0
1
Houston, TX
Jul 18, 2006
#1
  • Jul 18, 2006
  • #1
Yeah I know I have searched... I have read...

I don't see a whole lot about N/A 2.3s... can you build them up N/A to have a little more pep? I have a 93 hatch 4cyl 5spd with that duraspark crap!
After reading some tech articles on swapping a 2.3T in I see it is more than I want to deal with at the moment. I see the 90s and under are much easier.

It's my daily driver and I wanted just a little more pep, what do you guys think? Build a new 2.3 N/A or go for the 2.3T swap?

Thanks,
 

rd

Founding Member
Jan 12, 2000
3,316
63
109
Ocean Springs MS
Jul 18, 2006
#2
  • Jul 18, 2006
  • #2
There's not a lot of info because it's not done much for a daily driven car.

You can do the normal cams, cold air intake, headers, better exhaust, head work, etc, but you still may not have a hot rod.

Most of the na 2.3 stuff is for mini stock type circle track cars, and there are some very powerful versions out there. Ported or aftermarket heads, 2.5 liter strokers, Webber or Holley carbs on specific intakes, etc, etc. Racer Walsh in Jacksonville FL is the major vendor of this stuff.

I like my na 2.3 with it's 88 gas sipping horsepower, although I have 2 TC donors in the backyard waiting for time to fool with them.
 
D

d3xt3r

New Member
Jul 12, 2006
18
0
1
Houston, TX
Jul 18, 2006
#3
  • Jul 18, 2006
  • #3
I don't want it to be a Hot Rod, just wondering if I could pep it up anymore...
I kind of like it N/A, mileage is awsome. I heard 2.3T isn't so good on gas.

Anyway, thanks I'll keep looking. I just want a clean daily that saves a ton on gas and looks good. I have an 84 GT that I drive on the weekends. That thing is a beast!
 

Stinger

Founding Member
Jul 7, 2001
7,754
24
118
Basehor (Kansas City), KS
Jul 18, 2006
#4
  • Jul 18, 2006
  • #4
There are no cheap mods that will make any real difference in the n/a power without doing alot of work.

The turbo 2.3's get the same or slightly better gas mileage than the n/a versions...if you drive them easy.
 
B

Biffmeistro

New Member
Feb 16, 2006
87
0
0
Jul 18, 2006
#5
  • Jul 18, 2006
  • #5
I've done a couple things with it that've given me a bit more pep, noticable, but not much. I just gave it a K&N filter, and removed the air silencer, not to mention giving it a tune up.
Probably just pulled another 5-10 horses out of it, but when you're running that few, everything helps.

You might be able to get one of those Vortex valves that I've seen, if they really work, and I've seen performance chips for 2.3 N/A motors.
 

stykthyn

I want to measure mine. It doesn't look that tall.
15 Year Member
Jul 6, 2006
5,232
2,652
223
gainesville
Jul 18, 2006
#6
  • Jul 18, 2006
  • #6
CAI and free flowing exhaust is a must for any car. get rid of that factory crap. with motors as small as the 2.3 any little bit does help and a lot of power is lost through restrictive intakes and exhaust. Chips IMHO arent really worth that much all they do is advance timing and fool the temp sensors to think that the air outside is colder than it already is, thus giving more gas to the engine. on top of that you have to run premium fuel for most of them to work without knocking. Intake/exhaust. nuff said
 
D

d3xt3r

New Member
Jul 12, 2006
18
0
1
Houston, TX
Jul 19, 2006
#7
  • Jul 19, 2006
  • #7
Thanks guys! Any recomendations on suppliers for CAIs and exhaust?
 

BossHoss

Member
Mar 6, 2003
102
0
17
michigan
Jul 20, 2006
#8
  • Jul 20, 2006
  • #8
d3xt3r said:
Thanks guys! Any recomendations on suppliers for CAIs and exhaust?
Click to expand...
Make your own CAI,there is a "how to" at the top of the forum,I
added a ranger roller cam, a ranger header and a 2-1/2 inch catback
exhaust and flow pro-flow muffler(sounds nice,not ricey)I made my
CAI out if 3"pvc pipe,added an elbow and mounted a cone air filter
in the fender well,installed an MSD6A ignition box & blaster coil,
and use Mobile 1 synthetic oil,bumped up the timing...while this
didn't get me much boost in hp,it did help in mpg...
I went from 26mpg to 30+mpg(depending how I drive)
and at the way gas prices are,that's a plus.

I also have a turbo motor waiting in the corner to be installed at
some future date.

On the CAI...the problem with PVC is it will distort because of the
heat the exhaust manifold...what I did is,I went to home depot
and bought 4"piece of vent pipe ducting in the heating and cooling
section
It's flat,48"long and when you roll it up,it forms a 4"tube and has
a lock flange to lock it together.
It will look like this when done..
View attachment 454321
Take your 3"pvc pipe,wrap it in hood insulation(I had some new insulation from a previous project and withstands heat well..this will insulate the
pvc pipe from the heat and prevent it from warping) slip the tube
over the insulated pvc.add a 45 degree elbow,a couple of nipples
and mount it in the fenderwell.
Some of the vent pipe has a brushed aluminum look to it so it looks
decent.

Here's a pic of what mine looks like,it's not the greatest pic but
all I have at the moment..

Good luck
 

Cougar

Founding Member
Sep 29, 2001
913
0
0
Manhattan Kansas, KSU
Jul 20, 2006
#9
  • Jul 20, 2006
  • #9
I got a ranger roller cam & followers i'd sell for $80+shipping. It'll give a 2.3 N/A a solid torque boost.
 

Attachments

  • cam1ul6.th.webp
    2.8 KB · Views: 136

ACSPONY

20+ Year Stangneter
Oct 10, 2004
711
2
19
Ohio
Jul 20, 2006
#10
  • Jul 20, 2006
  • #10
BossHoss, can you get a close-up of the vacuum lines for the CAI? I was going to make one but I couldn't tell what I had to do with the line(s) running out of the stock airbox.
 
R

RustBucket

New Member
Jun 8, 2003
585
0
0
Buford, GA
Jul 20, 2006
#11
  • Jul 20, 2006
  • #11
Cougar said:
I got a ranger roller cam & followers i'd sell for $80+shipping. It'll give a 2.3 N/A a solid torque boost.
Click to expand...



He's got a '93 which means he's already got that cam.
 

Attachments

  • cam1ul6.th.webp
    2.8 KB · Views: 139

Cougar

Founding Member
Sep 29, 2001
913
0
0
Manhattan Kansas, KSU
Jul 21, 2006
#12
  • Jul 21, 2006
  • #12
RustBucket said:
He's got a '93 which means he's already got that cam.
Click to expand...
Ooops, my bad, guess i should read more carefully
 

BossHoss

Member
Mar 6, 2003
102
0
17
michigan
Jul 21, 2006
#13
  • Jul 21, 2006
  • #13
I just plugged it.I believe there is only one,for the
flapper door....My lx is a 90,so your set up will be
different.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

F
Electrical Foxbody wiring harness 2.3 to v8 swap
  • Foxbodyjake
  • Mar 23, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2
Replies
24
Views
665
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Apr 13, 2026
Foxbodyjake
F
B
Screamin Demons Worth It N/A?
  • Blackout67
  • Oct 20, 2025
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
1
Views
259
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk- Oct 20, 2025
Noobz347
J
Help Figuring Motor Choice(Possible future turbo)?
  • jaygee15
  • Dec 14, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
13
Views
584
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jan 3, 2026
Jarhead67
J
J
Wheels-Tires Need Some Help - Brakes Upgrade/Wheel fitment
  • jaygee15
  • Dec 8, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 3 4 5
Replies
81
Views
2K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech May 6, 2026
AeroCoupe
What in gods green earth happend to my N/A 2.3?
  • Piranahbite
  • Mar 24, 2024
  • 2.3L (N/A & Turbo) Tech
Replies
8
Views
2K
2.3L (N/A & Turbo) Tech Jun 1, 2024
Piranahbite
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2.3L (N/A & Turbo) Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?