New to 2.3L. Help with some ideas.

CAI ( .5 HP gain ) http://jman.stangnet.com/coldair.htm

Turbo swap ( 100hp -200hp gain) http://projecthp.ford23.com/dailydriver.html

TurboFord.org http://turboford.org/index.shtml

http://mikesvorinich.itgo.com/index.htm

http://www.40bob.com/ (click on FAQ also for imfo on which years came with what stuff)

http://hometown.aol.com/forced/ this is a locals slow 2.3 (j/k )

You could build your own cold-air intake setup for about $50, but you can also buy one for about $100. You'll gain like 1-2hp at the most. A better recommendation for making some power naturally aspirated would be to find a ranger exhaust manifold, A237 cam, free-flowing exhaust, port/polish heads, and maybe higher compression. You could make ~140hp with these mods.

For a turbo swap, you'll need to find a donor car. The most popular is a Thunderbird Turbo Coupe (TC for short). You can pull out the motor, and drop it into your current Mustang with minimal modifications (exhaust, splice a couple wires, and a new ECU), for anywhere between $500-$2000, depending on what kind of/how many parts you buy for it, and how much overhauling you do. With ~15lbs boost, volvo front-mount intercooler, a full 3" exhaust, and a big Vane Air Meter, you can expect to make about 230hp or so.

Bolting up just a turbocharger to your current 2.3 isn't a good idea, since the cast pistons will probably blow up once the engine detonates once.

Pro-Hawk, the correct link for Mike SVOR is:
http://msvorinich.itgo.com/

jasoncarmony said:

Where could I buy the cold air intake?

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Not sure where you go to find a CAI already made, but you can click on that site that shows you how to make it and modify pices of it if you want to make it easier as you go. The exhaust is pretty simple since a shop will do most if not all of the work for a price. Look on ebay for a ranger mainifold / header, or ask here on the wanted forums. Its off like a 90-95 ish I think and you just bolt it up and the O2 sensor after that drive it down to the muffler shop and they finnish it. Now go try and buy your muffler and cat off ebay or something because a exhaust shops marks theres up 200% over what you can get it for your self. Look for a Catco brand cat they are good, if you see some on ebay for sale but not your size email the guy because he maybe a dealer and can still get it cheaper. If you are going N/A I would either use the stock 2" ID or a 2 1/4" ID pipe with a High flow cat/ muffler. (If your going to go turbo save your money and wait for the big exhaust you'll need with the turbo) If your car has the pre cat that bolts right up near the mainifold delete it. Now if your going balls to the wall on a N/A 2.3L you NEED the head ported and polished and the A237 cam wouldn't hurt either maybe even mill the head a hair to get more compression. I'm not sure gutting your intakes would help but I would polish them out some. If you can and your car don't have MAF switch to it and use a 94-95' GTs with the GTs 19lb injectors also. That should get you 150hp and then strap on a 50-75hp nitrous and have some fun

The TC you really want to get is a 87-88' TC check it out first and try and make sure its got the 87-88' motor in it also. There are small signs to look for like the exhaust mainifold will have E6 on and is what you want. The older E3 will crack before you eyes easy.

I think I should make a N/A 2.3L just for the heck of it, anyone got a 2.3L DP head with intakes for cheap

Pro-Hawk said:

I think I should make a N/A 2.3L just for the heck of it, anyone got a 2.3L DP head with intakes for cheap

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I will once I get my turbo swap done.