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

Performance

  • Thread starter Thread starter MustangLXT
  • Start date Start date Nov 3, 2004

MustangLXT

New Member
Nov 1, 2004
81
0
0
Florida
Nov 3, 2004
#1
  • Nov 3, 2004
  • #1
What kind of Performane upgrades can you get for the 2.3 liter N/A engine? I know about a turbocharger, which is in my plans in the near future, but i was curious if there is any company that make any aftermarket parts. I would like to put a little power into it before the turbo. If anyone knows anything, please let me know. You can reply here or (preferably) email me at saltycat1987@cs.com. Thank you.
 

Stinger

Founding Member
Jul 7, 2001
7,754
24
118
Basehor (Kansas City), KS
Nov 3, 2004
#2
  • Nov 3, 2004
  • #2
Nobody makes parts for them and you will be wasting your money...don't bother. You can throw 500 bux at it and it will still be damn slow.
 

MustangLXT

New Member
Nov 1, 2004
81
0
0
Florida
Nov 3, 2004
#3
  • Nov 3, 2004
  • #3
500 bucks wont get you hardly any horsepower on any car, there is a few exceptions, such as underdrive pulleys for the svt cobra engine which easily adds 50 horses, but the car was only 100 bucks, so im going to work on it
 

Jquintel

Member
Jun 8, 2003
194
0
16
Fort Wayne, IN
Nov 3, 2004
#4
  • Nov 3, 2004
  • #4
MustangLXT said:
What kind of Performane upgrades can you get for the 2.3 liter N/A engine? I know about a turbocharger, which is in my plans in the near future, but i was curious if there is any company that make any aftermarket parts. I would like to put a little power into it before the turbo. If anyone knows anything, please let me know. You can reply here or (preferably) email me at saltycat1987@cs.com. Thank you.
Click to expand...
Go Turbo coupe swap, or 5.0 if u want power...
 

MustangLXT

New Member
Nov 1, 2004
81
0
0
Florida
Nov 3, 2004
#5
  • Nov 3, 2004
  • #5
5.0 is too much money, and I'm already planning on putting in a turbo, I was just wondering if I would be able to find heads, rockers, crank, any any of that other misc. stuff, maybe a larger throttle body, I don't want to bore mine, anything of the sort, bolt on or not, maybe underdrive pulleys,
 
W

Willy0314

New Member
Jun 3, 2004
178
0
0
Western Ny
Nov 4, 2004
#6
  • Nov 4, 2004
  • #6
Are you planing on Turbo Charging the N/A motor? or swaping in an actuall Turbo Motor? If you are planing on swaping in the turbo motor, please refer to the other thread where everyone is telling T3AL how bad an idea spending money on an N/A 2.3L.

If you plan on Turbo Charging the N/A motor, Then right away you will need forged pistons, and forged rods if it was me. After that, your bank account is the limit. You will need a different head i belive, or some work done to the N/A one. look at racer walsh and esslinger.

Or you could get a volvo head. Thats what all the cool kids are doing.
 

kiddiccarus

The first widely accepted Tranny
20+ Year Stangneter
Dec 24, 2003
1,789
1,051
143
30 Mins from a Ragged GT
Nov 4, 2004
#7
  • Nov 4, 2004
  • #7
Yes Bolt on performance for the 2.3 N/A = bad Idea.

Spend that cash to get a nice 1988 TC and swap the engines.
 
W

Willy0314

New Member
Jun 3, 2004
178
0
0
Western Ny
Nov 4, 2004
#8
  • Nov 4, 2004
  • #8
If you do a Turbo Coupe motor swap, The only thing you NEED to do is change some wires around in the harness and swap computers. Check stingers web page. The TC motors already have forged pistons. With some really simple porting, and a simple rebuild you can make 300hp to the wheels for the next 100k miles. Your only throwing money away on the N/A motor.
 

MustangLXT

New Member
Nov 1, 2004
81
0
0
Florida
Nov 4, 2004
#9
  • Nov 4, 2004
  • #9
I was planning on turbocharging the N/A motor, a swap seems too difficult to me, but maybe it would be easier than changing pistons and rods, and i don't like the volvo heads, i'd rather find something else, any other options that anyone knows of?
 

kiddiccarus

The first widely accepted Tranny
20+ Year Stangneter
Dec 24, 2003
1,789
1,051
143
30 Mins from a Ragged GT
Nov 4, 2004
#10
  • Nov 4, 2004
  • #10
MustangLXT said:
I was planning on turbocharging the N/A motor, a swap seems too difficult to me, but maybe it would be easier than changing pistons and rods, and i don't like the volvo heads, i'd rather find something else, any other options that anyone knows of?
Click to expand...

It is your money!!! I think in time you will soon undersand though that the money that you spend on the N/A to get it to make 150-200 you could have spent on the 88 tc (complete car), ripped everything that you need off of it, placed it in the Stang, have it running and a full tank of gas.
 
W

Willy0314

New Member
Jun 3, 2004
178
0
0
Western Ny
Nov 4, 2004
#11
  • Nov 4, 2004
  • #11
not to mention, when you buy the tc you get bigger sway bars, and disc brakes all the way around that you can swap into the stang.
 

kiddiccarus

The first widely accepted Tranny
20+ Year Stangneter
Dec 24, 2003
1,789
1,051
143
30 Mins from a Ragged GT
Nov 4, 2004
#12
  • Nov 4, 2004
  • #12
Willy0314 said:
not to mention, when you buy the tc you get bigger sway bars, and disc brakes all the way around that you can swap into the stang.
Click to expand...
Stop it!!!!!!! I dont want to buy a TC to fix up




















































But it sure is getting to look like there is going to be an 88 in my drive next year some how.
 

stang2.3t

New Member
Jun 25, 2004
74
0
0
Spokane Washington
Nov 5, 2004
#13
  • Nov 5, 2004
  • #13
Willy0314 said:
If you do a Turbo Coupe motor swap, The only thing you NEED to do is change some wires around in the harness and swap computers. Check stingers web page. The TC motors already have forged pistons. With some really simple porting, and a simple rebuild you can make 300hp to the wheels for the next 100k miles. Your only throwing money away on the N/A motor.
Click to expand...

Our you can dump the ford electronics and dump in the dodge system.
 

Stinger

Founding Member
Jul 7, 2001
7,754
24
118
Basehor (Kansas City), KS
Nov 5, 2004
#14
  • Nov 5, 2004
  • #14
MustangLXT said:
i don't like the volvo heads, i'd rather find something else, any other options that anyone knows of?
Click to expand...

Why don't you like the volvo head?

Yeah, I know of another option...the stock 2.3 head...why not just use it?
 

MustangLXT

New Member
Nov 1, 2004
81
0
0
Florida
Nov 5, 2004
#15
  • Nov 5, 2004
  • #15
Stinger said:
Why don't you like the volvo head?

Yeah, I know of another option...the stock 2.3 head...why not just use it?
Click to expand...

How much work is involved in the Volvo head? How much would I actually have to fabricate (someone told me that there was some simple fabrication involved) and would the amount of power coming out of it be worth it? also, what volvo would I be taking it off of?
 

stang2.3t

New Member
Jun 25, 2004
74
0
0
Spokane Washington
Nov 5, 2004
#16
  • Nov 5, 2004
  • #16
My roomate has hit the ceiling of his power in his merkur. He is moving to the volvo head this winter and be track ready by spring. The fab involved is well worth it if you want to put down more power.
 
W

Willy0314

New Member
Jun 3, 2004
178
0
0
Western Ny
Nov 6, 2004
#17
  • Nov 6, 2004
  • #17
I kinda said that sarcasticly. The actuall fabrication is simple, but the entire conversion is rather complicated. The worst part is trying to tune the thing. You have to go to a stand alone fuel management system.... and those are pricey. You also have to build custom intake and exhust manifolds I belive.

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/2300-16V/

check that guy out for more info.
 

MustangLXT

New Member
Nov 1, 2004
81
0
0
Florida
Nov 6, 2004
#18
  • Nov 6, 2004
  • #18
Willy0314 said:
I kinda said that sarcasticly. The actuall fabrication is simple, but the entire conversion is rather complicated. The worst part is trying to tune the thing. You have to go to a stand alone fuel management system.... and those are pricey. You also have to build custom intake and exhust manifolds I belive.

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/2300-16V/

check that guy out for more info.
Click to expand...

Maybe sometime in the future, but that seems like too much for me now
 

Scones

Member
Sep 9, 2004
62
0
6
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Nov 6, 2004
#19
  • Nov 6, 2004
  • #19
you want to make power on a N/A 2.3 until you turbo charge it....that's the just of it. bang for buck get a nitrous kit, then port and bellmouth all the stock parts, gut the car as much as you can and you'll be wasting all the civics you want.

then, when you turbo the nitrous can move over to that....
nitrous + 2.3T = fun
 
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