Puting her out to pasture

[Twilight Blue]

Hello, Im new here.
I've got a 1991 Hatchback with Twilight Blue paint and a Crystal Blue interior. The Lima has about 200,000 miles on it, and may have had a rebuild somewhere between 0 and 140,000 miles. The previous owner said it had a rebuild at the Ford Garage but never did give any proof of it. The engine is getting tired so I was looking at crate motors from Ford Racing. They have two updated versions of the 2.3L, both are from the 2003 model year. One is from a Ranger and the other from a Focus PZEV.

Ranger: 135 horsepower and 153ft/lbs torque
Focus PZEV: 145 horsepower and 149ft/lbs torque

Which has a better horsepower and torque combination for a 1991 Mustang LX? Also, how's the turbocharging capabilities of the new 2.3L compaired to the old ones from the 80's and 90's? Would I need forged pistons? I'm also looking to replace the transmission because I'm thinking it's probably just as tired as the engine its. I'd like to go with a 5-speed and get rid of my AOD. Can I use a T-5? I hope to one day turbocharge it but am wondering it the T-5 would work even though the engine would be N/A for a while. Thank you.

 

[Shawneebear93]

The Focus engine is lined up side to side, not front to back, so I don't think that would work. Best bet is to swap in a T-5 and a turbo engine from a Turbocoupe or XR4Ti. Stick around here, read the tech articles and some member's webpages and you'll learn a lot about turbocharging your Mustang.

 

[egnorant]

Same route here! I just did the T-5 swap and have all the turbo stuff lined up. Improvement over the auto is so great I am gonna drive it for a few months before I think about the turbo swap.
Your engine may not be as tired as you think
2.3 with an auto tranny is a real dog.
Bruce

 

[RustBucket]

200,000 is just getting started

I personally rebuilt mine at 168,00 or so. I had to due to an oil pressure problem. Mine was also a factory A4LD car, and the difference between the automatic and the 5-speed is like night and day. It's always been a fun car to drive, but I like it more now than I did with the automatic. The automatics came from the factory with 3.73 gears and I think it they're better suited for the 5-speed than the 3.45's Ford put behind the factory 5-spd cars. I did the swap in a day with a friend.

Mine's Crystal Blue/Crystal Blue, but it won't be after I get the body work and paint done. I don't care for blue interior (or any interior color other than black or grey for that matter).

But anyway, keep the car. If you're serious about turbocharging, scrounge around and find an old turbo motor or at least a pre-'89 large journal 2.3L and gather the parts and rebuild it while the original motor is still in the car. There's gobs of information here and on various other sites like turboford.org regarding turbo motors into non-turbo applications.

I've found two turbo motors here that I'm working on acquiring. I plan on taking the best of both and building one good motor and keep the remaining good parts as spares.

 

[Twilight Blue]

200,000 just getting started?

Boy these engines are tough! Even though it has 200,000 miles it still runs and drives pretty good. It still beats hopped up Hondas. I got the car when it had 140,000, and I can feel it is weaker now than back then. Maybe I just need a tune-up. I don't plan on swaping engines just yet, but I was looking into it because some day this engine is going to die and I want to be ready. I think I can get 30,000 more miles out of it before it just quits. I don't think it's worth another rebuild so I think I'd like a brand new engine and start off fresh without wondering about its past etc. The new 2.3L Ford Racing crate motor has a DOHC and four valves per cylender. I think the toughness of our 2.3L is because the oil filter is big. It's the same one used on the 302.

 

[Twilight Blue]

Did Ford use the T-5 with the 2.3L? I know it was used with the 5.0 so I was wondering if it was too much for the 2.3. So can you drive a 2.3L with a T-5 without a turbocharger? Can a N/A 2.3L handle a T-5?

 

[egnorant]

2.3 and the T-5

I currently have 4 2.3L cars with the T-5. 86 T-Bird turbo, 84 GT Turbo vert, 91 vert and an 88 hatch.
You asked if the 2.3 can handle a T-5? Dang Skippy!!! Handles it a lot better than the A4LD automatic. Usually the automatic will last 100-150,000 then it is either just so worn out you have to replace so many parts it is not economical or something fails catastrophically and junks the whole tranny.
http://projecthp.ford23.com/howto.html
Good swap site!
As for these motors being tough..Yes! In 1984 I sold my 74 Mustang with 210,000
miles on it to a fellow from Arkansas. Last time I talked to the guy who owns it it was at 355,000 and was getting used daily. It almost got retired when it started smoking and fouling plugs, but he drove it one day without anywater in it and it got WAY hot. After he let it cool and bypassed the heater core (thats where the water left) he has put about 15,000 miles on it and it doesn't smoke or foul plug anymore. We think the rings reseated while overheating. I don't recommend this unless you are ready to trash the motor.....but!!!!
Bruce

 

[RustBucket]

Ford's been using the T5 in all sorts of applications since the early 80's.

The T5's behind the 4cyl cars had different gearing than their 5.0 counterparts. Regardless, the T5 is a relatively stout box and will hold up against anything a 2.3 will throw at it.

If you go with the manual swap, you'll need to look for a T5 made for a 4 cyl. The input shaft pilot diameter is different.

I forgot to mention earlier that even though I rebuilt my motor at 168,000 miles, it is still standard bore, and is still using the same pistons and valvetrain. The only parts I replaced were rings, bearings, seals, 1 rod, and the crank. I drive it to work every day with no problems.