Summer Project : Advice?

KoolAid4Cyl. · May 25, 2004

The time has come. I need a 2.3 Turbo in my car. I'm thinking about buying a 86-88 turbo coupe for a donner car, but a friend of mine suggested that i take the engine all the way down to the block and do a complete, custom build. if i do this can't i just us the 1992 2.3l engine? or are the 2.3T motor too different? i thought that Ford just beefed up the engine to withstand the turbo. that way i don't need a donner car.

And if i take the motor all the way down to the block is it possiple to use the 4.6l rods to stroke the motor?

and if i use the stock 1992 2.3l motor what do i need to beef up on the engine to make it stronger?

Thanks

140cilx · May 25, 2004

I wouldn't rebuild it, most often the bottom end is fine. I'd do a compression check, and if it's good, run w/ it. Replace all the seals, it should be fine. I wouldn't try to convert your engine. You'd still have to put forged piston's in it, and thus you need a donor bottom or expensive set of aftermarket pistons.

Plus, without a donar car, there's a lot of little pieces to nickel and dime you to death.

I'd keep it cheap. I've got a cheap turboford (my svo) and an expensive one (my LX). My LX is faster and more impressive to look at, my svo is more fun because I don't have all the $$$ dumped into it.

351wcoupe · May 25, 2004

stay with 87-88 TC or 85.5 or later merkurs.
there's good and bad with them all.
83-86 TC have cracked heads, and usually Exhaust manifold, and has 30lbs injectors.

I used the mechanical parts from a merk and the electrical parts from an 88 TC 5spd. If you have a Speed density car we can wire it in under 30 minutes.

I do have 1 spare but Its coming apart tonight. I also have two mostly complete turbocoupes, an 83 and an 85. I can get these anytime.

Ray III · May 25, 2004

I am rebuilding the N/A 2.3 and the block and heads are pretty well built. The crank I believe is good for 400hp. The pistons are junk but I don't know whether the rods are the same as the turbo rods or not (probably not)

To turbocharge this engine, all you need are the (rods? and) forged pistons. I would keep the head. I don't know if it is the same head used in the turbo, but it is pretty damn beefy and has a good design for developing torque. I would port it out and install larger valves if I wanted to go nuts, but they can already do like 130-140hp WITHOUT a turbo.

Ray III · May 25, 2004

need to drill and tap a turbo oil return too...

140cilx · May 26, 2004

Rods are the same, turbo engine's have forged pistons. You can use an n/a head to turbo if you replace the exhaust valves w/ turbo versions and open up the chamber. If you leave the chamber as it is, you can't run a lot of boost. I don't think anyone will have real boost satisfaction til they are running 20 or more psi of boost. Leaving an n/a chamber stock will not allow that much boost and you'll be wishing you had some power.

KoolAid4Cyl. · May 26, 2004

what about using 4.6 rods to0 stroke the 2.3 motor?

I used the mechanical parts from a merk and the electrical parts from an 88 TC 5spd. If you have a Speed density car we can wire it in under 30 minutes. -351wcoupe

What do you mean buy Speed density

Ray III · May 27, 2004

140cilx said:
Rods are the same, turbo engine's have forged pistons. You can use an n/a head to turbo if you replace the exhaust valves w/ turbo versions and open up the chamber. If you leave the chamber as it is, you can't run a lot of boost. I don't think anyone will have real boost satisfaction til they are running 20 or more psi of boost. Leaving an n/a chamber stock will not allow that much boost and you'll be wishing you had some power.

ya, you were tellin me the turbo head had more volume so the compression ratio is lower for boosting.

So do the turbo pistons have the same dimensions as the N/A ones? That is, I could rebuild my N/A engine with the turbo pistons instead, and it would be the same but tougher?

bhuff30 · May 27, 2004

Ray III said:
ya, you were tellin me the turbo head had more volume so the compression ratio is lower for boosting.

So do the turbo pistons have the same dimensions as the N/A ones? That is, I could rebuild my N/A engine with the turbo pistons instead, and it would be the same but tougher?

Yes, same dimensions, but different compression ratio. turbo pistons are dished, and take away 7-10cc's (don't remember off the top of my head). just make sure the bore is within spec.
I don't see what the big deal is about rebuilding an NA to turbo spec. You still don't have the turbo, injectors, exhaust manifold, IC, IC piping, computer.... ect ect that you will need to make it work... plus no oil supply or return.

cmozez · May 27, 2004

Dude, save yourself alot of stress and buy a donor car. Why reinvent the wheel?

Red_LX · May 27, 2004

351wcoupe said:
83-86 TC have cracked heads, and usually Exhaust manifold

Mine didn't!

Course, I think the head may have been replaced at some point...and it had an E6 on it

KoolAid4Cyl. · May 27, 2004

Originally posted by cmozez
Dude, save yourself alot of stress and buy a donor car. Why reinvent the wheel?

Yeah i guess a donner will be easier

Red_LX · May 27, 2004

bhuff30 said:
plus no oil supply or return.

Also oil supply and return isn't that hard to hook up. Tap into the port with the oil pressure sender and tap the pan....no biggie.

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