Throttle response?

[bobbylx]

Can anyone give me some ideas on how to increase my throttle response on a 2.3 NA? It looks like I am not going to be able to do a turbo swap for a while so I am just going to tweak my NA. Already found a ranger roller cam with lifters and am going to make a CAI. Also going to do some porting to my intake and possibly the head. I have tried advancing the timing, but with no timing light I am doing it the old fashioned way, turn the distributor, give it a little gas until I like the response time. I turned it between a quarter and a half of and inch and it responded really well. The only problem is when I started getting in to the pedal I noticed a knocking sound that I have always called a "gas knock". Like when you are running crappy gas. So, like I said, is there anything I can do to it NA to increase the response time? Thanks,

Bobby

 

[Stinger]

Bigger throttle body.

 

[bobbylx]

Do you mean the 65mm swap I have read about? Also, is that knocking normal when you bump up the timing too much or what?

 

[Asha'man]

That's called detonation. Don't do it.

Ash

 

[kiddiccarus]

Ouch DONT detonate!!!!!!!

 

[JamesBaumann]

Turn your timing back to where it was, and then when you get a proper timing light then adjust it properly.

If you advance it too far right now then you will just detonate your motor and then you're really in a pickle.

 

[kiddiccarus]

What year is it? Mine is a 93 and I didnt think that you could advance the dual plugs?

 

[140cilx]

Roller cam is found in the 91-93 2.3 Mustangs and through the '95 Rangers (these use the same roller followers you need)

The 60 mm TB is from a '94-95 5.0 or Supercoupe. The TB's allow you to mount them in the same position and use your IAC and TPS. You must redrill 3 of the holes on the TB to fit our upper intake. Very easy to do. And you should remove your upper intake and enlarge the opening to fit the new bigger TB for best performance. You'll need to make a small bracket for your throttle cable to reposition it. I have pics on my svo page of mine if it might help you. Response is greatly improved.

edit: my post was inserted before the posts I was replying to, weird.

 

[MustangLXT]

Do they make a bigger throttle body for the N/A or would I have to bore mine?

 

[MustangLXT]

What year ranger would I be able to find the roller cam and what else would i need to make it fit?

 

[351wcoupe]

I have a good mod for a naturally aspirated 2.3 I turboed and sprayed nitrous on mine and it made a fairly noticeable difference.

 

[TurboFlush]

I like to dadjust the timing by ear. while the engine is running turn it one way and listen for motor hesitation, remember that spot. Then turn it the other way and find where the hesitation on that side starts, remember that one to. now place the distributor in the middle of both those points. This position is generally a good position. However yours being EFI, I am unsure how it will react to this.

I do this to my carbed one and then from there load up the trunk with something heavy right now a motor block). then take it around the block or up the driveway to see what kind of power I get. then move the distro in small incraments remembering which way I am going, once I find a spot that produces more power but no pinging, then I keep it there.
Run some EFI fuel and injector cleaner thru your gas tank to.
Do a tune up!!!!!


TF

 

[Willy0314]

A good tune up will do wonders. A new air box set up (CAI), Oil change, K&N air filter, Plugs and wires, a new straight threw muffler (cherry bombs are only $13, but i dunno what it would sound like on a 4cyl) All that costs a little money. For free, dial in the timing, and, If you have the tools, you can pollish the intake and exhust tracts, and gut the Cat. I would do a little porting to clean things up, but dont enlarge things to much because it will reduce port speed and you'll have even less Throttle response. You can buy books on how to do work bench type porting. They are great and will help you out alot.

 

[MustangLXT]

Roller cam is found in the 91-93 2.3 Mustangs and through the '95 Rangers (these use the same roller followers you need)

The 60 mm TB is from a '94-95 5.0 or Supercoupe. The TB's allow you to mount them in the same position and use your IAC and TPS. You must redrill 3 of the holes on the TB to fit our upper intake. Very easy to do. And you should remove your upper intake and enlarge the opening to fit the new bigger TB for best performance. You'll need to make a small bracket for your throttle cable to reposition it. I have pics on my svo page of mine if it might help you. Response is greatly improved.

edit: my post was inserted before the posts I was replying to, weird.

Are you sure that the '94-'95 throttle body would work on the 88 2.3? from looking at your pictures it doesn't seem like it would work on my car, but maybe I'm wrong.

 

[MustangLXT]

A good tune up will do wonders. A new air box set up (CAI), Oil change, K&N air filter, Plugs and wires, a new straight threw muffler (cherry bombs are only $13, but i dunno what it would sound like on a 4cyl) All that costs a little money. For free, dial in the timing, and, If you have the tools, you can pollish the intake and exhust tracts, and gut the Cat. I would do a little porting to clean things up, but dont enlarge things to much because it will reduce port speed and you'll have even less Throttle response. You can buy books on how to do work bench type porting. They are great and will help you out alot.

How would I go about dialing in the timing?....I've never done it before...

 

[MustangLXT]

I have 2 and 1/2 inch pipe for my exhaust all the way back and a flowmaster that I'm going to put on. Anyone have an idea as to how the flowmaster will sound on the four cylinder?

 

[JB66]

I put on the 2 1/2" with a dynomax super turbo and could feel some difference. Also, if you could find a rear with 3.73's, that would give you some "off the line" reponse. Look for axle code 6 or W from 85 up.

 

[MustangLXT]

I put on the 2 1/2" with a dynomax super turbo and could feel some difference. Also, if you could find a rear with 3.73's, that would give you some "off the line" reponse. Look for axle code 6 or W from 85 up.

Would I have to change the whole rear end? or could I just swap out the internals in the differential?

 

[140cilx]

Are you sure that the '94-'95 throttle body would work on the 88 2.3? from looking at your pictures it doesn't seem like it would work on my car, but maybe I'm wrong.

Yes I'm sure. I'll upload a pic of the big TB installed on my SVO, I don't have a pic of the LX yet (cause I haven't bolted it on, and on that car anyway the LX has a rotated intake which wouldn't apply to you )

Look here: http://www.turbocars.org/modules.php?name=Pictures&&mode=album&dispsize=640&start=0&a=95

click on the "SVO specific" album to see the big TB. *On one of the Merkur encyclopedia pages an owner dyno'd with the stock TB (same as n/a) then swapped to the 60mm and gained 19hp/21tq - JUST w/ the TB swap (remember that only applies to a turbocar, but interesting none the less).

140

 

[JB66]

Could just do the gearset, but if you can find one at a salvage yard it would give you some spare parts.