Help About Boosting N/A Ford 2.3

[Mikecolosprings]

I ave an N/A 2.3 and want to Turbo it.
I need all suggestions,But no (Just Get A whole Motor)

OK First Question Since There is no MAF or Anything in front of the Throttle Body Is it a MAP type?

Second Question What Is the Lowest cost Way make the computer add extra fuel? I know it's a MAP Type but it still won't be enough. I was Just Going To get a custom Diablo Delta Chip.
I just Thought Of How I will Control The Ignition and Dont want to spend alot of money, So Do you Think I should just use a turbo Spec Computer.(I Asume that will take care of the ignition)

If you know about Computer swaps Please Tell me about all of the other things I will Have to Do To swap in the Turbo Computer, I don't need A/c or other Luxuries.

[JLMounce]

unless you are going balls out a computer swap probably isn't necessarily (you'd probably end up with something like FAST anyway).

A junkyard turbo build can be done pretty cheaply. For a turbocharger a good unit to look for would be a t3 off of an old thunderbird turbo coupe. Had the same 2.3L engine you have, but boosted obviously.

Your car is a speed density car so "in theory" it should compensate for the added airflow the engine will see. I don't have any experiance with speed density cars but here they can be fickle. You are going to need larger injectors though.

I know you don't want to hear the "get a whole new motor" arguement but swaping a 302 in to that car is probably going to be about the same money (maybe cheaper) and more bang for the buck.

[Warrtalon]

Talk to Revolutions Tuning in the Springs. They specialize in Mustangs and have done several turbo installs on them.

I'm not certain adding a turbo to your N/A 2.3 will be a great idea. It doesn't have forged internals, so you'll only be able to run very low boost, which won't give a large power gain for the money spent, imo, but I don't know for sure.

[JLMounce]

The ford 2.3 CVH motors are actually pretty stout. Surprisingly enough theres qutie a lot of go fast goodies out there for them.

Especialy at this altitude you could probably get away with running 8-10 psi intercooled.

Forgot to list the things you'll need.

Turbocharger
Wastegate
Intercooler
piping for the cold side (induction)
piping for the hot side (exhaust)
Bypass valve
Injectors
Fuel pump (possibly fuel lines as well)
Some type of tuning (a vortec FMU might work okay)
Ignition (something like an MSD 6AL, think about a BTM as well)

This thing isn't a carb'd motor is it?

[Warrtalon]

The N/A version is stout in terms of holding up to boost without cracking pistons? I would have the the turbo-4 engine was stout, but usually N/A engines don't have forged internals, which is required for any significant boost.

If he can run 8-10psi (per MAP, not the boost gauge), then that would be quite a huge increase in power...probably double at least?

[JLMounce]

Forged componants generally stand up to heat better than a cast part. Most of the damaging stresses placed on an engine are a result of tention not compression. For instance, rods don't snap on the compression or power stroke. A rod would bend in that fashion before it snapped. What snaps them is the tention stress as the piston is pulled from the top of the bore. RPM is a contributing factor in this, as tension stress on rods increases exponentially as rpm rises. The old ford 2.3 motors benefit in that regards because they are long stroke low revving engines.

As long as proper measures are taken to keep detonation out of the engine and keep temps reasonable I don't think he'll have problems with a low to moderate amount of boost.

[Mikecolosprings]

I know you don't want to hear the "get a whole new motor" arguement but swaping a 302 in to that car is probably going to be about the same money (maybe cheaper) and more bang for the buck.

I know that a v8(If I ever Put A pushrod in my car I would Have a heart Attack) Would be cheaper but I like The Lighter weight, The turbo(If I want More HP I Just Turn up The Boost) and the smarter Technology of the OHC.

So If I put Some Eagle H-Beam Rods And Forged Pistons It should Be Able to Reliably Handle 400-500HP Right?

I'm Going to Put a 255lph Intank Pump, Not sure what Injectors, I know Stock Turbo Injectors won't be enough(If Anybody Knows Of aftermarket Injectors that will work Please tell me about them)



See I'm Still not sure If I want To spend all of this money on this Car.
If I dont Build this mustang i will build an SER Cup car

No disrespect to Pushroders But I'm only 19(You Get It)

[Evil86Saleen]

WOW. Lots of incorect information.

If you really want to play with a 2.3t you need to look no farther than www.turboford.net

Now I have done this swap and its really easy but you will need a few parts.

To answer a few questions first.

The N/A 2.3 in your car WILL not handle much more than 6-8 psi without coming apart.

The speed density system in your car is not turbo friendly and the injestors are not big enough for the turbo.

The N/A heads will not accept boost very well. The ports are incorect in the head and the stock N/A valves will over heat and crack under the high heat from the turbo.

Your car is the perfect year to do the swap to and one of the easiest cars to do the turbo swap to.

Now I have done this swap into a 87 coupe and a 92 lx and it is very simple on the pre 91 cars.

The easiest way to do the swap is...

Locate a complete 2.3t long block. You can get one for cheap out of the different salvage yards. Cheap as in less than 150 bones.

Grab a LA3 ECU from a 87/88 thunderbird turbo coupe. The LA3 is one of the fastest procesors out there and is alreay set up for 35lb injectors and will take 42s without any tuning problems.

Grab the 35lb injectors form the same year car. They will be brown in color while the 30s are green.


You will also need the big VAM (vane air flow meter) from the same vehicle. The VAM is a mechanicle version of a MAF with a little door that swings open and sends a signal for the amount of air flow that the motor is seeing.

Intercoolers are up to you but the two best options are...

A Isuzu NPR intercooler in a front mount location with STINGER pipes, you will need to grab a radiator from a 4.0 explorer to clear the intercooler or a complete STINGER front mount set up that runs roughly 550 shipped.

For exhaust a 3inch down pipe and some sort of high flow cat and a straight through muffler.

For a turbo I would start with the facotry T3 or the factory IHI.

You will need to add a few wires for the the ECU and VAM and re pin the ECU. This whole wiring jobs takes less than 30 mins and only involves moving two wires and wiring in 4 from the VAM.

Ok. The stock 2.3t long block will easily hold up to 500hp . They have forged pistons, rods with rod ends bigger than a boss 302, heart shaped combustion chambers with turbo specific valves in the head.

MY SVO mustang with stock parts and 3 inch exhaust put 240RWHP and 280RWTQ on the dyno. This equals to roughly 280 flywheel HP and over 300 Fly wheel torque.

The car will easilly out acclerate modded N/A 4.6 cars and lightly modded 5.0 cars.

Here is a quick run down of the available cars that had the 2.3t and the HP etc.

83-84 GT turbo mustang- non intercooled 145hp
83-84 Mercury capri RS turbo - non intercooled 145 HP
84-86 Mustang SVO- intercooled 175hp (84/85) 205 HP (85 1/2 86)
83-86 Thunderbird turbo coupe- non intercooled 145hp
83-86 Mercury cougar XR7- non intercooled 145hp
87-88 Thunderbird turbo coupe- intercooled 200hp
85-87 Merkur XR4TI - non intercooled 145hp-175hp depending on the year.

simple porting of stock parts, more boost and a few J/Y parts will get these motors to make 300 RWHP easilly with the stock ECU and VAM. Up to the 300rwhp mark they are easier and cost less monry to modify than the 5.0 or 4.6 cars.

The swap is simple and cheap. The power gains are impresive and you can knock down 26mpg on the highway and right around 22-24 in town if you keep your foot out of the throttle.

Any questions? Feel free to ask.

kyle

[Evil86Saleen]

My little 4 popper stang.

http://www.coloradostangs.com/gallery/data/553/3IMG_3505.JPG

kyle

[Evil86Saleen]

The 92 LX with the 2.3t swap.

http://www.coloradostangs.com/gallery/data/500/16IMGP46452.JPG

http://www.coloradostangs.com/gallery/data/500/16IMGP5236small.JPG

kyle

[Evil86Saleen]

RichVs 4cyl turbo mustang (SVO).

http://www.coloradostangs.com/gallery/data/500/58svo1.jpg

The big dog. My 86 Saleen 5.0 turbocharged.

http://www.stampedeusa.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10010/normal_803429_1_full.jpg

http://www.coloradostangs.com/gallery/data/500/60Lx_pics_037-med.jpg

http://www.coloradostangs.com/gallery/data/500/60Dyno_2.jpg

kyle

[Evil86Saleen]

The sleeper. 85 Cougar XR7 2.3t. Going to go honda hunting with this one.

http://www.coloradostangs.com/gallery/data/500/60Lx_pics_050-med.jpg

http://www.coloradostangs.com/gallery/data/500/60Lx_pics_051-med.jpg

kyle

[svochuck]

You have lots of 2.3 info and experts around to help...
here was my car.

http://www.rothfam.com/chuck/

if you have any questions about road racing a 2.3 just ask, but if I did it agian i would go with a 5.0 and a small supercharger.
chuck
SVOchuck that is.

[Mikecolosprings]

Thank You for The Info , But I've Decided Not to Build Up The Stang

I'm Going to Sell It(For Like$700-800) And Get an Eclipse AWD Turbo. To Much Work to make it race Ready(Rear End, Turbo Engine Swap, Strong Trans, Ect.

If Anybody Wants to buy for a race car(I want it to stay in Rocky Mountain Region, and it must race) I will Give Them A very Good deal(40%-60% Off), Probably Will Be selling It in like 4-5 Months



I want to thank Everybody For The Info

[Evil86Saleen]

DSMs are cool. Been there done that.

But I have two words for you "Crank walk". Do some more research on that subject.

And if I could recomend a older DSM. The motors are a little stouter than the newer ones.

Good luck and hope to see you out there.

kyle

[Warrtalon]

No crankwalk on a 1G, fwiw.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b336/warrtalon/Launch2-small.jpg

[Mikecolosprings]

No crankwalk on a 1G, fwiw.


Exactly, Only The 2G has That Problem.
I have Been Doing Alot of research on them
I'm Going To do a 1G swap Into a 2G car, Maybe Try To Find An Evo Motor and throw it in there

[Evil86Saleen]

No crankwalk on a 1G, fwiw.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b336/warrtalon/Launch2-small.jpg

Yummy. I like the early DSMs.

I had a 91 plymouth laser 2.0t. Same car as the eclipse but in sheeps clothing.

We pulled all of the turbo decals off of the car and ran 16inch steel wheels. That car was alot of fun and looked like a non turbo slow poke.

kyle