2.3L 1V 4cyl 88hp -- all stock

[Nasorean]

its time to upgrade/restore the car and i need parts, the really annoying thing is that everywhere i go, online and off, the parts being sold are for the 5.0 engine.

--there are of course some differences between the two, but are the parts avail for the 5.0--cold air intake, and other bolt on parts compatible w the 2.3?

thanks

[silverstangs]

Originally Posted by Nasorean

its time to upgrade/restore the car and i need parts, the really annoying thing is that everywhere i go, online and off, the parts being sold are for the 5.0 engine.

--there are of course some differences between the two, but are the parts avail for the 5.0--cold air intake, and other bolt on parts compatible w the 2.3?

thanks

Well.......
the full suspension between the GT's, LX's and 2.3L 4 bangers are interchangable. what ever you can bolt up to a GT, you can do the same with the 4 banger. Same thing with the full interior. So anything put into the car is interchangeable.

There is a K & N air filter that you can use, but things are going to be engine specific. Unless your gonna get drastic and chop a 5.0-H-pipe in half and use half a cat back, there is not much to bolt on.
The biggest improvement will be to add a turbo, similar to the SVO stuff. You can always port and polish the heads, and bump the compression up a bit, even bore it out a little. You can also port and polish the throttle body and the intake. You need to look at the cosworth parts for the 2.3L engine.


You can go to these links for performance parts for the 2.3L Ford engines.

http://modernperformanceinc.com/
http://www.motion-dynamics.net/

[stanger2500]

basically dude if you wanna have a faster car, either keep yours and put a 5.0 in it. Not cheap but it can be done, or just buy a 5.0 for like $4500 and put a little TLC into that. i have a 2.3 in my garage that I would have liked to drop a 5.0 into but never did. I have a lot of crap for that kinda stuff so if you need something or just want something let me know, Im not trying to make money.

[Nasorean]

Originally Posted by silverstangs

Well.......
the full suspension between the GT's, LX's and 2.3L 4 bangers are interchangable. what ever you can bolt up to a GT, you can do the same with the 4 banger. Same thing with the full interior. So anything put into the car is interchangeable.

There is a K & N air filter that you can use, but things are going to be engine specific. Unless your gonna get drastic and chop a 5.0-H-pipe in half and use half a cat back, there is not much to bolt on.
The biggest improvement will be to add a turbo, similar to the SVO stuff. You can always port and polish the heads, and bump the compression up a bit, even bore it out a little. You can also port and polish the throttle body and the intake. You need to look at the cosworth parts for the 2.3L engine.


You can go to these links for performance parts for the 2.3L Ford engines.

http://modernperformanceinc.com/
http://www.motion-dynamics.net/

thanks for the links they are incredible! i figured the suspension was interchangable but i wasnt gonna make a thousand dollar mistake. the turbo is incredibly inexpensive at modernperformance so i am considering that. so far as polishing n stuff goes, given the age of the car i think it may be needed, but i would like to check w the ford people about that and any alternatives that may be useful.

[Nasorean]

Originally Posted by stanger2500

basically dude if you wanna have a faster car, either keep yours and put a 5.0 in it. Not cheap but it can be done, or just buy a 5.0 for like $4500 and put a little TLC into that. i have a 2.3 in my garage that I would have liked to drop a 5.0 into but never did. I have a lot of crap for that kinda stuff so if you need something or just want something let me know, Im not trying to make money.

so far as stuff i may need your experience would be the most valuable asset you have. pm me.

[MagicRat]

Originally Posted by Nasorean

thanks for the links they are incredible! i figured the suspension was interchangable but i wasnt gonna make a thousand dollar mistake. the turbo is incredibly inexpensive at modernperformance so i am considering that. so far as polishing n stuff goes, given the age of the car i think it may be needed, but i would like to check w the ford people about that and any alternatives that may be useful.

Those were excellent links. However most of those mods were for factory 2.3 turbo engines, like those found in the SVO Mustang and the Thunderbird Turbo coupe. Internally they were different and somewhat stronger than a non turbo 2.3. Throwing their turbo kit etc at a stock block 2.3 would only break the bottom end if driven hard.

I have a 2.3 '88 LX in my fleet. I have considered all options for modifying it and found that it makes no economic sense to mod it when 5.0 Mustangs are plentiful and cheap.
However, some people like a challange, and a 4 cyl Mustang can be made to handle better than a nose-heavy 5.0. I would suggest find a T-Bird Turbo coupe driveline and drop the whole thing into your Mustang. If you can, pick up an entire Turbo coupe car and use the aluminum wheels, sway bars and suspension pieces too.
My Turbo coupe parts car has some neat other stuff too, like a bolt-in disc brake rear axle and excellent seats.

[Nasorean]

Originally Posted by MagicRat

Those were excellent links. However most of those mods were for factory 2.3 turbo engines, like those found in the SVO Mustang and the Thunderbird Turbo coupe. Internally they were different and somewhat stronger than a non turbo 2.3. Throwing their turbo kit etc at a stock block 2.3 would only break the bottom end if driven hard.

I have a 2.3 '88 LX in my fleet. I have considered all options for modifying it and found that it makes no economic sense to mod it when 5.0 Mustangs are plentiful and cheap.
However, some people like a challange, and a 4 cyl Mustang can be made to handle better than a nose-heavy 5.0. I would suggest find a T-Bird Turbo coupe driveline and drop the whole thing into your Mustang. If you can, pick up an entire Turbo coupe car and use the aluminum wheels, sway bars and suspension pieces too.
My Turbo coupe parts car has some neat other stuff too, like a bolt-in disc brake rear axle and excellent seats.

yeah i thought of the turbo breaking the bottom after i posted so i ditched the idea and leaned toward a cold air intake. and i am way up to the challenge and would actually prefer better handling to speed.

so far as putting in a 5.0 or using a 5.0 i just remembered that a friend of mine has the 5.0 and i could porbably get it really cheap from him, or even salvage the parts. hmmmm....

[silverstangs]

Originally Posted by MagicRat

Those were excellent links. However most of those mods were for factory 2.3 turbo engines, like those found in the SVO Mustang and the Thunderbird Turbo coupe. Internally they were different and somewhat stronger than a non turbo 2.3. Throwing their turbo kit etc at a stock block 2.3 would only break the bottom end if driven hard.

I have a 2.3 '88 LX in my fleet. I have considered all options for modifying it and found that it makes no economic sense to mod it when 5.0 Mustangs are plentiful and cheap.
However, some people like a challange, and a 4 cyl Mustang can be made to handle better than a nose-heavy 5.0. I would suggest find a T-Bird Turbo coupe driveline and drop the whole thing into your Mustang. If you can, pick up an entire Turbo coupe car and use the aluminum wheels, sway bars and suspension pieces too.
My Turbo coupe parts car has some neat other stuff too, like a bolt-in disc brake rear axle and excellent seats.

Actually they will handle the 300-350hp without issues. The mustang is using the same block as the Merkur Xr4ti which not too many people know about. The Xr4ti uses the same 2.3L block and those came with turbos and was pushing 175hp. Ford dropped them in 1989. The 2.3L has alot more aftermarket support than what you all think. getting 300hp out of the 2.3L is a bit easier than the 3.8V6.

You all might want to check out these other sites I have for you all

http://www.forced4.com/
http://www.merkurdesktop.com/desktop.php

I'm pretty educated up on the Turbo 4's, because SVO mustang is one of my favorites. One day I had the bright idea of adding a turbo to my normal 4 banger, so I actually borred out a couple of 2.3L's engines to 101mm or almost 4 inches. I ended up with 2.55L or basically 155cubic inches, added a turbo from a Merkur at around 11psi and did about 203hp. Ran hot as hell, and idled like crap. It was a toy car, I abused the crap out of it. But I learned alot, like make sure you don't forget the oil pump unless you like pulling the engine out. poor car....... it was definately beat to death. Now I miss that thing. it'b been about 7 or 8 years since I had that little 4 banger...

[fmfgnarly]

silverstangs, i also have an all stalk 4cyl mustang, and was wondering (im sure Nasorean is also) if you know of any more sites that have parts for this lil motor. the only one that i have found is http://racerwalsh.zoovy.com/

[Nasorean]

thanks everyone i amn gonna check out all these new sites that were just posted and reply in a couple hrs

[dampachi]

If you're looking for power, you have two choices and they're both involving engine swaps. Swap in the factory SVO 2.3l turbo engine, or swap in the 5.0 302. These are of course if you're trying to make real power. If you want like 100hp even..by all means throw on some good ole' bolt ons.

[gmartinez]

Originally Posted by Nasorean

i would like to check w the ford people about that and any alternatives that may be useful.

I own an 86 4 banger (and i love it), also looking for stuff for my engine, please tell me if you find anything interesting.

[bigbob]

you can get a 5.0 out of a junkyard for alot less than 4k cnat you???. i mean maybee the 5.0/tranny/rearend rebuild would cost that but the whole thing?

[GTStang]

2.3 part junkies goto http://www.racerwalsh.com and get the fuck out of my forum!!!!

[silverstangs]

Originally Posted by GTStang

2.3 part junkies goto http://www.racerwalsh.com and get the fuck out of my forum!!!!

Hater