[Ragnarok]

I have a 1991 2.3l Lx Coupe , my pride and joy. My first car and payed for with my own money , but there is one problem. I can get out and run faster than this car practically. I'm not really an expert with car yet but plan on taking some coarses at the community college here to learn some more. I've already read tons of web pages about things i can do to help get more Hp and speed out of my little 4 banger , and I've already dont many of the things described. I have made my own fendermount intake using a cold air kit for a rice rocke and it looks nice I'de say. Can't tell much difference but it's there. Also lightened the car up quite a bit . I have been checking out Racer Walsh quite a bit lately and i see lots of nice goodies that would help me out , so here is my question. I have recently been given a 72 maverick by my uncle for free. High Mileage 302 and tranny complete and I think a 9 inch rear but i haven't got to look at the car yet as it is in like 4 feet of weeds. The dude at advanced auto said he thought they had a 9 inch because alot of guys want them for their stangs because they are shorter and can be swapped with alittle fabrication. Well anyways i got all excited because i've always wanted to do a v8 swap. But i want to know , honestly , I have $3,000 to work with here. Should I save up some more and do a nice built v8 swap , or build my 2.3l like crazy with my money. I thought about 2.3l turbo swap but wouldn't that be a dumb idea when I can do the 302 ? I know a 2.3l turbo would be the easier swap , but a the 302 just sounds like it would give me more bang for the buck. I'm just worried that it'll take more money than i have to get the thing built and put in my stang . So in your professional opinions , should I go crazy and buy all the goodies from racer walsh for the 2.3l n/a , should I try to find a donor car and do a 2.3l turbo swap , or is the v8 a good idea. 2.3l n/a build would be the least trouble for me but the least powerful to right? Turbo swap would be a good choice to but if i'm gonna swap why not a more powerful v8 swap? Anyway thanks for any opinions and advice . i'm new here so sorry if i posted in the wrong place or anything. this just looked like the best place to me. I've seen alot of good info that helped me in the past posts.

[Flex]

Depends on whether or not you wish to keep fuel injection. If so, you would be hard pressed to do the conversion with $3000.

The 9 inch will not work without fabrication. The Maverick has leaf spring perches whereas the Mustang has coils and trailing arms.

An 8.8 would be a better choice and, with the correct driveshaft, would be a straign swap. Mustangs with 8.8's have smaller kickers mount to the frame, but you could get those from a wrecked GT.

[Ragnarok]

Well I had planned on going carb if I did the v8 just to simplify things. I really like the idea of building my 2.3l though because of gas mileage issues since I do some traveling. Thats why I'm looking into it before i jerk it out of my car and do something stupid. What kind of HP does a heavily modified 2.3l put out. Non-Turbo that is. I mean If I spend some good money on it. Or is going turbo the only way to go to get alteast 300 or so HP out of it. I thought about maybe those dual webber carbs on racer walsh .

[Flex]

Well,
Again if you wish to maintain fuel economy you will need to stay injected and not too radical with camshaft. You could prabably make 200 hp. Not bad for a 4 streetable and also 250 lbs less than a 302.

After throwing a rod, my brother and I undertook this buildup to his 89 2.3.

Went to the 5.7 inch rod KB piston conversion. The pistons were $122 from Summit at the time. Also put in file fit rings. Rods cost me $50 Canadian (about $5 US lol) and were considerably lighter than the stock four cylinder rods even though they were 1/2" longer. ARP waveloc rod bolts were installed as well. I also got the 89 grm tool steel pins. Lightened the rotating assembly by 2 pounds when everything was totalled up.

I bought a windage tray from Esslinger and installed that during the build up.

I heavily ported the heads and relocated the exhaust upwards. Manley 1.89/1.59 valves were installed along with a Ranger roller cam and followers. I also got a Ranger header and ceramic/aluminum coated it. Rest of the exhaust was 2.25 out the back with a Flowtech Terminator muffler.

The Intakes were ported and polished and port matched to the head. All internally projected fittings were cut down even with the intake wall. The TB was half shafted to increase flow. My own phenolic spacers were also installed during the buildup. It also has a rail mount gauge and Kirhban regulator.

For the timing, we got the round tooth gear set from Race engineering in Florida. Very light and adjustable. I also bought a %50 underdrive crank pulley from Unorthodox Racing and swiss cheesed the factory pulleys to lighten them.

I also bought a rice rocket CAI that came with a K&N filter which will be modified to take air directly from outside.

Other goodies include MSD 8.8 Wires and Coil, distributor cap and rotor, Turbo aluminum valve cover and Bosch +4 plugs.
Once the engine was running and the timing was set with no detonation, I disconnected the knock sensor. Those things kill the performance of the 2.3.

The last thing it needs, besides finishing the cold air box, is a newer mass air conversion. That alone is worth 17 hp on a stock 2.3. I also have some idiot making an aluminum drive shaft for it but he has been working on it for over a year (always too damn busy).

http://www.mustangmods.net/data/418/2.3mods.jpg

http://www.mustangmods.net/data/418/2.3mods2.jpg

http://www.mustangmods.net/data/418/2.3mods3.jpg

http://www.mustangmods.net/data/418/2.3mods4.jpg

[Cracker289]

Flex, do I understand correctly, that you are running these current mods with the original speed density EFI system? The Ranger roller-cam and tubular exhaust, all that?

[Flex]

Yes. I do plan to convert it to MASS air when I find one for him. That will take advantage of the increased air flow.

[Thinkkker]

You can always find a E6 manifold and do a turbo on the car. This would give you at least the same power as a V8 and be about the same price or cheaper depending on what you do.

[Ragnarok]

I'de need to beef up everything , get a new computer , and a turbo and a vane air meter, and all that stuff to though right? As far as staying EFi fuel economy isn't a really big issue. I wouldn't mind sacrificing gas lileage for extra HP. I just figured that staying with the 2.3 would help out on some of my road trips , but it isn't something I'm to worried about. I ordered the long tube header from racer walsh today. Also I am really looking at those Webber carbs. has Anyone here used them on the street or have any knowledge of them that would help me out? I have a 87 2.3 ranger also, does it have the cam everyone is talking about in it?

[Thinkkker]

Think the Ranger should.

The turbo build isnt to bad. You can slap one on a relatively stock 2.3 and keep the boost low till you upgrade the fuel and such for it. You dont need a VAM unless you get a Tbird or other SVO style puter for it. You can do the regular speed density stuff for the turbo to *in theory this is a good idea to run*

If you have carbs youd need a little more to do the swap. You can find a 2.3 motor in yards and such for under a grand that are running. to swap in. If you want N/A you mileage would suffer a little more for the power. As long as you stay out of the turbo you get good mileage, though I have a hard time remembering that it seems

[Ragnarok]

So I actually can go turbo if I run low boost ? Thats interesting. I thought you coudln't without messing around with the computer and stronger stuff and all that crap. I planned on strengthening it up anyway so this is cool.
Hey does anyone know if Esslinger sells like engine building kits. I see alot of cool stuff on there web page but I am not very knowledgeable about building engines and I dont know which of their stuff I should get.It would be cool if they had full kits to choose from or something. Maybe if I call they can put one together for me.Anyways , I scored an extra $2000 today . My loan got approved to hehe . So it looks like I have some extra cash to play with here. Just as long as I got enough left to get it painted in the end :^) Goin all black baby . Tinted windows , already got chrome door handles , antenna , window trim , and wheels. Still trying to find those dang chrome trim pieces that go on the tops of the wheel wells.

[Thinkkker]

Esslinger is high priced, but good stuff. You may call and see what they have Im not sure.

Youd use all that 2 grand to do motor stuff from them

[Flex]

Race Engineering in Florida also sells a lot of 2.3 high po stuff.

[Ragnarok]

Do you know what their web address is by chance? I'de like to check out what they got.

[Flex]

Here dude. Check it otu.

http://www.raceeng.com/

[BlackKnightRace]

Another company to help you with 2.3L performance is www.esslingerengineering.com , and putting a V8 in a orig. 4 cil , is not an easy job by far, and if you get a shop to do it , it is alot more.