[BlueFlameFord]

Last winter I joined the forum because we were looking at buying a 1987 2.3 LX for our road racing car in the 24hour of LeMons.

We were selected to participate!

but... How do we go about turning a 2.3 4 cylinder into a (relatively) road car.... Dream baby, dream.

FWIW.... For those who really want to make their mustang (especially the low HP 2.3 version) faster, first thing you have to do is LOSE THE WEIGHT! The car was over 3100lbs when we got it. After the cutting & trimming, our car is now 2150 on the scale. That was the biggest gain in HP.

It started here:
(the Junk yard):

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...tmaseve006.jpg

dang it... a 4 cylinder? Oh well...

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...tmaseve013.jpg

for $400 it's now "ours"

first problem... fuel delivery. Electric fuel pump is intermittant. We run straight power to a switch & by-pass all of the other whacky stuff.
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...eeplift001.jpg

Many cutting tools & cut-off wheels are used. Detroit, WHY IN THE HECK DO THEY WEIGH SOOO MUCH!?!?!

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...-1-2009013.jpg


interior is stripped, gutted & roll cage welded in.
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...TheCage007.jpg

Header from a Ranger, 6" PVC ducting to 5" to 4" to 3" is our homemade Cold Air induction system (which works awesome BTW).
Bailing wire, duct tape & hope.
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...25-2009008.jpg

we want to have the car look like Parnelli Jones 1969-70 Boss 302. So, to a gravel lot for paint prep. (yes, gravel. low budget, eh?)

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...heFlame056.jpg


Whoa... Orange!
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...heFlame077.jpg

Whoa... LOTTA ORANGE!

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...heFlame085.jpg

It actually came out pretty well.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...heFlame103.jpg

profile shot:

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...heFlame100.jpg

Looks good from about 30 feet away!
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...heFlame105.jpg



Mechanicals:

we bought old GT springs for $15 on craigslist and chopped two loops off of each coil for the front. We bought a GT front sway bar for $5 at a ford swap meet. We put old Camaro struts on the back. New NAPA gold ceramic brake pads up front. New NAPA brake shoes on the rear. Shoes, that's right... Shoes... Old school baby. No fancy 4 wheel disk brakes on this gem.,



we took it on PIR for some "hot laps" the car steers very well. has great road manners, the 90+ HP motor has enough "OOOMPH" for a car weighing only 2100 lbs, the clutch is strong the 5 speed tranny is really tight, the brakes are nominal, suspension is really strong at speed too.


There you have it.

Budget Mustang Racer on $500



www.rokkerzindokkerz.com


www.24hoursoflemons.com

[Mike89]

Not bad!!! Car looks good.

[jim293]

Looks pretty good. It came a long way.

[BlueFlameFord]

We completed the race. Making the checkered flag & finishing 31st in class!!



http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...of_LeMons_.jpg

[ar0wan]

69 amirite

[BlueFlameFord]

Yep. U are right!


#69 the orange "LOSS 2.3"

Even though the car & transformation were less than $500, we got a 6 lap penalty. Our alternator went out mid-day Saturday. So, the only place to get a cheaply made, mexican alternator was the autozone. So, when the judges saw our shiney new alternator under the hood, they were like "Eeeek, fail. How much money was that new alternator? Six lap penalty"

D@mn... well, we didn't have a chance to argue with them as there really was npo other way to keep the car running unless we bought a alternator.

[93stangfutr5.0]

thats why you borrow a friends 2.3 daily driver LOL run and steel his.