Dawrr if you every get dat time machine find away for the Windsor to be the base angine and not the 2.3
I'll find the designer of the Pinto/Mustang 2.3l and kick him in the nuts and stuff the designs down his throat.
Oh, and that's a great suggestion.
Now that I think about it, there's a lot of things I'd do with a time machine... I'd go back to when import cars starting coming over and I'd kick THEIR designers in the nuts too. Except I'll do that with tree-climber shoes.
I've had my '88 for 15 years and my SVO for 2 years.
Sorry for your bad luck - but these engine's are bulletproof.
I've never "blown" anything. I drive them very hard, but I also do all of my own maintenance.
Hi, I just brought a 93 Mustang 2.3liter. I had verything done over but the engine. Can you give me some tips on why it takes off real slow, like it don't have any power at all?
LOL, i love this thread, it makes me feel confident about putting a turbo on a non turbo 2.3l.
My first 2.3l was the 78 motor that was in the car when i got it. Then after a year and a half of constant abuse, i rode the thing like a sl(_)t. I had one issuse where i ran it at over 110 mph down the freeway, and lost oil pressure. Pulled over, looked at it, no stains on the cement, no leaks, just no pressure, anyways, it still ran, but with only three cylinders. I drove it like that for over a week. It smoked like a chimney, but i was far too in LOVE with the car to just let that motor RIP, and let the car sit till i would know how to swap motors and such.
Anyways, it ran like a top for me for many HARD very hard miles, i was 17, and had a Mustang, it was a stick, and god damn did i show off, popping the clutch at 5k, to squeal those little 13s into second gear.
So, buddy hears my story, and says, ill give you a freebie 2.3, it ran great when i had it in my 1990 (swapped to a turbo from his wrecked TC) So i get the motor, put on high volume oil pump, reman waterpump, 160 degree thermostat, Headman header, offy intake, and a custom crank pulley, barely three inches in diameter.
Start the car up, runs like a dream, after a different, older but bettter (less emissions crap) 2 bbl ford carb, car really screams. Im gonna guess 130 hp, cuz thats what my daily driver neon has, and feels the same. Maybe be more or less, because i dont know the differences in gearing and ratios on the two cars. I swear, that thing is hella faster, ide drive it across country in a heartbeat if someone gave me a limitless credit card. Just so i can stop at every amusement park, and car show on the way! lol.
SO, i tear off the old 78 rocker arm cover (aka valve cover) and all i find is a busted lifter. And, i pulled the pistons out of it, and have it in a dry aquarium with a light over it now, and the broken lifter, not a single sign of wear on them. I LOVE MY 2.3.
I've had the same 87 2.3 EFI stang conv more than 12 years. Now at 210,000 miles & no major repairs. A few waterpumps, an alt or 2 & timing belts every 50 to 70,000 miles. Yep, she's gettin weak in the power area (due for a long block soon) and gettin weaker. But that's to be expected.
I've a 88 5.0 tricked out T-Top too. He's much more trouble than my baby girl 2.3.
But I Luv Em Both.
Have you a carfax on your buggy? It been in a flood, deep water, bad wreck or somethin? These will leave you with repetitive & constant electical problems. Also internal engine problems. Especially if it was in deep water. Could also be a bad rebuild on an engine that overheated too much - too often. That'ed explain the blown head G's and many other problems. These modern engines just won't take heat like the old cast iron 50's & 60's ones did.
Sorry man, sounds to me like someone just may have stung you with a bad stang.
2.3L OHC...one of the best Ford engines of all time. 10 years in a Ford dealer and I can tell you the 2.3L Push Rod engine wouldn't even make a good anchor!
My 88 Ranger with a SVO Turbo, XR4Ti ECU, Engle Cam and a 4.10 gear would spank any 5.0L conversion Ranger, and tow my dirt bikes, snowmobiles, pop-up camper...all while getting a DEPENDABLE 25mpg empty and hit 135mph on a Motorsport Speedo. It went 22,000 miles with a stock short block on 26psi of boost before a rod let go. Esslinger couldn't believe I was running that much boost on a stock rod for 2 years.
My 78 Pinto with a header, Holley 500 and a Crane Cam would embarrass 305 Monte Carlos.
We raced 2.3L engines on Methonal with Mechanical Injection, 14:1, Carillo Rods, Esslinger Head and trick valve train and ran it 8600 RPM in a hydroplane every weekend.
I really don't think there are bad 2.3L engines, just bad 2.3L owners.
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2006 Legend Lime GT: Samco, Metco, LPW, Brembo 6 pot brakes with floating rotors, Magnacharger with 8-Rib, LubeLocker, Royal Purple, FR500S front end, APR Performance Carbon Fiber Rear Wing, Roll bar, 10 qt upgraded oil system...Thank you Capaldi Racing for all your help! 2007 Mustang GT/CS : Wife's Car, Magnacharged too. 1966 Mustang GT-K Code Coupe: Restored
hmmmm...lets see. '89 2.3l, over 300,000 miles, has been driving around south florida for about the last 5 years i've owned it. 2 trips up to north carolina. has a small hole in the raditor ( i put about a gallon of water in it about every two weeks), burns oil from somewhere( about 1-2 quarts every two weeks). the most i've put into it...new fuel pump, new master cyl and booster, plugs, wires, cap, rotor, filters. and just a few days ago...new timing belt. and when that broke the car was tried to crank about 15 times...all i had to due was realgin the cam, crank, and distributor..still runs like a champ, and still gets about 25-30 mpg i think. I'm sure that i've ran this thing for almost a week with no or very little water( and without the fan working). and maybe longer with little oil (no oil on dipstick and 2 quarts got it right above the line)...when i get a second car, this motor is going to be overhauled by me, and with any help i get from this forum...cant wait...should be much better then what is it now. ( and right now its still kicking)...so do i think 2.3's suck...not on the life of the one i got now
I beAT THE snot out of my 1984 convertible turbo GT
put 25000 on it since i got it two years ago
changed the clutch the alternator and the timing belt
hauls ass for a little guy the stick and the ragtop gas mileage, all totally rocks.
my guess is you don't know how to drive or do not recognize your car telling you there is something that needs attention.
broken crank? can't tell me that didn't give you any clues it was coming turn down the stereo sometimes
good luck with you new honda
I got a 1993 2.3L notch back, is it eligible for turbo conversion?
sweet little car it is its my second 93' 4cyl i had a convertible didnt give me any problems except the alternator, thats expected due to its age.
My 2.3 runs pretty damn good considering age. it will be 27 this October. Despite it only has 84,000. One of my friends dad had an old courier with the 2.3L. It ran 300,000 miles, it had 2 transmissions before it hit that mark. They rebuilt it and it ran another 250,000. I'd choose any Ford with that engine before I'd buy a foregin built.
Everyone with a 2.3 engine tells me that they had to replace the transmisson at least once. I guess Ford put tranny's that were just too light duty for the car & engine. As for the engine itself, mine had around 190,000 when I got rid of it last year, and the only work I had done (besides routine tune-up & maintenance) was a water pump. That engine never missed a lick! Too bad it didn't have twice as much horsepower.
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66 Coupe - CandyApple Red, 2 barrel 289, C4.
66 Coupe - (father-daughter project). Tangier Orange, 302 with AOD, 17 inch Bullit wheels.
69 F-100 - 351c. Emerald Green Metallic paint. Still "in progress".
68 Barracuda - Rusted out project. 318 in the frame rails for now. Maybe a 360 in the future.
00 Mustang - (son's car) V6, 18 inch Saleen wheels.
ya I just bought a 2.3 lx 89 with 300 000 in it adn the cluch cable just went and the interior lighs dont work and the engine spits and sputters once and a while... I think I am inthe same boat as you are lol
are you referring to the guy that put a holset turbo in there as well as weld up 3 volvo intercooler cores together and run the crap out of it?if so,i saw that and its crazy,guy has guts.....
What ever happend to that guy, he hasnt updated his page in like a year.
