[lifeson1]

Hi...new here. I have 1993 4cyl. LX coupe. Sharp looking little car. I am at a point where the 2.3 is about to go South on me. I know I can get a 5.0 used for around $500, and a rebuilt AOD transmission. But, what am I getting in a used 302? A formerly abused engine? A motor that is now at this point 14 years old and almost ready for a rebuild? What kind of REAL power can I get from a 2.3, and with what kind of money? Exactly what modifications will need to be made to my 2.3 to give it at least the power of a dry-stock 302? This way I can leave my A4LD transmission alone. My nephew who has built MANY Mustangs tells me there's no way to get any decent tire burning power from a 2.3. Is he right? Thanks!!

[evintho]

Originally Posted by lifeson1

Exactly what modifications will need to be made to my 2.3 to give it at least the power of a dry-stock 302?

TURBO!!!

[pintoracer]

No He Is Wrong You Can Get Up To 300hp Or More With Enough Work. Check Out Racer Walch Or Esslinger.

[sleeper_inc]

Originally Posted by pintoracer

No He Is Wrong You Can Get Up To 300hp Or More With Enough Work. Check Out Racer Walch Or Esslinger.

Thanks for bringing a dead thread back

BTW, with a 300hp 2.3, don't think about having it a DD or even a streetable car. RACE GAS ONLY!!!!!!!!!!!

[Angliagasser]

Sorry, but I have a SVO 2.3 Turbo engine I am putting in a 66 Mustang and It has over 300hp on pump gas! It is going to be a daily driver. I am restoring this car for my daughters first car. The engine was in a Pinto I bought that ran 13 flat in the quarter and it was a daily driver on pump gas.

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...CN03210174.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...CN03260179.jpg

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/h...CN03330183.jpg

[sleeper_inc]

I meant N/A lol


Turbo is different

[Angliagasser]

oops, Sorry I guess I just did not read it right.

[stanglover4life]

ive heard of 2.3l 4 banger doing 7.95, now if that isnt tire burning then i dont know wut is.

[sleeper_inc]

Originally Posted by stanglover4life

ive heard of 2.3l 4 banger doing 7.95, now if that isnt tire burning then i dont know wut is.

a 2.3 turbo is doing 8.91 in the 1/4 mile right now (fastest one yet)

[Matt-Culpepper]

wow glad to see so many familiar "faces" over here.

I'll throw this one out there. This weirdo makes more than 300 tire spinning hp

Project Bolt-On

[Matt-Culpepper]

Originally Posted by sleeper_inc

Thanks for bringing a dead thread back

BTW, with a 300hp 2.3, don't think about having it a DD or even a streetable car. RACE GAS ONLY!!!!!!!!!!!

ummm what??? I drive my 400hp car every day(500 miles a week) and on pump gas. 300hp can be done by using nearly all stock parts worked over.

[RLG34750]

Way to wake up the dead....

great write up in you link.....

thanks

[Amscray88kr]

seriously theres been all kinds of zombie threads roaming around. and this one was dug up 3 times lol.

i think a 300hp 2.3 n/a NON-TURBO would be lots of work and more than most people or a nebwie such as myself could handle. probably pump gas. you might be able to get away with driving it on the street.

do a few things here and there to a 302 get it breathing just alittle bit more and you got 300 hp. am i wrong?

side note: ill never replace my 2.3 n/a with a v8 it didnt come with one from the factory so im not gonna yank it. if the motor dies ill put in another one. if the tranny dies(fingers crossed) ill get a t-5 =D. everything else is just a few days work in the garage. plus think of the mpg man.

"aw my cars slow i need more horsepower" hate to say it but no you dont. just mod it til you get 30mpg then drive it for the next 5 years.

if you want horsepower build a 2.3t from the ground up.
mod a v6 or buy a v8 and mod that.

maybe off subject

$0.02

[Matt-Culpepper]

Well I guess I should have clarified...300hp can be achieved after the turbo swap with all stock parts. I don't really bother with n/a anythings anymore.

The same thing to make a 5.0 300rwhp is exactly what it takes to make a 300rwhp 2.3T. The only diff is the 2.3 can do it a tad cheaper, quicker, and still maintain 30+mpg. Also my 400hp car is nothing more than top end parts. Building one from the ground up is a "no-no" unless you have something serious going on. Beyond that my 500hp set-up cost about the same as a good 5.0 short block cost to build let alone putting a set of heads on it.

I agree about the modding thing though. If you're building anything be prepared to go through a stage of breaking crap until its all dialed in. If you're not prepared to go through a bit of this leave the n/a alone and put 3-400k mils on it and be happy.

[J. Rhapsody]

I know I'm gonna bring out as much hp as I can outta my 2.3 Carbed or turbo is the way to make hp