help finding parts

stanglover4life · 03-02-2008

So, i love my mustang, and i want to do everything i can do to make the engine better. But the thing, i am not very knowledgable about what parts to get. Cause i went to esslingerracing.com and i was looking and i want to get a rocker cam. and there are different sizes or something

. there is a rocker cam kit and i want to know if it will fit my car. my engine is completely stock besides stock, except that i am using royal purple oil. and a k&n filter. And i am hoping u guys can give me some help in making my 2.3L fuel injected mustang

ethangsmith · 03-03-2008

If you have an 87-90 speed density fuel injection system, it will not be able to tolerate a cam swap. If you have a 1991-1993 mass air 8 plug head fuel injection system, you can do cam swaps, however, I don't believe that Esslinger offers a hydraulic roller camshaft (what the 91-93's have). They offer solid lifter roller cams and hydraulic and solid lift flat follower cams.

stanglover4life · 03-03-2008

mine is a 90 so i dont know what to get to help it.

ethangsmith · 03-03-2008

As camshafts go, you can update to a 91-93 stock roller cam. It has the same specs as the flat follower cam, but is smoother running, longer wearing, and frees up small gains in power. A great starting place would be to gut the air silencer (large bulge in the intake pipe). I noticed an improvement in throttle response. Set your base timing (factory spec is 10 advanced) as high as you can without ping (most can tolerate 12 advance without too many issues). You also have a knock sensor threaded into the intake. You can unplug that, but the engine will ping at times. A good tune-up can help. Motorcraft or Autolite plug wires and Autolite COPPER plugs work best. Seems like some people have issues with the platinums. If the radiator is full of scale and sediment or is leaky, replace it. Getting coolant to move easier is always a good thing. Basically, the biggest choking point of the 2.3L is the head. Porting and polishing the head and intake can wake the car up a bit. Have to be careful though because if you get to radical and change the volume of the intake too much, the speed density fuel injection can get funky.

stanglover4life · 03-04-2008

Thanks that helps a lot.

ethangsmith · 03-04-2008

I hope I didn't rain on your parade. Honestly, the 2.3L is a good engine for what it is, but doing modifications to it that result in dramatic power increases are expensive. With doing some tweaks to your 90, you may see 110-120hp out of it. Nothing major, but it will give it a little bit extra. Does your car have an automatic or manual transmission?

stanglover4life · 03-05-2008

its got an automatic

ethangsmith · 03-05-2008

The automatics are known to grenade without warning. First thing I did to mine (also an automatic) and first thing I suggest to everyone is to put an aftermarket transmission cooler on it. I like the stacked-plate design ones over the tube-and-fin ones not only for better cooling, but also much better durability. It is cheap insurance that you won't overheat the transmission and destroy it. Also, check your fluid color, and if it is any color other than red, have a flush and fill with synthetic ATF.

sleeper_inc · 03-05-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by ethangsmith

The automatics are known to grenade without warning. First thing I did to mine (also an automatic) and first thing I suggest to everyone is to put an aftermarket transmission cooler on it. I like the stacked-plate design ones over the tube-and-fin ones not only for better cooling, but also much better durability. It is cheap insurance that you won't overheat the transmission and destroy it. Also, check your fluid color, and if it is any color other than red, have a flush and fill with synthetic ATF.

I'm running a 2.3 turbo @ 190HP, 2xx Tq. and burnt fluid (trying to kill the damn thing)

So far, 10 break stands, many boosted run to 100+MPH, and its not even slipping yet

If you want good power drop a 2.3 turbo in it like I did, if you want more info let me know

dakotah2007 · 03-05-2008

hi does anyone know where i can get a blue turbo joe fuel rail for a 2.3 mustang at

ethangsmith · 03-05-2008

Your trans is exception and not the rule. Check out stangnet. Thread after thread of auto tranny failures. Some do last a long time and stand a lot of abuse, but I wouldn't tempt fate. I agree, a 2.3 turbo would be fun, but if you don't have the means to get the engines swapped or the $$$ to shell out for it, you're kind of stuck with doing some mods to the 2.3L engine you have.

sleeper_inc · 03-05-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by dakotah2007

hi does anyone know where i can get a blue turbo joe fuel rail for a 2.3 mustang at

There is one for sale on turboford.net right now.

turbojoe.com and stinger-performance.com sells them.

Quote:

Your trans is exception and not the rule. Check out stangnet. Thread after thread of auto tranny failures. Some do last a long time and stand a lot of abuse, but I wouldn't tempt fate. I agree, a 2.3 turbo would be fun, but if you don't have the means to get the engines swapped or the $$$ to shell out for it, you're kind of stuck with doing some mods to the 2.3L engine you have.

I'm on more than one forum, I know about the transmission failures, over on mustangforums.com 3 people have had theirs rebuilt within 2 months of each other.
They are weak transmissions, but I thought I would share what I'm doing with mine right now to tell that they can be strong

Also the last time I was at stangnet.com it was full of assholes, might have changed now, but it seems to be that way with forums lately...

stanglover4life · 03-06-2008

my transmission is fully rebuilt with all brand new parts, its been a little year since then and i ve had no problems with it. some times the shifter can get hot and dont know y, and then it can be cold.

I have gutted the silencer, replaced the air filter with a K&N filter. i am using royal purple 10w 30 oil and a K&N gold oil filter, new fuel filter. New thermostat.

I think i need to change the spark plugs but not sure which ones to get.

ethangsmith · 03-07-2008

I agree, Stangnet is not the friendliest place. There are always guys getting on the 2.3L forums with their "Get a 5.0" attitudes. Maybe some people actually LIKE their 4 cylinder engines. Anyway, much better atmosphere on here and a lot more activity. My A4LD is still surviving. I have reason to believe that mine may have blown up at one point in its life and a shift kit was installed in it. The shifts are very crisp and it will hold gears a lot longer than other A4LDs I have come across. Also, the converter lockup is very fast and solid. It feels just like a 4th shift. I put a large capacity trans cooler on it too so hopefully I can get a few years out of it before it quits.

stanglover4life · 03-07-2008

where can i find a trans cooler for mine?