[93foxbody2.3]

O.k. I don't know about you but I don't have $1-$2k to Turbo up my 2.3. Then the upgrades. I'm going for the upgrades first. You can run a faster 2.3 N/A without the turbo and NOS but not as fast though. Here's a list of things you can do for the horses without the cost of Turbo right away. But basically after the list you'll be safe to put almost anything on the motor you want, TURBO or NOS. Here it is.....

-96' Ranger Exhaust Header
-15 or 17 lb fuel injectors
-15 lb/hr from one of the following 2.3L engines:

* 95-97 Ford Ranger/Mazda B2300
* 91-93 Mustang 2.3L
* 92-96 Ford Escort Tracer 1.9L
* 89-94 Taurus, Sable 3.8L
* 91-95 Thunderbird 3.8L

-17 ld/hr

* 94-98 Achiva, Ciera 3.1L
* 93-95 Camaro, Firebird 3.4L
* 93-97 Cutlass Supreme 3.1L
* 97-98 Cutlass 3.1L
* 94-98 Century, Regal, Skylark 3.1L
* 94-96 Corsica, Beretta 3.1L
* 94-99 Grand Prix, Grand Am 3.1L
* 95-99 Lumina, Monte Carlo 3.1L
* 97-99 Malibu 3.1L

-95 Lph fuel pump 90' mustang 5.0
-155 Lph fuel pump
-65mm or 75mm throttle body 5.0
-Replace the stock vacumn operated pressure regulator with a
manually adjustable Holley unit.
Set it at 45 LBS and your stock 15 LB injectors will flow like a 17lb unit.

-rear sway bar off of a Fox body GT
-Strut brace
-Subframe connectors
-Disc brakes all around
-Front sway bar link's
-Polyurthane Suspention bushing's
-Forged Pistons

Junk yard parts that can be used

- 87-93 Ranger cams, 91-93 Mustang cams (2.3L engine, you want the followers as well)
- 90's ranger header (The header weighs 6 pounds, stock mustang one weights 26 pounds)
- 8.8 Rear end out of a Turbo Coupe (Came with 3.73 gears in the auto ones, 3.55 in the manuals)
- 5.0 front brakes w/ spindles (get 11" rotors)
- 5.0 front sway bar (4 cylinder - 1" 5.0 - 1 5/16")
- Rear sway bar (out of a 5.0 GT)
- MAF conversion (better MPG and HP) [91-93 mustangs have MAF]

New parts that can be used

- Cold Air Intake (can be made out of PVC pipe, or exhaust piping)
- Exhaust (2.25" all the way back and no cat if you can get away with it)
- Cam gear (these engines like 4 degrees retard of timing)
- Port the head and intake
- Bigger valves
- Stand alone ECM
- Custom cam
- New heads
- 2.5 Stroker kit
- MSD ignition
- NOS (be cation, to much will kill the engine)
- 255lph fuel pump
- Under drive pullies
- 1.75" to 3" header
- Light weight flywheel
- Windage tray
- Aluminum drive shaft

There are other things that can be done like bump the compression, and play with the gears, that's up to you, this is just what I have learned will work. Make sure that you are careful and make sure you know what your doing before you do any work on your car.
If I have left anything out,feel free to add them to the list.

[NavySVO]

I really don't want to bilge you on this, mainly because you took the time and effort to post it and all, but.....

Originally Posted by 93foxbody2.3

Here's a list of things you can do for the horses without the cost of Turbo right away.
-65mm or 75mm throttle body 5.0

This is really a waste of time money for what it will gain you. You will also have to hog-out the intake to match the TB and weld up a couple of thin areras affected in the porting. You might get 5 HP out of this.

Originally Posted by 93foxbody2.3

Here's a list of things you can do for the horses
-rear sway bar off of a Fox body GT
-Strut brace
-Subframe connectors
-Disc brakes all around
-Front sway bar link's
-Polyurthane Suspention bushing's
- 5.0 front brakes w/ spindles (get 11" rotors)
- 5.0 front sway bar (4 cylinder - 1" 5.0 - 1 5/16")
- Rear sway bar (out of a 5.0 GT)

How does this gain more horsepower?

Originally Posted by 93foxbody2.3

- New heads

Only one head for the 2.3L...........

In addition, all these parts you are listing (even boneyard pieces) are going to add up to the cost of getting a turbo setup, if not more. It really doesn't cost as much as you think if you look hard on other forums and eBay for stuff.
A 2.3L out of a TC cam cover to oil pan can be had for $300 to $500 dollars. An LA3 is anywhere from $30-$100 depending on the seller/buyer.

A stand alone system will cost about $1k with all the extras included.

[93foxbody2.3]

Well thank you. The sway bars and stuff in that list there are for handling. I'm sorry I didn't categorize it properly.
The throttle body is a challenge but like you said it can be done.
And for the unnecessary s on heads, It was a typo. But if you read what you posted, you misspelled areas.

Originally Posted by NavySVO

This is really a waste of time money for what it will gain you. You will also have to hog-out the intake to match the TB and weld up a couple of thin areras affected in the porting. You might get 5 HP out of this.

Now while I was posting this I thought of the turbo price and thought the same thing. But you can do 1 or 2 or these things every week or 2. And after the first 2 weeks or so you'll have a faster 2.3l than you did before you started. it's also a good way to get to know your car and whats been done. Or shell out 1-2k for the turbo right away. Unless you know where we can put one on layaway. That would be great. Rent2own maybe?

[MYERS91LX]

i agree man , work your way to the top . im 16 so getting stuff for my car is almost impossable but its still worth it . i figure this is what your going to pay for a turbo set up

turbo-225
intercooler kit - 200
turbo header - 300
computer - 50
injectors , wires , new wiring harnesses - 30
new FORGED pistons - 210
oil line kit w/ adapter to block - 20

these are all the prices i have forund of the cheapest parts
it adds up to $ 835 , and these probably arnt even all the parts you need . i really dont know thats why im posting this . please add other parts and prices you need . im trying to get a turbo cause im bored with mine after 6 months of working on my car and now im out of things to do . thx

[b_chandler]

The guy tried to help you and you crapped on him. Nice.

You're wrong about a few things, and some of the things you listed aren't really worth the effort.

On a basically stock motor, the bigger throttle body is pointless. The throttle body is not the choke point. Picture a funnel, there's a big end, and a little end. The throttle body is the big end. See where I'm going with this? Even with the bigger throttle body, the little end of the funnel (the rest of the air path all the way to the intake valve) still remains the same. It doesn't change anything.

You mentioned that after doing all of this you can then add the turbo. Well, that's pretty close. Which forged pistons do you recommend? Flat tops or dished? The flat tops will work great in a naturally aspirated setup or boost levels lower than stock turbo motors. So dished right? Well not really. The dished pistons reduce compression (read: you lose power). The reduced compression makes a boost friendly environment, but it's a killer with only atmospheric pressure filling the cylinders.

I agree with the point you made about doing things in steps. There's definitely something to be said about that especially when you're on a budget. You only spend a little at a time and you can drive you car to work/school again on Monday.

But, like NavySVO said, for $500-$700 you could leave a junkyard with a running turbo motor/wiring and essentials and if you've got a lick of sense have the car back on the road in a weekend. Sometimes you get more for your money if you're patient.

After you do that, then a good portion of what you originally posted starts to make sense. That's the stuff you do a little at a time.

I'm not trying to bust your balls (that much) The people here are helpful. There's no need to treat them poorly.

[SM90Stanger]

Hey b chandler,

Just wondering if you could explain why the flat-head pistons don't work for high boost and dished pistons loose compression.
I'm pretty curious because I'll be turboing up my set-up (eventually, lol) and will have to make that decision .

[93foxbody2.3]

I was being nice and it's not like a 2.3 turbo is in every junk yard. And who wants to mess with someone else s problem. If I were to do turbo i'd buy new. I also see all the problems people have with the turbo. I'll go nitrous for now.

Originally Posted by b_chandler

The guy tried to help you and you crapped on him. Nice.

You're wrong about a few things, and some of the things you listed aren't really worth the effort.

On a basically stock motor, the bigger throttle body is pointless. The throttle body is not the choke point. Picture a funnel, there's a big end, and a little end. The throttle body is the big end. See where I'm going with this? Even with the bigger throttle body, the little end of the funnel (the rest of the air path all the way to the intake valve) still remains the same. It doesn't change anything.

You mentioned that after doing all of this you can then add the turbo. Well, that's pretty close. Which forged pistons do you recommend? Flat tops or dished? The flat tops will work great in a naturally aspirated setup or boost levels lower than stock turbo motors. So dished right? Well not really. The dished pistons reduce compression (read: you lose power). The reduced compression makes a boost friendly environment, but it's a killer with only atmospheric pressure filling the cylinders.

I agree with the point you made about doing things in steps. There's definitely something to be said about that especially when you're on a budget. You only spend a little at a time and you can drive you car to work/school again on Monday.

But, like NavySVO said, for $500-$700 you could leave a junkyard with a running turbo motor/wiring and essentials and if you've got a lick of sense have the car back on the road in a weekend. Sometimes you get more for your money if you're patient.

After you do that, then a good portion of what you originally posted starts to make sense. That's the stuff you do a little at a time.

I'm not trying to bust your balls (that much) The people here are helpful. There's no need to treat them poorly.

[NavySVO]

Like I said in my previous post, I was not trying to bilge you. It took time and effort to put down those things online. Good on you. My only point was that you were talking horsepower and took a dirt road off of the Interstate somewhere with suspension stuff is all. In which, you mis-splelled SUSPENTION. My little boo-boo with the keyboard is the fact that I got to typing too fast, not a grammar issue. Hooked on Phonics.....say it 3 times.....here's a link:
Hooked on Phonics® | Learn to Read with Award-Winning Educational Programs

There is a guy in Jupiter, Fl that can hook you up all day long with 2.3l turbo stuff. How far away is that, 15-30 minutes on a bicycle? Look up Fox Mustang Restorations. That may be too far to venture though, huh? Then again, going turbo is probably too much of a project for you anyway, as it isn't a plug-n-play X-Box kinda thing.

I was only joking about the head comment, so don't bruise so easily young man. Go see the school nurse for an ice pack if you are that bothered over it.

Do your NOS project (again, plug-n-play) and then see how much you spend getting the engine replaced. At a minimum you will get good at changing head gaskets......maybe.



Oh, and yes, I am busting your balls. L8R!

[SiCoBoY]

... Immature. Honestly!

[MYERS91LX]

its so fun to fight over a forum about a car with less than 200 HP tubo'd . lol its sad im saying grow up and im 16 ....

[Im2tall33]

no kidding huh? he was just trying to help. THanks for the thought and effort 93foxbody

[93foxbody2.3]

Originally Posted by b_chandler

The guy tried to help you and you crapped on him. Nice.

Look, read his post and tell me he wasn't being a **** when all I was doing was giving a list of usefull **** to use on an already slow as **** 2.3l Mustang. Why Ford put a 4 cyl. into a sports car is beyond me.

[m_williams]

Originally Posted by 93foxbody2.3

Look, read his post and tell me he wasn't being a **** when all I was doing was giving a list of usefull **** to use on an already slow as **** 2.3l Mustang. Why Ford put a 4 cyl. into a sports car is beyond me.

To sell mass quantities, make money, and help keep the cost of tooling down, in turn making the cars more affordable.

[SM90Stanger]

Not to mention gas mileage...

[SiCoBoY]

Thanks 93foxbody2.3 for this thread. I printed a copy and hope to soon use this on my car. Plus, will this also give the car a louder noise from the muffler? At least a noticeable noise?