[Green78II]

I am currently restoring a 1978 Ford mustang II with the 2.3L I-4 engine. I want to make a little more power but without any radical mods. I am going to put a header on it and want to do some intake work but I don't know any real tuning procedures. I am in no way an expert but I do know enough to get by (barely). I want to try to keep the engine stock (more or less) in appearance but still make at least 100 - 130HP. My exhaust system is relatively new So I don't want to redo it. I believe the diameter of the muffler pipe is 2 1/4 inches.

I hear that putting in a header(s) can add gains of 30HP but this is a much smaller engine so I'm not sure what the actual gains would be. All I know is that 89HP is borderline unacceptable.

[74stang2togo]

The 2.3 is like any other engine, it can be modified and tuned.

The 2.3 in my '74 Mustang II is from an '88 Mustang (finally pulled the original after 300,000+ miles and 32 years of abuse... lol) and has a Motorcraft 2100 carburetor, Purolator electric fuel pump, a camshaft from Sealed Power, an Accel Superstock coil with Superstock 8mm wires, all the smog stuff is gone (vapor canister, EGR valve, etc, only things I kept were a breather filter and PCV valve), it has a 2" exhaust with a Thrush glasspack muffler (almost every 2.3 Mustang I've ever seen had 1 3/4 or 2" pipe for the exhaust) with a side-exiting tip from a Z/28, I've got a Bluestreak points and condensor set, and a 1/2" carb spacer. Bone stock this thing put out 109hp in 1974 and had a hard time spinning the little 5" wide tires on the little 13" wheels... now she wears wider and heavier hides (Dayton Daytona ZRs that are 8" wide on 16" "Chrome Pony" wheels) and can leave rubber in first and on a good day manage a chirp in 2nd.

http://www.allfordmustangs.com/forum...93&d=115328668 <-- There's what it all looked like when finished... I'm having a heck of a time getting the electric fuel pump and carburetor to cooperate (ran fine when using a mechanical pump on the '74 shortblock, but the '88 shortblock couldn't run one, and the electric pump and the carburetor don't get along very well, even after a fuel pressure regulator and a return line to bleed off excess fuel.

[Green78II]

Thank you. Would you happen to have any links to sites about the 2.3L engine (or any good mustang II sites)? It would be much appreciated.

[74stang2togo]

As far as 2.3 info, there's a fair bit of it (though it is mostly EFI oriented, but quite a few things can be applied to the carbureted versions to) in the 2.3 forums here at AFM, and even more can be found at racerwalsh.com (they specialize in Fords overall and have one of the best selections of parts for building monster 2.3s for the street or the track). Esslinger engineering and Offenhauser both have parts for them as well, Esslinger has a website, I don't remember the URL but it's listed in the 2.3 parts thread that is at the top of the 2.3 Tech forum.

If you're looking for other Mustang II sites for more info, check out our links thread at the top of the home page of AFM, this site is linked up with several other Mustang sites including a few Mustang II specific sites.

[speedytang]

The 2.0 and 2.3 was used for 30 years in Sprint Cars. Crower makes some great cams and Offenhauser makes/made some great intakes. My Dad and I in the early 80's was building 350hp 2.0 was 13-1 compression and crower mechanical cam and intake with 390cfm 4bbl Holley carb and rev to 8k rpm. Many books on these engines have been written since the 70's but long out of print. Do some Ebay searches and maybe you can find some old publications. Popular Hot Rodding and Car Craft back in the 70's was building Pintos that ran like the Big Blocks. I would myself build using EFI since it is easy to modify the fuel and spark tables and get a nice daily driver that runs great on the street. Today everything is about Turbo because it is easy Horsepower but I have seen 500hp 2.5 with out a Turbo. Petersen Publishing had written many books for the 1.8- 2.0 family of engines just finding them today in tough.

[Zarkon]

the 2,3 is still used in pony class racing.
You can even buy complete new block.
Look in circle track magazine. Lots of info, lots of sources.
I currently have a daily driver I bought new in 79. a turbo 2.3 mustang cobra.

[Green78II]

Hey guys, been a while. Lets see, So far I've completely rebuilt the engine, added a Hedman Hedder, removed egr and smog pump, and decided to redo the exhaust because of some bad spots I overlooked originally. I have all the parts I need except for the slight bend on the piece after the catalytic converter. It looks to be a 20 - 30 degree bend. Its a little off the original posted question, but does anyone know where I can get this bend in 2 1/4 inch pipe?

[Stretchmobile]

Bend a coathanger wire to match your needs and take it to any muffler shop and have them bend you a piece of scrap tubing or look through their scrap pile. It won't cost much and most of the time they'll give you a small piece of scrap.

[Green78II]

Thanks. All set.