What 2.3 do I have?

326 Views 4 Replies 3 Participants Last post by Cobrajet67, 19 d ago

PatM

Discussion Starter · 20 d ago

Hi all, I am new to the site and in full disclosure do not own a Mustang currently (though have in the past). I recently purchased a 68 MGB that has been 2.3 swapped that I was going to use for parts for a 72 I own and am fixing up and then possibly building the 68 out to a track car. I am trying to figure out what I have in the engine as nothing about how it is set up makes a lot of sense. It is currently carbureted with a webber 36(?) but the block is a turbo block as it has the oil return port and the casting code is RF-E3ZE-DC and I believe it has a turbo head as well, RF-E8ZE-AB.

I have no idea (nor did the PO) what car this came out of but according to the casting it should be a revised foundry for a SVO Mustang (no vin since not original). If it is a proper engine I would like to convert it back to EFI and turbo it (either in the MG or a different car). Not sure if the engine internals are proper (forged pistons etc) so would like some advice on identifying those and recommendations from the group on the best way to move forward.

Additionally, checked PSI on the cylinders and had 145-160 on all he cylinders, which while is strong and encouraging could it be a little too high for a turbo application? Shouldn't the ring gap be a little bigger to allow boost blow by thus a little lower compression?

Thanks and looking forward to the replies! (PS not my messy garage and yes I know the headers are the wrong ones and upside down, that was the PO)

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crjackson

· #2 · 20 d ago

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Cobrajet67

· #3 · 19 d ago

PatM said:
Hi all, I am new to the site and in full disclosure do not own a Mustang currently (though have in the past). I recently purchased a 68 MGB that has been 2.3 swapped that I was going to use for parts for a 72 I own and am fixing up and then possibly building the 68 out to a track car. I am trying to figure out what I have in the engine as nothing about how it is set up makes a lot of sense. It is currently carbureted with a webber 36(?) but the block is a turbo block as it has the oil return port and the casting code is RF-E3ZE-DC and I believe it has a turbo head as well, RF-E8ZE-AB.

I have no idea (nor did the PO) what car this came out of but according to the casting it should be a revised foundry for a SVO Mustang (no vin since not original). If it is a proper engine I would like to convert it back to EFI and turbo it (either in the MG or a different car). Not sure if the engine internals are proper (forged pistons etc) so would like some advice on identifying those and recommendations from the group on the best way to move forward.

Additionally, checked PSI on the cylinders and had 145-160 on all he cylinders, which while is strong and encouraging could it be a little too high for a turbo application? Shouldn't the ring gap be a little bigger to allow boost blow by thus a little lower compression?

Thanks and looking forward to the replies!

I'm not any kind of expert in 2.3 Lima engines but the following is what I found.
Idk if the block and head came from the same car though it's possible. The block is a 1983 casting # but if it was still used in later years it could be a late 1980s block. The head casting has a 1988 # and the same applies to it. The Thunderbird and Merkur with the 2.3T were still being made in 1988 but if the head was originally out of a different car it could've come off of a Thunderbird, Cougar, Mustang(GT turbo or SVO), or Capri.
When you say the engine was "revised foundry" do you mean a service block?
If the engine was originally put in any car from the factory then it will have at least a partial VIN on it above the starter.
I don't think it's a service block based off of that part #: svo block casting number decode (foureyedpride.com) and just because it has the oil drain means nothing as those blocks were put into many 2.3 vehicles whether it was a turbo or not. According to this discussion the RF doesn't mean that it's a service block and that those blocks were used in later non turbo applications too: Service Block (turboford.org) A service block supposedly would have a tag on it.
These are some known 2.3 head castings but E8ZE isn't listed: Lima 2.3 cylinder head casting and application information (turboford.org) It is a Mustang derived casting # with the Z in it so it could be a service head since there were no Mustangs with a 2.3T in 1988. It's mentioned here: Marine 2.3 Cylinder head update... (turbotbird.com) These 2.3 engines were used in industrial equipment and things like boats too. E6ZE and E8ZE are hard to discern from each other. The 4th digit E seems to be a regular engineering # and not a service number. Classic Mustang Part Number Decoding Guide
These places seem to be experts on the 2.3:
Boport Performance (Powered by CubeCart) (bo-port.com)
Racer Walsh – Home for all your Ford performance needs.

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PatM

Discussion Starter · #4 · 19 d ago

Cobrajet67 said:
I'm not any kind of expert in 2.3 Lima engines but the following is what I found.
Idk if the block and head came from the same car though it's possible. The block is a 1983 casting # but if it was still used in later years it could be a late 1980s block. The head casting has a 1988 # and the same applies to it. The Thunderbird and Merkur with the 2.3T were still being made in 1988 but if the head was originally out of a different car it could've come off of a Thunderbird, Cougar, Mustang(GT turbo or SVO), or Capri.
When you say the engine was "revised foundry" do you mean a service block?
If the engine was originally put in any car from the factory then it will have at least a partial VIN on it above the starter.
I don't think it's a service block based off of that part #: svo block casting number decode (foureyedpride.com) and just because it has the oil drain means nothing as those blocks were put into many 2.3 vehicles whether it was a turbo or not. According to this discussion the RF doesn't mean that it's a service block and that those blocks were used in later non turbo applications too: Service Block (turboford.org) A service block supposedly would have a tag on it.
These are some known 2.3 head castings but E8ZE isn't listed: Lima 2.3 cylinder head casting and application information (turboford.org) It is a Mustang derived casting # with the Z in it so it could be a service head since there were no Mustangs with a 2.3T in 1988. It's mentioned here: Marine 2.3 Cylinder head update... (turbotbird.com) These 2.3 engines were used in industrial equipment and things like boats too. E6ZE and E8ZE are hard to discern from each other. The 4th digit E seems to be a regular engineering # and not a service number. Classic Mustang Part Number Decoding Guide
These places seem to be experts on the 2.3:
Boport Performance (Powered by CubeCart) (bo-port.com)
Racer Walsh – Home for all your Ford performance needs.

Thanks for the info, "revised foundry" is what the RF stands for I believe. It means it was not original to a car and was made later (not sure why or for what). The block does have a casting date of sep 89 on it but know telling what it was originally installed in (could be this MG for all I know).

I'll take a look at the links you sent. Think I am going to try to find a junk yard EFI and exhaust manifold for it, get it back in running order and go from there.

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Cobrajet67

· #5 · 19 d ago

PatM said:
Thanks for the info, "revised foundry" is what the RF stands for I believe. It means it was not original to a car and was made later (not sure why or for what). The block does have a casting date of sep 89 on it but know telling what it was originally installed in (could be this MG for all I know).

I'll take a look at the links you sent. Think I am going to try to find a junk yard EFI and exhaust manifold for it, get it back in running order and go from there.

If you read thru my links then that appears to be untrue. Idk where you're getting that RF means that it's a service part #. Every modern factory production block and head that I see pics on the internet for about the last 3 decades of production says RF in front of it. RF is nothing rare or unusual, it's the norm.

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