2.3 Turbo Setup

[TheGreatWhite]

ok i got a few questions for you 2.3 guys out there. my buddy is swapping in a 2.3 turbo in his 87 notch. the motor is out of an 88 mustang and the turbo is off of an 88 turbocoupe. he is looking to do a little bit of work to the engine.nothin major.ie: mild cam, exhaust,throttle body,little bit of head work.stuff like that. we were just wonderin how much boost he would be capable of on the stock pistons/connecting rods..also are the internals the same in the 2.3 as the svo's? the only place to buy this stuff from also that we could find is racer walsh..overpriced IMO. he just doesn't want to tear the entire engine apart if he doesn't have to. just lookin for some info he plans to run more boost(i guess as much as possible) on stock internals or whatever. just seein what everybody would recommend for a good setup
Thanks!

[lib88stang]

Im not to sure your buddy is going to want to use the NA motor and turbo it. He may be better off finding a turbo motor out of a TC or merkur

[map351]

With a N/A engine the cast pistons won't live long 5 lb boost if your lucky. He's going in the wrong direction! Find a 87/88 TC use the engine & ECC he has the harness in the car just needs repined and add the ACT sensor and VAM.

As for mods you can make over 300Hp ( Bob Myers) with the stock combo but not with a IHI, you'll need a T-3 or T-4 or Holset. Some have made over 400Hp with the stock rods, 450ish have been proven but that's on the edge. Crower sportsman rods your good over 600Hp.

[TheGreatWhite]

Wow thanks alot guys im glad i found that out ahead of time! ill relay that to him and im sure Bob ill be in touch with you and let you know what he wants to do once i tell him this..Thanks again everybody

[Martin0660]

Np problem, let me know if I can help. Tell him to head out to the track someday I'm there and see it all in action :D

Bob Myers

[TheGreatWhite]

k so i talked to my buddy and heres what we came up with. he is just gonna possibly take a loss but maybe not. first off the 2.3 he has we are going to do a complete rebuild on it so it will actually be able to handle high horsepower/boost(hopefully bob can point us in the right direction there ). then i just have to find out if a T3 or T4 will bolt up to the flange on his manifold for the IHI. if so he is gonna ditch the IHI and find a T3 or T4. if not we will take the loss and buy the right stuff

[Martin0660]

ok i got a few questions for you 2.3 guys out there. my buddy is swapping in a 2.3 turbo in his 87 notch. the motor is out of an 88 mustang and the turbo is off of an 88 turbocoupe.

This is probably going to be a disasater. The NA engines are cast pistons, while the turbo engines are forged. The mass air computer, MAF, and high impendance injectors from the NA 2.3 arent going to support even 10# of boost. Look at it this way, the stock engine was 88 hp, the turbo engines were 150-165 hp with 30# injectors, and 190-225 hp with 35# injectors. All of these depend on year / configuration, but all of them run out of injector pretty quick when you turn them up. There are work arounds, but only because of low impedance injectors.

he is looking to do a little bit of work to the engine.nothin major.ie: mild cam, exhaust,throttle body,little bit of head work.stuff like that. we were just wonderin how much boost he would be capable of on the stock pistons/connecting rods..also are the internals the same in the 2.3 as the svo's? .

See above, there are some that have got away with 10#'s with an IHI (88 TC turbo) for while. Usually they get greedy and melt it down. Its just so much better to do a proper turbo swap from a NA engine to a turbo engine and controls, and have a heck of a good time :D The 87/88 TC auto was limited to 10#'s of boost, rated at 150 HP, and had all of the injectors, forged pistons, etc as the other turbo cars.

the only place to buy this stuff from also that we could find is racer walsh..overpriced IMO. he just doesn't want to tear the entire engine apart if he doesn't have to. just lookin for some info he plans to run more boost(i guess as much as possible) on stock internals or whatever. just seein what everybody would recommend for a good setup
Thanks!

First of all, thats what you have to understand about the 2.3 turbo. Its a "build it yourself" kinda thing. You dont need to buy a lot, and if you are going to, you are going to pay. Its a very small nitch, and most of us are real cheap asses. Hit up www.turboford.net for the best info possible on these 2.3's but be prepared to be smacked for asking newbie questions with out a search.

If you buddy is serious about a build (and doing it right), I would be more than happy to talk to him about his options, and set him up a plan to get where he needs. MAP and I have been into these things a long time, and have probably seen most of it ;)

Bob Myers