ultimate 2.3 build (stock componets)

[460429_freak]

okay I need a screaming build up for a 2.3 but everything has to be stock can bore, oversize valves, no chevy 5.7 rods no porting polishing. the combo I've come up withso far is 75 pinto head with a merkur short block(merkur had a longer stroke than a regular 2.3 or that is what i'm told) with flat top pistons running a 500 cfm holley 2 barell any other suggestions this is for a race car!

[canzus]

Originally posted by 460429_freak
okay I need a screaming build up for a 2.3 but everything has to be stock can bore, oversize valves, no chevy 5.7 rods no porting polishing.

the combo I've come up withso far is

75 pinto head with a merkur short block(merkur had a longer stroke than a regular 2.3 or that is what i'm told) with flat top pistons running a 500 cfm holley 2 barell any other suggestions
this is for a race car!

You need to check your facts, the Merkur has the same stroke
as any other 2.3L, so you've been mislead...

So this is for a mini-stock, or something else??

[460429_freak]

yeah a mini stock

[1pump]

I had a '83 Ranger 2.3 that I built up for street use. Forged TRW flattops, Crane cam, Holley 2305 carb, and I used the early head.
Went like a raped ape, but got about 15 mpg on the hiway. (3.70 gears and no OD). I sold it before I got a chance to fiddle much more with it.
You might consider an early 2.0 Pinto engine. They were screamers, but getting more rare since they've been out of production for 30 years. If not, I bet you can get 200hp out of a 2.3 without huge mods. Can you run solid lifters? BTW, whatever you do, get rid of the stock rod bolts and get some good ones, like ARP. The stock ones will grenade. And get the cam bearing mod done to that early head. It'll make your valvetrain live a lot longer.
The only 2.3 that has a longer stroke is that 2.3 HSC engine found in Tempos (among other things). It's an OHV engine, and doesn't have any compatible parts with an 2.3 OHC.

[JPR2300]

I'm curious as to why Wolf thought the Merkur engine was stroked? The Merk engine was the same as the other Turbo 2.3's assembled then shipped to Germany to be installed.

[BIG A]

i need a little more info on what u are looking for,or can and cant do with your engine. ive built several 2.3's for a local racing team. i can tell you how to build power and lots of it' but i dont know how far you can, or are willing to go with it. ours put out about 300 hp. we run about 12.5 to 1 comp, mechanical cams, ported big valve heads, 5.7 rods, a factory ford header, a tunnel ram intake, holly 500 carb, windage trays, gold star clutches, under drive pulleys, factory duraspark dizzy with a gm hei ign module attached and a msd coil. lots of other high perf. stuff to keep it all together. this is all in a mini stock car that is supposed to have a stock drivetrain. just to let you know we arent cheeting anymore than anybody else is. we have a real hard time running with those darn toyota's. pm me if u want and i can give you some leads on cheap parts, or we can talk about building a screaming 2.3.

[460429_freak]

no porting polishing heads or intake no strookers can run the "roller" head no vacum rule now what is this about a gm module??

[Traxxis]

Hey big A... how much? Was woundering what a guy to do w/ about $300-$500 to throw into it, what could i gain? And what parts?

[BIG A]

if your motor has to be all stock then i would run a good solid rebuild of the bottom end stock execpt for a high volume oil pump and arp rod bolts. i would use a d port head and an esslinger 468 mechanical cam. use a holley 500 2 barell carb with a vent whistle and jetted with 70 main jets and a 35 power valve. almost all the power in these engines is made in the head. shave the head as much as you think you can get away with. ours have been shaved .185 but we also run kb pistons with large reliefs. i dont know what else you can do to your engine as far as the rules go but there is a lot of simple bolt on parts that will gain you power. there are windage trays, adjustable cam pulleys, intake manifolds,headers,light weight clutches,the list goes on and on. check out esslinger engineering's web site. i highly recomend buying their catalog. it is full of engine building tips as well as parts. oh i almost forgot. on the 2.3 high rpm racing engine you must use a bronz dizzy gear. if not you will be pulling your oil pan to retrieve broken gear teeth from the oil pan

[lowdownndirty]

ahhh perfect post for me to get in to, as i need alot on info on bulidng the 2.3 in to something other than a dog....
how about a run down on bulidng 3 diffrent 2.3`s using from stock no porting stroking ,stocktype(cast or hyper) replacet pistions,ranger roller head

Id be intrested in 150-175 hp but it has to have endurance as it wil be put in a pre runner(i dont mean lifted in the front only, but truck that really gets used for pre running a race course)pump gas would be a plus(as it will get ran in mexico alot)

what can one expect out of a mostly stock 2.3 bulid (shave head,but how far can one go before problems arise, (first OHC eng to play with) if you shave the head dose it mess up valve timing and have to get a adj cam gear etc?.....full run down PLEASE

and where dose one get parts at a decent price?

thanks
Chris
Viva Tecate Racing
Code racing 7s

[jeremylove]

Originally posted by Traxxis
Hey big A... how much? Was woundering what a guy to do w/ about $300-$500 to throw into it, what could i gain? And what parts?

hmmm this is how I would spend that cash:

A 2.3T swap would be a good starter for that amount. You could probably get an engine for $300 from a merkur or t-coupe and $200 worth of plumbing, a cheap intercooler off a probe or volvo, and you're all set for 200HP+

[race21j]

I also am building a few 2.3's to race in a Hornet division.I would like some more info. Am looking for a used MSD or Mag distributor for the 2.3 any sources would be helpful.