built 4 cylinder
New User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville, AR
Here in Fayetteville at Thunder Valley Speedway (circle track), They used to have a class that ran the 2.3 fords. They wouldn't run circle around the V-8's but they kept up. But again, there is the whole money thing. A good mechine shop could help answer more questions. I know that if you put work into the head you can pretty easily get to where you want to be as far as speed.
Is it a daily driver? The boys at the track run almost 13 to 1 CRor more! Much more than what a person would want to drive all the time.
I have an '89 mustang with the 2.3 and I know that there is more in that little motor even w/o a turbo.
I don't have a clue as far as a hp rating. Stock, probably about 80 to 90 horse. Open up the head, reinforce the cam bearing girdles for a high lift cam, look for some good pistons with valve reliefs pre-cut and a CR around 11.5 to 1 (watch for piston valve clearance) open up the intake or find a carb intake....
Do you want carborated or fuel injected?
With injection you have to look at bigger injectors or turning up the presure on the fuel regulater. Any way, a header and 2.5 single exhaust and you'll be on the way to opening the eyes of a few Stock V-8 guys.
Is it a daily driver? The boys at the track run almost 13 to 1 CRor more! Much more than what a person would want to drive all the time.
I have an '89 mustang with the 2.3 and I know that there is more in that little motor even w/o a turbo.
I don't have a clue as far as a hp rating. Stock, probably about 80 to 90 horse. Open up the head, reinforce the cam bearing girdles for a high lift cam, look for some good pistons with valve reliefs pre-cut and a CR around 11.5 to 1 (watch for piston valve clearance) open up the intake or find a carb intake....
Do you want carborated or fuel injected?
With injection you have to look at bigger injectors or turning up the presure on the fuel regulater. Any way, a header and 2.5 single exhaust and you'll be on the way to opening the eyes of a few Stock V-8 guys.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 810
Likes: 0
From: Pocahontas, AR
Yeah i drove a 2 door neon 5 speed when my bronco was in the shop for tranny rebuild (it was under warranty 
). It was a very quick car, shocked the hell out of me. Raced a impala with it (from dead stop side by side down the middle of main street in a small hole in the ground town after midnight) and smoked it like it was sitting still. I wouldnt mind having the SRT/4 neon, those things come with 250 hp from factory. ...... And no i wouldnt get pissed at ya, the only company i dont like of the big 3 is chevy. I like ford alot, and dodge is a close second. If i was rich and could afford the ins. i would own a viper, but im not rich and i cant pay the ins on it, lol.
). It was a very quick car, shocked the hell out of me. Raced a impala with it (from dead stop side by side down the middle of main street in a small hole in the ground town after midnight) and smoked it like it was sitting still. I wouldnt mind having the SRT/4 neon, those things come with 250 hp from factory. ...... And no i wouldnt get pissed at ya, the only company i dont like of the big 3 is chevy. I like ford alot, and dodge is a close second. If i was rich and could afford the ins. i would own a viper, but im not rich and i cant pay the ins on it, lol.
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 810
Likes: 0
From: Pocahontas, AR
well now that doesnt sound to good of a deal. lol Oh now i have someone else to show up and race. One of my buddies just got a 75 camaro with the 350 in it for christmas. This one is going to be hard to beat, lol. even though its suppose to be stock.
New User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Jefferson City, TN
I know that 400HP is possible, because I have one in my 1988 Thunderbird TC. I am running a 190lph FP, a gillis boost valve, a t3/4 hybrid turbo and a tiny avenger cam/cam adjuster. Running 28lbs. of boost on 93 octane Ive posted 425HP on the chassis dyno and 11.76 in the 1/4. Keep in mind that this car weighs about 3800lbs. about 800lbs. more than a same year mustang.
Total cost for the rebuild and all of the parts was about $4300
Total cost for the rebuild and all of the parts was about $4300
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New User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 14
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2.3 Power
Hi. Hope this works, I'm a newb. I ran a pro IV here in Canada and you can get big power out of the 2.3. You can take a lot of the head to get the comp. up and "0" the deck. Esslinger Eng. in the states are the guys to talk to. They know the 2.3's. Also Racer Walsh in Florida. I got parts from Esslinger and they were great to deal with.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,006
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From: Coastal North Carolina
Not that i've ever been to illegal street racing or anything, but i have this friend (probably the same one as yours) that used to go. I ...i mean he would watch 4bangers whoop all over V-8 comaros and 5.0 stangs. They dont have the low end torque, but all that means is that you have to rev higher to get it going. But those little bangers are screaming at >8000 rpm's. Beating a V-8 with a 4 banger is not really that big of a deal. It happens every day at your local stop light. Even some stock bangers (imprezza wrx, Evo, And turbo eclipse) will blow the pants off a camaro with an LT1. Dont get a bug. take a ranger and show them that trucks can race too!
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 810
Likes: 0
From: Pocahontas, AR
Hmmmm, now thats a thought. I had a 94 ranger and it would do pretty good. Was the 2.3 if i remember right, 5 speed. It would haul butt, yet i couldnt beat that many v6 or v8 cars. Plus they arent that heavy in the back, and wheel spin is a beotch. Im so sick and tired of camaros that think they are bad. There is a new one that just showed up in town this past weekend. I dont know what it has or anything about it. Its burnt orange, and the tag says "wanarun" Well i do know its a 5 speed, he pulled out in front of me in first, got on it and it slid sideways, got it straight hit second and it did it again but not as bad. Ppl here says he can run 7 seconds in a 1/8th mile. So now im thinking of getting a 5.0 mustang, and have my tag say "5.0". But i dunno what im gonna get yet, itll be awhile ....
New User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville, AR
90ebbronc, Were is Pocahontas?? I think that I might have seen that crap-aro around my neck of the woods. About what year is it?
How deep are all of ya'lls pockets anyway? turbo 4... How about a supercharged V-8? Forced induction of any kind will build power. If you intend on going that route, good cam, aluminum heads and a centrifugal or roots style blower, about 8 to 1 CR? OOOHHHH-HHHAAAAA NO REPLACEMENT FOR DISPLACEMENT!!
A good blower new is about $1500,
heads another $1300,
rebuild on motor with mechine work $1000
Stompin' the Cr@p out of any one, anywhere....
Priceless
How deep are all of ya'lls pockets anyway? turbo 4... How about a supercharged V-8? Forced induction of any kind will build power. If you intend on going that route, good cam, aluminum heads and a centrifugal or roots style blower, about 8 to 1 CR? OOOHHHH-HHHAAAAA NO REPLACEMENT FOR DISPLACEMENT!!
A good blower new is about $1500,
heads another $1300,
rebuild on motor with mechine work $1000
Stompin' the Cr@p out of any one, anywhere....
Priceless
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
if you decide to go 6 cyl you might check out the old datsun z cars.you an get a shel and swap newer turbo engine in.zcar.com will have any info you might want.-----my bro back in high schooll use to beat some 75-80 camars in his 4cyl datsun wagon lol.....he could run and they couldnt...they also neer maintained their rides so it was junk while my bro kept his up.-----i dont know eneough about racing to make a comment on the 2.3.--have fun and be safe regardless.