Im going this weekend to look at a SVO 2.3litre turbo, supposedly out of a 79 NASCAR pacecar. Anybody got any info on HP or torque specs for this motor? compression ratio, boost lbs, any other gems of knowledge I can gleam from your brains would be also greatly appreciated.

I am currently wrestling with the decision between an entire motor swap for my '93 'Stang or just the turbo setup, either way will cost the same dollar wise as I will still have to amass many extra parts(intercooler comes to mind). As my 4banger experience is slightly limited 'cause I'm normally a V8 man myself, what do y'all think? I value the opinions and tech expertise from fellow FTEers more than any othe place, so thank you in advance for the help.

 

I would grab everything you can right there. Piling on a few bit pieces is a LOT easier than piece the turbo to an engine you have to tear up anyway to work with the turbo.

N/A engines don't have the same innards, i.e. low-comp forged pistons, to do much good as the prepped version you have in front of you would.

 

The standerd 2.3 has a higher C/R thusly its better to do a complete turbo engine install.Not to mention the heads are a little better for the turbo engines due to the combustion chamber size and shape.

 

if the engine is out of a '79 it is a blow thru carb setup. not an SVO motor.

 

It'll be draw through, not blowthru, but there
is a guy going 10's with one out here in Bremerton...

 

my mistake...
i know a guy somewhere around the st louis area going 10's with one in a yellow capri.

 

True SVOs are just that, SVO Mustangs, injected
2.3L Turbos, anything else are pretenders...

 

go to www.turboford.com for all the info you could ever want on normal 4cyl. to turbo swaps.
Great site! I'm an SVO owner, and like said above, an SVO engine would not come out of a 79 pace car.
If it's a 79 pace car enigne, it's carbed, as stated also.
Best bet would be to find a wrecked or junked 87-88 Thunderbird turbocoupe and get everything off of it. The mose expensive item might be an exhaust header, if you want to run A/C, as the tbird one won't fit.
Anyway, that site is a goldmine for info.

 

it www.turboford.org them motors are bad ***
they came in thunderbirds, cougars, murkurs, and svo mustangs

 

I RACED OVAL TRACK FOR 12 YRS. I USED THE 2.3 FOR SEVERAL OF THOSE YEARS. SINCE THE 2.3 IS A PINTO MOTOR IT ERRONEOUSLY GOT A BAD MARK PUT ON IT. I HAVE OWNED 3 STREET CARS WITH THE 2.3 , WITH ABOUT 450,000 MILES ON THEM COLLECTIVLY . IN ALL THE YEARS I RACED, I NEVER BLEW ONE UP, AND ON THE ROAD I HAD ALMOST NO TROUBLE, MABEY A WATER PUMP OR ALTERNATOR. I WOULD PUT A 2.3 MOTOR UP AGAINST ANY AS TO RELIABILTY, AND I MEAN ANYTHING, FORIEGN OR DOMESTIC.

 

i never thought people thought badly of the 2.3 cuz the pinto. my friend put 2.3t in a pinto and that thing was so sweet.