I'm going to inflame some people, but there's no difference between a turbo block (SVO) and n/a blocks of the same year apart from a drilled and tapped hole on the passenger's side of the block. The boss is present on the n/a blocks of the same years, but there's no hole there.

Unless of course you're referring to the very limited production tall deck block. I think there were only a few hundred of those made.

 

If they are the same, why were the turbo blocks like the one in my 1987 Thunderbird Turbo coupe cast in Brazial?

 

I think the Lima became a Brazilian product only in the 80's. They weren't made in the Lima,OH plant any more. But, don't bet your paycheck.
tom

 

Because like today with the 4.6L and 5.4L V8s, the blocks all aren't cast or assembled at the same location. Ford used the 2.3L in a variety of applications and I suspect that they may have relocated the production of car engines to Brazil because they are "dressed" differently than truck engines of the same model year and therefore usually aren't built on the same line. Parts like alternators, PS pumps, A/C compressors, wiring, motor mounts, etc., are generally always installed at the engine manufacturing plant. While the part may be common to both car and truck engines, they may use different mounting brackets and will almost certainly use different mounts and wiring layouts.

Primarily what I was referring to was the rumor that the turbo blocks had a higher nickel content in them than the n/a blocks. Nothing I have ever read anywhere can substantiate that rumor, apart from random postings on various internet message boards that only spread the rumor further without any real proof. Apart from changes made for EFI vs. Carb and then TFI vs. DIS blocks there has been no significant strength change made to a factory 2.3L block that I'm aware of. The only 2.3L block that was beefed up in any way was the Motorsport tall-deck block. That said, there are plenty of people running n/a blocks in turbo cars that are making 300+ hp to the wheels, yet people continue to ask what's the best block to use for a n/a or mild turbo rebuild.

 

I believe I read in a article in Hot rod mag some years back. They ran a story on Joe Morgan and his poisenious Pinto. The Pinto ran a 870r 88 tbird turo motor that was cast in Braziale. I thought it was mentioned in the article that those blocks had higher nickel content. Any way he ran the Pinto at Imprt drags blowing every one away and was allowed due to the motor being built in Braziale.
I will have to dig up the mag to check, I also have seen this in other print, but need to find the copies.
Dan

 

I've seen that the camshafts are interchangeable in 2.3s and 2.5s with the correct followers. I have a 2.5. Which followers would I use in the 2.5 with a 2.3 cam?

 

Chris, you really ought to start a new post about the cam followers to get better response. That said, I have read that the roller followers of the later (89+) can be used with the earlier cams.
If you have a 2.5 cam, use the roller followers. If the cam is pre-89, use the plain followers, or try a roller set and see if it works. If an 89+, use the rollers. At least that's what I'd do.
I may someday get a set of roller followers and install them, but have not gotten off my duff to do so.
tom