Mike, I'm confused... You ran a pilot SVO 2.3L turbo/5 speed...and...that relates to the 3.8L how?

Sorry...must be missing something.

 

You must have forgotten what you just posted:

"If you weren't purely power concerned, it'd be an original swap. Then again, so would any engine other than a 302 or turbo 2.3L..."

That was your quote, not mine.

 

Yes...and in your post you say...

And...? No one is doubting that the 2.3L turbo isn't a good project, capable, whatever.

 

After looking under the hood of a 1990 Super Coupe I think I will stick with the 2.3 Build it up to be an SVO Ranger, or Ranger SVO.

 

Guy across the street from me tried it. The sensor/wiring thing got way out of hand. I think it would have worked out, if he had put more time into it. But, the SC 3.8, IMHO was not all that great anyhow. He reuined a restorable car and messed up a nice Ranger (95?) in the process. I think he traded it for a Cherokee for his kid and bought a 4.2L SC F-150 for himself. He got the hardware swapped fine, it just wouldn't work properly. Ever. So I think he just totally fed up with the deal and bailed.

 

Plus even with the turbo 2.3L...you're heavily lacking on horsepower and torque. Yes...the turbo will add a nice little boost of power...but it's still a four banger and a low starting point...you're starting with much less horsepower and torque before modding anything.

 

Much less HP than what? a 302? or the 3.8? My neighbor does 302 swaps all the time, and I am sure he would do it for me too, with the right incentive$$ however, everyone does that, and I was looking for a Ranger I could run the canyons with. The SVO Mustangs don't seem to have a problem and they came with the same amount of HP as the 302 of the same year. I know they don't have the torque, but the Ranger is not that heavy compared to the Mustang.

Still it would probably be cheaper to swap in the 302 since they are more plentiful in the junkyards, and there are so many kits available. I would love to have a turbo 2.3 in it tho...

 

A stock 2.3 turbo with an intercooler starts at 190 hp, that bone stock. Just by upping the boost your at 230 hp with cams or exhaust and it's light. Just remember you need a turbo block with forged internals, or build a block with forged internals. A regular block won't take the boost, it will be bye bye 2.3. Racer Walh sells turbo ready 2.3 and 2.5 blocks, or you can get one from a turbo coupe, merkur and even some mid 80's couger xr7's had the turbo 2.3.

 

Yup, there's a lot of HP and tq from the intercooled 2.3s. If you're looking for a turbocoupe look for an 87-88. Those are the good ones and it really won't matter if it's auto or manual. Stock is 190hp for the manual trans and 150 for the auto but they both had the same engine just different boost. Slap a manual boost control on, bump it to 18lbs and the not only will you make a reliable 230hp with ease the stock computer will control it just fine.

FYI At 210 hp and 315 ft·lbf torque the supercharged 3.8 kills the 2.3 turbo! IF you can handle the wiring it would be one SICK ride!

 

My sales brochure from 1995 had the SC listed at 230 hp, but its that torque number to look at anyways. the 40 mph-130 mph times in those were awesome. I don't have numbers for you, but i can tell you what it felt like in a 1990 Supercharged Cougar XR7, both as a driver and passenger. That car had 130,000 on it too.

I remember we had to go about 60 miles away to pick up some friends whose GM left them stranded, and one of them had a 1997 Z28 6- speed. When we told him the torque number on the cougar, and he didnt believe it. So we slowed down to 40, and just floored it, backed off at about 120, and the Z28 guy was surprised. That was with 5 people in it. and an Auto.

 

If you are looking for a vehicle to 'run the canyons with' or just have good street performance, you'd better pay attention to torque, not horsepower!

 

yeah...the low end torque is what you'll need for a good, streetable truck.

What's the budget for this swap anyways?

 

Wow, lots of good info here. I was going to ask what years to look for in the Turbo coupe. I am leaning towards that at the moment. However, the only way I can do it is if I find a good donor car. Otherwise, I will just go the same route as everyone else, and drop in a late 80's or early 90's 302 in it. I did not know the Cougar XR-7 came with the turbo 2.3, and I had forgotten about the Merkur.

That SC T-bird sounds awesome. maybe I should save my pennies and dimes, and buy one of them as my toy. I am sure I could use that for canyon running.

I don't know what my budget will be for this yet. The truck is basically free, as I already have the laptop I am trading for it. So I would just need to find a good donor car, and then figure the cost of labor, not too mention any extra parts etc I might need. It will be a long term project that I can work on in stages.

 

89 cougar xr7 email smokeybearbandit@hotmail.com