2.3L ('83-'97) 2.3 Dyno Tuning

[bathtub.toaster]

Has anyone here dyno-tuned a stock N/A 2.3?
I've got a 97 daily that I've been modding into a fun track-style build. I've upgraded the intake, clutch, exhaust, and suspension. I know the next step for most people is a turbo swap, but I was wondering if there's any way of getting a little more horsepower out of the stock engine without having to to that just yet. Would a tune with bigger injectors work, has anyone tried that?
I guess I just want to know if it'll be worth it to take it to the dyno lol.

 

[SenorNoob]

The factory tune is a compromise for reliability and emissions already. So I'm gonna say if you focus solely on power a completely stock truck could gain at least a little. Would it be worth it? No idea. I wouldn't think you'd need bigger injectors unless you had serious changes (think bored and stroked) or the turbo.

 

[bathtub.toaster]

The factory tune is a compromise for reliability and emissions already. So I'm gonna say if you focus solely on power a completely stock truck could gain at least a little. Would it be worth it? No idea. I wouldn't think you'd need bigger injectors unless you had serious changes (think bored and stroked) or the turbo.

Yeah, I've thought about maybe getting a big bore throttle body for higher air flow. But I mostly wanted to see if anyone has actually run a stock on the dyno and how much of a horsepower gain they got after a tune. Just looking for ballpark estimates to see whether I should or whether I should wait until I get the stuff I need for at T swap.

 

[oldgeek]

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[SenorNoob]

Best of luck and let us know what you do and how it turns out. Lots of 4cyl guys here.

 

[scotts90ranger]

The throttle body isn't the bottleneck in the system (neither is the stock air cleaner, I'm still running a stock air cleaner on my '90 turbo ranger), it's the head ports and intake manifold. You'll have to do a LOT of work to make noticeable change and it might be in the way of compromise like getting a higher rpm camshaft that would lose low end torque... Without a whole bunch of time and money to get the engines to flow better the only real good way is to force feed them air... was just realizing this today while I put 200ish miles on my turbo '90 as compared to my stock '97 daily driver... turbo is nice, still gutless under 2k, whole different animals over 3k and I'm pretty sure it would suck to have a N/A 2.3L with my tire and suspension setup...

Dyno tuning the engine with bigger injectors might gain low single digit power gains if I had to guess compared to stock assuming you haven't ported the head and intake manifold and changed a camshaft or something. I haven't read through the post linked above in a while though, I'm sure there's ways to get more but it's not going to be external bolt ons.

 

[bathtub.toaster]

The throttle body isn't the bottleneck in the system (neither is the stock air cleaner, I'm still running a stock air cleaner on my '90 turbo ranger), it's the head ports and intake manifold. You'll have to do a LOT of work to make noticeable change and it might be in the way of compromise like getting a higher rpm camshaft that would lose low end torque... Without a whole bunch of time and money to get the engines to flow better the only real good way is to force feed them air... was just realizing this today while I put 200ish miles on my turbo '90 as compared to my stock '97 daily driver... turbo is nice, still gutless under 2k, whole different animals over 3k and I'm pretty sure it would suck to have a N/A 2.3L with my tire and suspension setup...

Dyno tuning the engine with bigger injectors might gain low single digit power gains if I had to guess compared to stock assuming you haven't ported the head and intake manifold and changed a camshaft or something. I haven't read through the post linked above in a while though, I'm sure there's ways to get more but it's not going to be external bolt ons.

Yeah, I was reading up on that last night with that post that oldgeek linked. Porting the intake manifold is something I didn't think of, but it's definitely something I can do. Probably not for a while tho since someone quit at my job and we've had to pick up the slack.
My current setup isn't bad; after modding the exhaust and replacing the old crusty fuel system, shes a lot peppier than a stock truck for sure. I think I've nailed my biggest issue being the stock 5 speed I've got. The get up and go isn't the best and the 3k cap in 5th is awful. I know I can get it re-geared, but I've seen a few T5's on marketplace for about $150. Any thoughts?

 

[lowspeedpursuit]

the 3k cap in 5th is awful.

What's going on with this part?

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

Sounds like electronic speed limiting.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Yeah, I don't know what you mean there... with my tire size and 4.10's in the back of my '97 I have it set up so 72mph is 3k rpm in 5th, to go faster all I have to do is add throttle, it wakes up at 3k and has more power so it will go 90 or so if I wanted it to but with local speed limits being mostly 55 or 65 I don't push past 72, don't need attention... it's even a worse idea on my '90 and I was cruising 65 last night on the way home in 5th, the turbo was helping a lot there, with the gearing on that it's almost 3500rpm at that speed...

A lot of people hate on the M5 but I like the way it shifts and a full rebuild kit is like $250 and can be done in a weekend if you are handy...

 

[oldgeek]

At 140000, I'm wondering if replacing the cat in my rig will make a difference