2.3L ('83-'97) 2.3l engine build

[Outlaw18]

Hello I've never built a 2.3l but I'm very interested and bought a 2.3l. I plan on tearing it apart and replacing all wear items in the engine. I'm looking to make some power out of the engine. I want to make 150-200hp all motor. Or 200-250hp with a turbo. I'm not sure if I'm looking in the wrong places or not hard enough. But finding information on how to build these engines has been tough. If anyone can give me a build sheet or something of the sorts. I'm not an adventurer I just want a well proven setup to meet my hp ranges. Tyia

 

[XLTsplash]

You can use a crank and pistons from a 98/01 2.5L to turn your 2.3L in to a 2.5L .

 

[oldgeek]

Welcome to TRS!

 

[scotts90ranger]

Getting to 200hp all motor on a 2.3L means a LOT of aftermarket $$ parts like Esslinger and such, need big cam, modified engine program to go way more rpm, aftermarket head (Ford and their intake ports don't allow for a lot of airflow...), even getting to 150hp N/A is a bit of work I think... I'm pretty sure my '90 is around 225hp but it's turbo and it's just a bunch of random stuff thrown together... it's just an 8:1 rotating assembly, random turbo I found on a shelf at work, stock LA ECM and brown top injectors with a ported head pushing 16psi boost if I remember right (I limited it some with the wastegate to be more fuel friendly).

Going to a 2.5L rotating assembly wouldn't be bad but they have powder metal rods and hypereutectic pistons that can't take a whole lot of abuse if I remember right... in stock form it's only like 7 more hp than a '97 but I think they used too small of injectors and it's probably limited by the EGR system, that said if I find a cheap 2.5L I want to keep that for a spare for my '97 and maybe put a couple psi to it cuz why not... it could really use 150hp instead of the 112? it had originally...