Making a 2.3 faster

['99 EB Explorer]

Esslinger Racing builds some damn nice 2.3's...mostly for pure race applications, but I've contacted them in the past and they were more than happy to build me a street legal powerhouse that would've been a direct bolt-in to my truck.

If you go the turbo way, try to find an SVO stang or t-bird...that way you have everything needed, including a block and rotating assembly that can handle bigger numbers before going "POP".

 

[feellnfroggy]

Even on spray I'd have to be present for the dyno runs to believe that...

Because a 2.3 doesn't spin all that well, and without an esslinger head doesn't flow all that well and well before any possible torque/rpm combination would produce 500hp that crank would come out of that block like a torpedo out of a submarine

Now on MEthanol, turbocharged with spray if you can live with bringing spare engines to the track with you 400hp is possible... though not particularly reliable... but then probably only if you are "Turbo Joe" Morgan

AD

GUys theres alot of info flowing out here that is blowing my mind.

My mechanic at C&K quality in Dunnellon, FL ran these 2.3l in pintos and mustangs for a long time now. He runs primarily 4 cylinder bombers, and as many aftermarket heads as he's gone through, he has a whole single wide knee deep with factory heads he's ported and run for years. His kid had a pinto in high school that was outrunning GT's.

MM&FF magazine did a shootout with 4cyl turbo motors, and these guys were pushing anywhere from 600-900 horsepower and doing wheelstands in the 9's. There is alot of power to be had from anymotor if you know what your doing. Especially the 2.3l, which the version yall are talking about runs in the rangers, mustangs pintos escorts(old rear wheel drives) Some mazdas I think, capri's etc. Not mazda 3's or miatas. Ithink miata at one time made A 2.3 but not the same, and hte mazda3 2.3l is a complete redesign.

The volvo 2.5 head will match to the older 2.3l mustang motors, but requires a little work with I think the water passages.

 

[adsm08]

You could go down hill.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Even on spray I'd have to be present for the dyno runs to believe that...

Because a 2.3 doesn't spin all that well, and without an esslinger head doesn't flow all that well and well before any possible torque/rpm combination would produce 500hp that crank would come out of that block like a torpedo out of a submarine

Now on MEthanol, turbocharged with spray if you can live with bringing spare engines to the track with you 400hp is possible... though not particularly reliable... but then probably only if you are "Turbo Joe" Morgan

AD

Well Allan...he builds turbo cars for a living so he knows what he is doing. Its got aftermartket rods and pistons, lots of headwork, he is running methanol injection on it and has a custom ground cam. He's using LS1 coils to fire it and tunes it all with his laptop. He's running a custom built c4/c5 with a 5000rmp stall and trans brake all with a big Holset off a Cummins. He detunes and drives it every day to work and back and drag races it every weekend. The truck has much more in it, he simply cannot run it faster at the track until he cages it as per NHRA rules. This truck is absolutely rank.

He is a member on here, but doesn't post much at all anymore.

 

[4.0B2]

lol... go american muscle with a 302HO swap from the fox body stang...

only tuners are the 4 bangers that "run" lol

who do you wanna be?

 

[BlueRanger93]

thanks everyone this has definatly opened my mind on it. i think i will do a swap to a 5.0

 

[Jason]

Whats the point? With enough cash you can get power. It's not know-how. All the info is readily available. It's the cash and desire. For waht you would spend to get 500hp out of a 2.3 you could buy a crate engine from SVO and save a grand and the headaches.

 

[feellnfroggy]

The price of a crate engine from an SVO is about the same as turboing a basic 2.3 by the time you count forged crank, rods, pistons, head porting, cams, valves etc. IN the end you will be throwing away the svo turbo for a vortech sq-trim. thats a waste of 500 bux. its alot cheaper to start with a basic 2.3 block, or try to find an svo block at the junkyard. But its all gonna come down to block strength and airflow.

 

[Captain Ledd]

Keep the 2.3L stock and gear the snot out of the axle.

 

[feellnfroggy]

That would offer minimum gains for the price of the gearing. It would help and be a lot of seat-of-the-pants boost, but in reality it would still be a slow 2.3,

 

[Captain Ledd]

That would offer minimum gains for the price of the gearing. It would help and be a lot of seat-of-the-pants boost, but in reality it would still be a slow 2.3,

If you spent the money going from 3.73 to 4.10, then yes, it'd be a bit of a economic waste (but it would in fact accelerate better, not just seat of the pants). Going to 4.56 or so, would be another story entirely. It's a 2.3L, let it rev like it wants to.

Been there, done that on the V8 swap.

You guys are talking about getting new crate engines? and Turbo engines? Thats $$$.

The only exception is, if you know you have a 2.3L in excellent enough condition you just hone it up enough for new rings, stick some stock size turbo pistons in and go, hopefully score a cheap, GOOD, turbo on Ebay or whatever. Otherwise costs can get out of hand in a hurry. *edit: I guess you can find a used engine too, but again, hopefully it's in good shape. Even still, by the time you're all said in done, I'll bet you'll have more than the $400 or so it costs to regear a diff, by a professional.

Honestly gearing it sounds pretty cheap to me.

 

[Psychopete]

You guys are talking about getting new crate engines? and Turbo engines? Thats $$$.

x2

Stock used HO engine w/ aftermarket heads is a big bang for the buck. Friend got an '93 HO from the junk yard from out of a t-bird, with well over 130K that's been in a few different cars over that past 7+ years, beaten on, runs great.

 

[adsm08]

I still think that, overall, going down hill a lot will be the best (and cheapest) way to make your truck go faster.

If you live in a flat area, buy a body lift and only install the rear blocks. It will make the truck think it's going down hill.

 

[ShotnVA777]

I still think that, overall, going down hill a lot will be the best (and cheapest) way to make your truck go faster.

If you live in a flat area, buy a body lift and only install the rear blocks. It will make the truck think it's going down hill.

You're a premium member, a TECHNICIAN, yattayattayatta, but yet you tell this man to do THIS???

2.3's can be made fast, VERY FAST! I'm in the middle of building one out of the truck right now and the "performance supplies" are ENDLESS!

I just don't get why people HATE on the 2.3 Lima?!

Honestly, if I had the money to pick up an SVT 5.0/4.6/WHATEVER or a 2.3L Turbo, I would grab the Turboed Motor and drop the rest of the money (that I would've spent on that V8) on the 2.3 and be making peoples eyes POP when they see a damn Ranger run by them...

Don't run it down a hill, go find that hill and do whatever you can afford to be able to CLIMB that bastard! Lol

 

[snake]

Haha, I thought adsm08's post was funny as hell. He is demonstrating absurdity by being absurd.