2.3 performance help

[Big Red Ranger]

i need more power but not alot of money can some one help me out with some kind of idea

 

[Mark_88]

I think the general consensus of other 2.3 owners is that turbo charging is the best way to go...some claim to have gotten 160 hp out of a non-turbo engine with some serious modifications, but that can cost megabucks...

If you're truck has a carb then fuel injection will add about ten hp...and a better exhaust manifold from a later model will add a bit of punch...4:10 gears usually make it appear to have more power too...

If you're already running fi then you might consider turbo charging if you really want to get more out of it...may cost you now but it would be worth it...

 

[BlackBII]

I agree, a turbo swap is really the only thing you can do to make big improvements.
Other than that some FI and some exhasust your limited to gearing...
getting some lower gears, say, 4.10 or even 4.56 will be your best bet.

You may want to think about a motor swap, a 4.0 is a great candidate.....

 

[Dave R]

The 2.3 responds to the same modifications as any other reciprocating engine. The goal is to efficiantly get more air and fuel into, and out of, the engine. Unfortunately there are no cheap/easy modifications. Adding a turbo is probably the cheapest in the short run. If your, umm...frugal, you can usually collect up all the needed bits for a few hundered.

But, even in N/A form this engine can make HP into the triple digits by doing the usual mods, porting and polishing the head, bigger valves, better header, free flowing cat and exhaust, bigger cam, etc. But, the real problem is that due to the smaller displacement all of the "big" power comes in the upper rpm band.