2.3 rebuild options... upgraded or stock rebuild?

[usaf089]

So I'm possibly looking at a rebuild. Going to do a little more investigating before I decided for certain if that'd what I need or not.

But, when I go to do the rebuild, what would be the best route to go. Order a "rebuild kit" and just have it rebuilt to stock, or would you put a little more effort in it and maybe try to get a little more power out of it, or get it ready for a turbo or something of that nature? I don't really have to have a turbo, but a little more power out of it would be nice. I'm just not sure the best place to get started on it or what I need to make that happen.

Thanks!

 

[Mark_88]

Here you have so many options...


how much do you want to spend...

how much power do you want...

is this a dd or a toy...

Are you doing the work yourself or are you farming it out...

I'm sure there are other questions that need to be answered...and many on here can give you excellent advice depending on where you stand financially...especially financially...it adds up quick and there are other things to consider depending on your wallet...

My personal choice regardless would be to have a shop rebuild the bottom end for turbo application and if you want to keep the fuel injection and not turbo you're OK either way...but the cost of forged pistons should encourage you to go all the way with it right up...

You don't have to mash the pedal every time...but I bet you couldn't not mash it more than you need...

 

[usaf089]

That is true! It's going to be my daily driver for a while, I wouldn't mind it being for quite a while if I get it running good.

I would like to do at least some of the work myself, I'm not much of a mechanic but I am learning. Just probably not good enough to trust myself with a rebuild.

I do have someone helping me out a lot with it, he may help with the rebuild or know someone who does it anyway. I'm not sure what a reasonable price would be, I'd like to do it for around $800, could be a little more if needed. Not sure what I can get for that right off though.

If I do some of the work myself maybe? Thanks for the input!

 

[tomw]

I'd seriously consider getting a 2.5 crankshaft if I took my 2.3 apart. More torque and hp with little effort & cost. Unless you want a lot of power, I'd not go turbo. You can get a good bump by getting a less restricted muffler also. It doesn't have to be loud to flow well.
Cost for the 2.5, bearings, rings, and having the valves gone over & new valve stem seals should be a lot less than $800. You could buy a boneyard engine and do the work on it, and then drop it in over a weekend if desired.
tom

 

[9723]

I'm not much of a mechanic..........

I'm not sure what a reasonable price would be, I'd like to do it for around $800, could be a little more if needed..

If I do some of the work myself maybe? Thanks for the input!

A couple of the keys to a good rebuild are: matching the bearing tolerances between the crankshaft/block and rods. It has to be correct or you've wasted your time and money. If it's wrong, you'll have to do it all over again. New crank? That in itself will cost some money. Line bore? Probably not. Better connecting rods? Expensive. At least honing the cylinders and new rings. How good are the pistons?

You need to research the costs and decided how much you really want to spend, then add another 30%.

One aspect of rebuilding, is you don't know what the problems will be until you take it apart and mic everything. The top end, do you know what it'll need?

I would think $800 would be a bare minimum expense.


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