how do i get more power out of my 2.3?

[JohnnyUhlar]

V6 swap

Drive it down hill or swap in a V6...

hey i was reading through about how to gain more hp out of a 2.3L and i saw youre comment about a swap. do you have any knowledge or info on how i could do this? and should i use a 4.0 or a 3.0? i race my truck off road. just against locals but its still alot of fun. let me know if you can help me out or if you know of any links that could. thanks.

 

[Rackster]

2.3L Build

hey i was reading through about how to gain more hp out of a 2.3L and i saw youre comment about a swap. do you have any knowledge or info on how i could do this? and should i use a 4.0 or a 3.0? i race my truck off road. just against locals but its still alot of fun. let me know if you can help me out or if you know of any links that could. thanks.

You may want to build what you have (http://www.hotrodhigh.ca/2300.html). Otherwise, you may want to do some investigation into the aftermarket supply of performance parts; which has more? Good luck.

 

[Thed]

The stock injectors should be fine til 130-140 hp. I have run 19lb injectors on a slightly modded 2.3 and it worked fine, idk about using them on a stock motor.

Here is some interesting info i found on moddedmustangs.com:

Test v 3700

Ranger header 2.25" exhaust, turbo muffler
121 HP@4900 3850 RPM

Pacesetter header 2.25" exhaust, turbo muffler
126 HP@4950 3900 RPM

Speedway header 3"-2.5" exhaust, turbo muffler
147 HP@5200 4050 RPM
__________________

the "speedway header" is found here: http://www.speedwaymotors.com/23-Ford-Pinto-Late-Model-Headers,3570.html

I have one^ on my 94 and really like it.

Does it have the EGR port where my 1996 has one? If so then I'm all over this shit right here...

 

[Will]

There isn't much to get. A lot of money will net you next to nothing. Gasoline has to burn at a fixed air/fuel ratio. Too much fuel puts the fire out and too little burns holes in things. You have to increase the air to make more power. No matter what you do to the cheap plastic crap on the outside, the valves, camshaft and heads will thwart you on the inside. If you do manage to open up the engine and increase flow, the flow increases mean the engine will be spinning at a higher speed. That means gearing, torque converter and a drop in low rpm efficiency. You stock EFI motor is already running with low speed power unheard of during the supposed muscle car years. Back when a 390-4V was a contender, a 17 second quarter mile was respectable. Now, if your grandma's Saturn TC won't produce a 16-second 1/4, it's facing a typhoon-strength headwind.

 

[DJ2.3]

The speedway header does not have egr or o2 sensor hookups, so it would require a little fabrication.

 

[rangermanmark]

The speedway header does not have egr or o2 sensor hookups, so it would require a little fabrication.

Do you have pics of your header? Just wondering how well it fits

 

[DJ2.3]

I don't have a pic of it on my truck at the moment, but here is a link:http://www.speedwaymotors.com/23-Ford-Pinto-Late-Model-Headers,3570.html

I have all the heater/ac stuff removed from my truck so i cant say for sure you wouldn't have any clearance issues there, i think it would be fine but not 100% sure. The only fitment issue i had was that i had to grind a little off the flange on cyl #1 to clear the coil pack bracket.

 

[rangermanmark]

hmmmmm cool

 

[JohnnyUhlar]

im in the same boat. i have a 97 and would love to get some more power in first and second gear. i run my truck through the trails on the weekends and i dont know the first thing about motors. but from what i read here, headers and gears seem to be the way to go and exhaust. but everywhere i look all i can find us dual systems for 6cyl. any links for exhaust for the 2,3? also i was poking around under the hood today and i noticed how obnoxiously large the intake is. do you guys know of any ways to shorten this and if so what are some pros and cons of doing so?

 

[DJ2.3]

Johnny, i would do gears first. That will probably help the most if you have high gears in now. I would recommend 4:10's unless you do alot of highway traveling. Exhaust and intake might help a little, but they won't do much until you get more air flow throught the head. If you want to significantly increase your hp you need to work on the head.

 

[rangergi]

i am looking into ither getting bigger headers, or making the stock ones bigger, i was wondering how much time and money i would have to put into this.

 

[Brady81]

Dumb Question, but with a V6 swap does the transmission need to be swapped as well?

 

[Mark_88]

If going from a 2.3 to anything else the short answer is yes...not sure if the 2.3 tranny will actually bolt to anything directly other than 2.0 and 2.5 engines.

 

[94 lngbd]

I don't have a pic of it on my truck at the moment, but here is a link:http://www.speedwaymotors.com/23-Ford-Pinto-Late-Model-Headers,3570.html

I have all the heater/ac stuff removed from my truck so i cant say for sure you wouldn't have any clearance issues there, i think it would be fine but not 100% sure. The only fitment issue i had was that i had to grind a little off the flange on cyl #1 to clear the coil pack bracket.

DJ2.3
Did you fab up anything for the O2 & EGR set up. if not then how did it effect the running with out those items. My truck is a 94 also w/ the factory header & would like 20+ more Hp easily would make a difference hauling truck loads of scrap metal which usually is from 1500-4600 lbs. I have explorer springs & Ride rite 3000 lb air bags for support, 8.8 w/4.10 Ls rearend.

 

[1994_4x4]

I'm very satisfied with the power my 2.3 is making. Although I've replaced everything that needs electric to function. I modified the intake and exhaust plumbing. The OEM headers help that area as well. Electric fan helped too. Drag reduction helped although that's fake power.

I'm aiming to put some small used car tires on this, this summer for more fake power. It should scoot along nicely after the tires. My tires now weigh 35 lbs a piece (265/75r15) if I go to something like a 20 pound tire for this summer I drop 60 lbs of rotating mass & un-sprung weight. That will really aid in making it feel fast.