Juuust curious....

[pearldrumbum]

How do 2.3T's perform off road in their stock or very mildly modified condition? I know they have higher hp and torque than my 2.9, but at about 1000 rpm higher. A friend of mine offered to give me his 83 turbocoupe in exchange for a drumset. I kind of wanted to do a 4.0 swap, but this route could be fun too, and a little more different. But i am also puttion on a 6" lift and 33s in the next couple of weeks and i plan on using the truck for some mild to moderate wheelin this summer, so maybe a v6 is still the way to go for me?
anyways, just wanted to get some opinions.... i know theres a lot of people who say turbo anything and everything, but i'd like to know really if a 2.3t is feasable for off roading.
thanks!

 

[Davis]

I used to off road a lot, but mine's 2wd so I went fast. I could go most places my friends went in 4wd, but I always kept engine and vehicle speed up.

I suppose in lowrange it wouldn't be a problem. If you want good low end, get a header and run the IHI turbo.

 

[pearldrumbum]

mmk... I'm told (and I've read on this site) that the earlier 2.3ts are not nearly as nice and the 87-88 ones. What else could i do if i start with an 83 motor to get it up with the 87-88's performance/reliability wise?
I guess the IHI turbo is better, especially for my application, but what else changed between the years?

 

[rurouni20xx]

not to be an ass or anything but i have to ask, what is the torque number on a 2.3t and a 4.0? for in the pinch moments you still need torque, especially if its an automatic. now a stick app you could def get away w/ higher rpm and ride the horsepower curve but you end up using more clutch which means more clutch changes/maintenance. if the torque numbers are close (180 and 196) id do the 2.3t and just mod it for mid-high perfomance and have the extra hp in reserve, something the 4.0 wouldnt have...

 

[Davis]

A stock 88 TC has 245 ft-lbs.

The later TCs had intercoolers and a better ECU. Get a FMIC, and use the ECU from a later ECU.

 

[rurouni20xx]

i see well the 2.3t is def worth the swap then, was just curious myself and didnt see a point if it had 120 ft lbs or torque, 245 is more than plenty.

 

[pearldrumbum]

Yeah, i def like the idea of going with a turbo, cuz it's a littl more unique, and for the reasons stated above.. But i have no experience with them, which is my biggest deterrant.

How does the difficulty of the swap compare? That is; starting with a 2.9 in an '88, and swapping to a 4.0 or 2.3t. ... I also think i may have legal issues, because in my state engine swaps have to be a newer engine, and the turbo motor i have access to is older, bu ti only have to pass inspection one more time until I'm exempt, so maybe ill just wait another year before i do it...

 

[pearldrumbum]

ORRRRR... I could go ahead and do the 4.0 now, and turbo that! Best of both worlds?

 

[rurouni20xx]

havent seen too many boosted 4.0s, one guy on here did but hes boosting a factory engine and hes not seeing too much gain cuz he cant boost it too much, the 2.3 is built for a turbo and youll see more gains from it w/o having to gut the internals. ive never heard of the law prohibiting you from changing an older model engine into a newer frame but i guess you have more strict emissions laws over there and they consider that cutting cats in your state. if they dont do exhaust checks and never pop the hood i wouldnt say anything and let them inspect it. in my state they check the registration to see if the tag matches it, check the lights horn no busted glass and at least a center and drivers side mirror, legal tint, non deafening exhuast/glasspacks im set. no emissions here and never crack the hood. when i do the 3.3 turbo im using the same engine just stroking it gutting the internals doing the turbo megasquirt ems and ignition upgrade, the block number is the same so the engine matches and nobodys the wiser. will have new cat and decent sounding exhaust, besides the whistle itll be stock to them, they dont care here.

 

[pearldrumbum]

yeah, i'm not sure how well theyenforce that here, never heard of anyone getting failed because of it.
I think i'm gunna go with the 4.0 though, at least for this rig. It's got a 2.9 in it now, and thats an easier swap. I'd like to build a street ranger someday, so I think i'll go ahead and trade for that tc, but i'll just holdoff on using it for a while.

 

[rurouni20xx]

sounds like a plan!