Starting the 2.3T - Part 1: Tear down

[pearldrumbum]

So I got an 83 TC motor for 50 bucks... bought it sight unseen until I picked it up. I drove two hours to get it so I wasnt gunna come home empty handed, I figured it was worth the risk for 50 bucks. (I did basic checks like turning it over by hand, checking the dip stick and under the oil cap)

So I got it up on the stand and torn down today... I'm pretty pleased with what I found.




Here it is the day i brought it home.





And this is what i found today. The inside of the cylinders and top of the pistons look amazing. The chambers on two of the cylinders in the head have quite a bit of crap caked in there, so who knows what the cause of that coulda been... bad valve seals maybe?

So the plans for it are:
-Decide whether I should rebuild the bottom end. (It really looks good, but I have no idea the history of the motor soo... ill sleep on it)
-roller cam, follower set up from a 89-94 ranger
-Collect parts (hint hint, anyone got this stuff?): LA2 or LA3 computer, intercooler, large VAM and the square intake manifold, a header
-paint it up all pretty like
-Turn the boost up to about 15 psi with the stock turbo
-DIY P&P

At that point I think i should be around 280-300 hp and i'll drop 'er in the truck and have some fun...
Then i'm sure i'll get addicted and keep doing more and more to it

It's going in street 4x4, the only lift is coil spacers and explorer leafs to fit 31" ATs.

WOO! Wish me luck, I have no experience in turbos so I'm learning as I go and I'll prolly have lots of dumb questions.... like this one: A buddy told me on these motors you cant use a blow-off valve because the computer has already acounted for that air so it needs a different part (forgot what he called it) that purges the air back into the system. Can anyone explain this for me? .... and dont worry, my questions wont keep being this stupid, I'm just waiting on some turbo literature i ordered on amazon to show up

 

[metalmacguyver]

I like where this build is coming from. Some one that will be learning as they go and is starting out knowing about as much as me.

Good luck!

 

[RacinNdrummin]

Whoo hoo, doing the 2.3 swap after all! You should head over to Turboford, There some of us here are members there as well, best place for 2.3T info and its a great forum.

You gonna use your 2.9 tranny and bolt on a 4banger bellhousing or are you going to adapt the T5 to 4x4?

Most cases you dont need to bore the 2.3T, and sometimes its better that you dont, they have relatively thin cylinder walls and you shouldnt go past .030", .020" is best. I think youll really like the engine, I have an 86TC thats getting the drivetrain put into my 79 fairmont 2dr sedan, even stock the 2.3T's are very fun engines.

For your power levels, you dont need a header, though they are nice to have. I rebuild and port the E6 manifolds all the time, Ill give you the hook up if your interested.

 

[pearldrumbum]

I havnt decided what to do about the tranny yet. Not sure how the fm 146 would hold up? I think i'm gunna keep an eye out for a 4cyl 4x4 m5od. I got time, I dont plan on putting the motor in until the summer when I can count on the weather being nice. My only other mode of transportation only comes out when the suns out

I know I dont need the header for performance reason, but I'm a big fan of a nice looking engine compartment, and I think a header looks pretty sweet under there. But who knows, this is a budget build so maybe a stock manifold will look ok as long as I maintain it.

I think i've decided i wont get any machining done on the motor, but i'll do the rings and all the bearings.

Hopefully it's nice out again tomorrow so i can hit the junk yard and find some parts!