re-building a 2.3

Topic: re-building a 2.3 (Read 619 times) previous topic - next topic

re-building a 2.3

February 14, 2006, 10:44:04 AM

what and who's piston's should i go with...i know fordged, but does some one know where they have kits ?!

What else should i go with really quick ?!

using a 2.3 out of an 85 T-bird,

want to run some 20-25 psi of boost,

ARP studs, and that's about it ....

not looking for a monster, but need my mustang this summer

460 turbo truck

re-building a 2.3

Reply #1 – February 14, 2006, 11:26:59 AM

The stock pistons are fine for what you want.

I like the Total Seal Gapless rings myself.

The only real weak point on the bottom end are the rod bolts. ARP is the choice there too.

Use the Melling M127 oil pump if you need to replace yours

Other than that, a general rebuild will do you fine.

A little boost, a better exhaust and a decent IC will make a pretty quick ride.

re-building a 2.3

Reply #2 – February 14, 2006, 11:58:43 AM

so many different piston sizes,

I'd probably be better off have a machine shop tell me what size i need eh' ?!

What's the best head gasket to run ?!

i want to deck the block, and shave the head, intern- run about 10:1 comp,

i know ...higher comp lower boost,

but lower boost higher comp....same effect,

lookin to kinda make this motor last for another 150K miles, and be beatin daily,

but not spend 1000's on it...i can do most of the work on my own,

head porting..and bigger valves.....good...bad ?!

Rev' limiter....how do you take that thing out ?!

re-building a 2.3

Reply #3 – February 14, 2006, 12:09:40 PM

Most of the 2.3s do not need to be bored and just need a clean-up hone...thus why I said the stock pistons that are in the block are fine.

10:1 comp is too high for a boosted street-driven motor...esp if you're planning on running "stock" engine management. (Also higher boost and lower static CR is not the same thing as higher static CR and lower boost)

If you MUST buy new pistons, then get std bore (unless the block is not useable)..Only bore it if it NEEDS it.

Why don't you be a little more specific about what you want out of this engine.

re-building a 2.3

Reply #4 – February 14, 2006, 12:18:13 PM

i'm planing on using this vehicle for my road trip car / strip car,

i started out with a 2.3 N/A, and did nothing but put the LA3, brown tops, and a big VAM, with wildly ported E3 mani, and .60/.63 turbo

at some point to be changed to :

.48 T3 hot side, .60 T4 cold side
inter cooled, gutted upper and lower intakes, ported head, bigger valves, and i wanted to just go .30 over in the cyl's

i've done the T-5 manual swap,

i'm working on getting the five lug front rotors,

and an axle from a 89 mark 4, or what ever...the 8.8 rear end, adding a lockright or detroit e-lactrac locker,

and running some 255-50-R15 in rear

and 245-60-R15 in front

re-building a 2.3

Reply #5 – February 14, 2006, 12:39:53 PM

You mean .030" over....

Again...don't bore it if you don't need to. You go to .030", you run the risk of significantly shortening the life of the block. If it needs a clean up, go .010" over.

If you want to see alot more miles out of the engine...keep it mild. Keep static comp between 8.0:1 and 9.0:1. Valve/head work is ok as long as you don't go too far.

You can keep the boost reasonable for the street and crank it up at the track...