So, its like this....

November 14, 2008, 05:22:23 PM

I've got my tbird planned out to the max. The bodywork, the interior, the ICE, and more.

However, I'm still debating on the motor...

Lemme start at the ground and work my way up. My plans are largely inspired by JGTC and Time Attack cars.

Starting with the suspension, as a car isnt worth a if it can't handle at all, complete suspension swap from a Mk VII. 8.8 rear, wider stance all around, 4wheel disc, larger fronts, and not to mention the adjustable airride (which for me will be on the lowest mark). I am also going to upgrade to even larger SN95 front brakes and polyurethane bushings all around. Custom subframe connectors. Rear ratio will probably be 3.27 or 3.55. Rims will be 17's with 245 or 255 series tires.

Bodywork. I am going to use late Fox chassis Mustang GT bumpers (going to remove and smooth the headlight and grill surrounds) and skirts, and I will replace the bumper frames with custom lighter units. Under the front bumper will be a custom adjustable splitter, and at the rear will be another splitter under the rear bumper, and a Cobra R style wing, probably a carbon-fibre Cervini's unit (bracing will be added to the trunk and decklid). The hood will also be carbon-fibre. There will be belly pans to reduce under car turbulance, and just for kicks and giggles, rear window louvers. Also contemplating rivet on fender flares.......

Interior. I have a digital dash, so I suppose I shall make use of it. In addition, i will make a new dashpad, and will mold a series of digital gauges along the top at the windshield. Not round pods, but one continous strip of rectangle digitals. Also within the dash, I will be utilizing the space of the radio and the din below it for a carputer/touchscreen, and below that, a custom interface for scanner and cb (more details on that, just not here). Front seats will be replaced with race buckets, and a rear seat delete will be put in. Custom door panels, carpet and headliner, of course.

And now, my dilemma, the driveline.
I've been planning a 5.0 build:
97-01 5.0 gt40p
thumper ported heads
balanced and forged lowers
aftermarket efi, such as a Holley Commander or Edelbrock equivalent
and a pair of Eaton superchargers, such as m60's.
Power would reach the rear via a wide-ratio AOD, with shift kit.

But lately.....I've been contemplating a 2.3 turbo build. If I go the 4-cyl route, I will use a TKO-600 rather than a wide-ratio AOD.
However, 2.3 Fords haven't been something I've spent a lot of time on.

So what I need from you, boys and girls, give me some ideas for a turbo build, and let me know, how would you roll this? Turbo 2.3 or twin spin 5.0?

My biggest restriction, is that it can't be about maximum power, as maximum power is usually for those that want every last bit in teh quarter mile. This will be my daily, as well as a track car, track meaning auto-x, time attack, roadrace kind of things.

So, its like this....

Reply #1 – November 14, 2008, 05:32:53 PM

jgtc and time attack is so called "jdm" right? tandem drift, togue running, and the rest of the neat stuff that comes from puppiesan. on that premise you should build a turbo car. i'd turbo the v8 and be different around the import guys, but the 4cyl is potent. hell i just bought a 351 so im biased to 4 more cylinders. puppiesanese guys think american muscle is as bad ass as the honda enthusiast loves the jdm integra front clip with a LS-Vtech. i saw an 87 camaro (the boxy one) in puppiesan way back in the day, and i still see it at car show pictures in the background with a crowd. hell toyota guys put lexus badges on their jdm cars...

So, its like this....

Reply #2 – November 14, 2008, 05:41:34 PM

Quote from: LumpyCheeseman;243059

So what I need from you, boys and girls, give me some ideas for a turbo build, and let me know, how would you roll this? Turbo 2.3 or twin spin 5.0?

How much power do you want? You may get by with a NA 5.0 (stroked or not).

So, its like this....

Reply #3 – November 14, 2008, 05:43:24 PM

shooting for power, just not redicoulus rebuild it every race power.

So, its like this....

Reply #4 – November 14, 2008, 05:50:57 PM

300hp? 600hp? 1000hp?

One needs to narrow the trade space before they begin to make hardware decisions.

So, its like this....

Reply #5 – November 14, 2008, 05:52:39 PM

N/a 302-347 would be the best bet for daily driven track car imo. but running a lot of boost super or turbo on a non boost block could cause failure. odds are against you anyway as a daily driver. the TC 4cyl run between 14-12's in the quarter and thats more than enough to swing the car around an auto-x course cones, and its streetable.

this is offtopic. buut, why not put your 302 into a miata? lol they got kits for it.

So, its like this....

Reply #6 – November 14, 2008, 06:39:34 PM

Having run Porsches in the past, I can tell you you are best off with a well balanced car. I'm guessing the 2.3 will weigh less than any V8 you could drop in. Also, if possible you want fully adjustable sway bars front and rear. That will allow you to "balance" the car to practically any course you might run on.

So, its like this....

Reply #7 – November 14, 2008, 07:04:27 PM

Quote

Bodywork. I am going to use late Fox chassis Mustang GT bumpers (going to remove and smooth the headlight and grill surrounds) and skirts, and I will replace the bumper frames with custom lighter units.

Gonna be A LOT of work to get that to blend nicely

Quote

I've been planning a 5.0 build:
97-01 5.0 gt40p
thumper ported heads
balanced and forged lowers
aftermarket efi, such as a Holley Commander or Edelbrock equivalent

Thumper can port, no doubt, but for the time and effort it would be worth your while to spring a little bit more for more cylinder head.

Quote

I'm guessing the 2.3 will weigh less than any V8 you could drop in.

An aluminum headed 5.0 weighs about the same as a 2.3T when bothe are fully dressed with accesories. The weight distribution is different and in that respect -- advantage 2.3t

Back to the 5.0 build.....

http://www.sbftech.com READ, study, learn.

So, its like this....

Reply #8 – November 15, 2008, 06:45:26 AM

~AC and v8demon, i've already got the v8 part figured out, like i said, forged lowers, ported heads, etc etc. I'm not looking for something that breathes like a top level dragster, hence the somewhat lower parts. but it would be boosted (probably under 20lbs) via a pair of eatons. i understand what is needed for a a v8, forged parts, o-ringed, etc etc.

what i am looking for now, is ideas on how i should build a 2.3T, and some advice in that realm, to help me determine which motor i really want to go with.

i already have the balance of the car in mind, i know what i'm going to remove, what i'm going to install, etc etc, so by the time its done, balance ought to be pretty good.

p.s., a set of thumper heads just came in via ups the other day, and i've compared them first hand to a set of stock h.o. the difference is amazing. I would be starting with a gt40p setup (97-02 explorer) which already breathes better, and would have thumper do those, i'm very convinced that will handle what i have in mind.

so..back to the 2.3T discussion.

So, its like this....

Reply #9 – November 18, 2008, 01:37:40 PM

Quote from: LumpyCheeseman;243115

what i am looking for now, is ideas on how i should build a 2.3T, and some advice in that realm, to help me determine which motor i really want to go with.

You might get some more replies if you have some kind of idea what kind of power you want to make...

So, its like this....

Reply #10 – November 18, 2008, 01:43:43 PM

thats the point, i wanna hear about all different kinds of 2.3t builds, not just those that are within a certain limit. because by hearing them all, i can better figure out how i want to build mine.

2.3T builds!!!! DISCUSS!!! :D

So, its like this....

Reply #11 – November 18, 2008, 02:34:25 PM

Take a look at http://www.turboford.net all kinds of 2.3T builds there.

So, its like this....

Reply #12 – November 18, 2008, 08:59:30 PM

thats no fun, i desire to hear about YOU guys and YOUR builds. after all, a 2.3T setup one way, will motivate different cars different ways.

and as i desire to perhaps plant one in a tbird, i want to know about setups in tbirds :D

So, its like this....

Reply #13 – November 24, 2008, 10:12:54 PM

ok...another odd angle...

anyone know of anyone thats tried a new ohc 4banger in a fox? like one out of any newer fwd ford?

cause the newer 4bangers are all over the yards, make decent power, and have a pretty good wealth of parts available (thank you ford for the focus). plus its a more modern ohc

So, its like this....

Reply #14 – November 24, 2008, 10:20:30 PM

Not many folks (if any) have swapped a Duratech 2.3 into a Fox car.

You can get your hands on them pretty easily from the Rangers, and the Mazdas, but they are not cheap to build at all for any kind of power.