More Horsepower!

Topic: More Horsepower! (Read 10448 times) previous topic - next topic

More Horsepower!

January 20, 2013, 09:53:51 PM

Hey its me again, was just wondering if there's any tips out there for grabbing more free horsepower from a turbo 2.3. I already have a lot of the cheap "essential" mods. (Gillis valve set to 17 PSI. BOV. K&N filter + cold air intake). I'm also sending my upper and lower intake manifolds to a machine shop soon to have 'em ported 'n polished. But is there anything i'm missing? I have a feeling there is, as our awesome cars have a tendency to have hidden ponies all over the place.:burnout:

More Horsepower!

Reply #1 – January 20, 2013, 10:10:06 PM

Intake isn't the first thing I would start with. The exhaust is the biggest bottleneck, if you have not upgraded to a 3" down-pipe now is a good time. If you have an 88 I would also suggest a T3 turbo in place of the IHI.

http://www.turboford.org/faq/index.shtml

More Horsepower!

Reply #2 – January 20, 2013, 10:34:05 PM

Bottom line on the 2.3 or any engine for that matter is head work (flow numbers)cam and exhaust. Bigger valves and a ported head is key. Other things count as well. Basically the 2.3 with a stock LA3 is limited to under 300 ponies at best.

There is no free HP on a 2.3 or any engine for that matter. HP= $$$$$

:burnout::burnout:

More Horsepower!

Reply #3 – January 20, 2013, 10:45:54 PM

3" exhaust and gutted upper and knifed lower intake would be a good start.

More Horsepower!

Reply #4 – January 21, 2013, 12:47:13 AM

and cylinder bore.

More Horsepower!

Reply #5 – January 21, 2013, 11:54:09 AM

Quote from: TOM Renzo;407601

.........There is no free HP on a 2.3 or any engine for that matter. HP= $$$$$:burnout::burnout:

^^^^^^^^What he said!

Speed is just a question of MONEY How fast can you go?
M. M.

Ron

More Horsepower!

Reply #6 – January 21, 2013, 03:46:07 PM

Quote from: BLKBRD88;407629

^^^^^^^^What he said!

Speed is just a question of MONEY How fast can you go?
M. M.

Ron

Yeah, I kind of used "free" horsepower as an expression lol, everything costs money. Exhaust and gutted/knifed is coming. And I'm looking at a t3 turbo soon, but wouldn't that require a bigger intercooler/bigger injectors?

More Horsepower!

Reply #7 – January 21, 2013, 06:16:26 PM

I knew what you meant. Head, injectors and aftermarket ECU make a huge impact on HP and your wallet too! For now get it breathing, intake and exhaust as you plan and make sure you have good Motorcraft wires/cap/rotor. Adjustable cam gear can help tune a bit, up the fuel pressure and pull a few degrees of ignition timing....but be careful!!! That will really wake the car up and should have you happy for a while. I was faster than a stock 5.0 at that point in my old TC.

I have done some damage with the stock 35's and an LA3, they are a limiting factor but if your still kinda new to the car keep it simple for now and keep learning about it. You can find HP in a lot of places, some cheap, some not so cheap.

More Horsepower!

Reply #8 – January 21, 2013, 08:29:10 PM

I think your biggest problem is no compression on cylinders 5,6,7 and 8

More Horsepower!

Reply #9 – January 21, 2013, 08:50:29 PM

Quote from: Thunder Chicken;407661

I think your biggest problem is no compression on cylinders 5,6,7 and 8

lmao yeah yeah but it's lighter! :D

More Horsepower!

Reply #10 – January 21, 2013, 08:53:26 PM

Quote from: grey88smokin;407650

I knew what you meant. Head, injectors and aftermarket ECU make a huge impact on HP and your wallet too! For now get it breathing, intake and exhaust as you plan and make sure you have good Motorcraft wires/cap/rotor. Adjustable cam gear can help tune a bit, up the fuel pressure and pull a few degrees of ignition timing....but be careful!!! That will really wake the car up and should have you happy for a while. I was faster than a stock 5.0 at that point in my old TC.

I have done some damage with the stock 35's and an LA3, they are a limiting factor but if your still kinda new to the car keep it simple for now and keep learning about it. You can find HP in a lot of places, some cheap, some not so cheap.

Thanks man, yeah I'm definately going to throw some of that goodness on there. I do run premium fuel 24/7, but I have the gillis set to 17 PSI. Would you say it's safe to up the timing a bit?

More Horsepower!

Reply #11 – January 21, 2013, 10:38:53 PM

You can pull some timing and it will be more responsive but the less boost you can run before it starts to rattle; that's why I said to be careful. Start at 12* and see how you like it, you can also retard the cam some too to bring the power band down to match the ignition timing. Make sure your searching because there are other factors that determine how much boost/timing you can run.

More Horsepower!

Reply #12 – January 22, 2013, 09:52:48 AM

I wouldn't bother with the intake or throttle body until 300-400 to the ground. When u upgrade your exhaust, wire up wideband o2. It will be needed for aftermarket ecu. As far as beating stock 5.0. Can be done with IHI but easier with a T3.

I have quite abit of experience with a 2.3 in our cars...ask whatever u like.

Travia

More Horsepower!

Reply #13 – February 04, 2013, 12:07:22 PM

Quote from: turbotrav;407718

.............I have quite a bit of experience with a 2.3 in our cars...ask whatever u like.Travia

Hi Travia,
I don't mean to hijack this thread, but is there any chance that you, or anyone else on here might have a pic looking into the rear of an OEM 88 Turbo Coupe turbo unit with the exhaust elbow removed?
Thx
Ron

More Horsepower!

Reply #14 – February 04, 2013, 01:23:22 PM

Here you go. The back side of an IHI!!!