jjbrozak

I heard from someone that it has been done before and they saw it on the forum. If anyone can direct me to that post, it would be great. Im thinking of doing the swap. My friend has a 2.3 in an 88 mustang. He spent like 3000 on the motor, turbo, and intercooler. He is running 310hp to the wheels. Thats pretty impressive. My rx7 is about 600lbs lighter than his car. That would be insane.

onepointone

im in the middle/beginning of the swap myself on another car i bought with a blown motor. i got a low milage 2.3t with a BRAND NEW turbo for $20. so i scrapped the 13b motor that i already bought (parted it out) and now im collecting necessary peices.

this is what ive gathered, and im still finding out stuff as i go along...

1.) motor mounts - no, there is NO kit for it. you need to fab up your own mounts.

2.) drive shaft - if you plan on running the stock rear end, you need a rx7 driveshaft and a mustang driveshaft, and youll need to measure it out, take it to a shop that can make you a custom one.

3.) intake manifold - it doesnt clear the hood. you can either get a hood scoop.... or something about a 5.0 manifold will work, but im still looking into that.

4.) cooling - stock radiator works fine as far as i know, even with an intercooler in front of it.

5.) if you run an intercooler, youll need to run the battery in the back as the battery is in the way of intercooler piping.

6.) tranny - i was told any 4 cylinder mustang tranny will work, but when i went to a junkyard yesterday, i found out they are all cable driven. so you need a t5 out of a 87-88 turbo coupe.

7.) fuel pump - stock wont work since you need a rising rate one for boost. the walbro 255lph is supposed to be good for 500hp

8.) exhaust - custom... im getting mine custom made off the exhaust elbow, no "down pipe"

9.) ecu - get one out of a turbo coupe. a.) it will think its moving a 4000lb car, not a 2000lb car. b.) i HEAR it has a switch for different fuel maps so you can choose to run 87-93 octane.

those are the basics... as far as i know, youll need a mustange svo clutch, the kit is $120 at autozone.

i did an excel spread sheet and im under $800. a guy on here, evil... something will probably reply to your post, hes the guy i got 95% of my info from. he ran low 8's in the 1/8th mile, and said it should be good for low 13's in the 1/4... on dry rotted tires!

also, heres a web site

www.boostbros.com

if you watch the 12.9 1/4 run, then go and read about it, STOCK junkyard block/head, t04 turbo, and some other LITTLE stuff, no I/C, and he missed 3rd gear. it should be pretty impressive.

rotor vs. piston

It's good that someone actually help with good info. and didn't flame. Is the club turning a new leaf?

FuLLsMoKe

This post just hasn't been up long enough...

If you want more power, port and turbo... Easier and you already have the engine...

I don't understand the logic of you people who put pistons in a 7.

I think you'll tell me you want even more power and torque, so I'll go ahead and say dropping in a V6 or V8 is dumb because then all the 7 can do is go in a straight line. The 7 is meant to be a sports car, not a moving brick.

onepointone

i see EXACTLY where this thread is going...


to make it short... i bought a 6 port 13b out of a 85 gslse. when i opened it up, both housings were fucked (ATLEAST $350 a peice right there)

$700.

since the efi stuff didnt come with the motor, theres a carb, fuel pump, intake manifold. ($600-900)

$1500ish

then motor cross member, rebuild kit, and various other things.. another grand...

$2500 to maybe be touching low 14's.. including the street port i was going to do myself.


OR.. under $800 and i could have my car in the low 13's, possibly dipping into the 12's with 300 in mods...

ill take a piston thank you. i NEVER thought the day would be where i would want to do it.. but i got a car for $100, blown motor.. it was going to sit and rot.. so i saved it, now its getting bastardized.

i was going to pm this guy because i didnt want to get flammed, but i thought oh well.. im keeping my daily driver the way it is, this one will definately be quite a bit quicker though...

FuLLsMoKe

One thing though... The prices you just listed are if I don't really search around (plus I have my connections). I never heard of a 2.3 with a new turbo for 20 bucks. I would guess you just saved yourself a few grand there....

But whatever... You do your thing, I'll do mine.

Directfreak

iTrader: (2)

Eville140

original thread

Cloud

As far as the 2.3T goes, they are great motors that are underrated in the performance world. They hold together great under pressure (har har har!) and need suprisingly little help from the aftermarket to make a shitload of power per pound.

Things you should do to make one fun:
1. Port the intake. Most people gut the upper and knife edge the lower - you don't need much low-end in a light car like an FB anyway, so I'd do this. A guy on the turboford.org forums sells a really nice pair of upper and lower intakes relatively cheap.
2. Port the exhaust manifold. ONLY use an E6 manifold. The others are prone to cracking. If you don't have one, I've got one I can sell for 40 bucks plus shipping, but they aren't hard to find in junkyards.
3. Increase the boooooooooost! Use the "big" T3 that came on the earlier, non-intercooled Tbirds and SVO's (60 trim, .63 AR exhaust vs. .48 ex). The IHI turbo on 87-88 Tbirds is smaller and will ultimately make less power. The big T3 at almost 20 psi (on PUMP GAS!) will throw you back in the seat, trust me.
4. BPU mods (this should be #1, but I'm tired and not making sense right now) - A cone K&N on the big VAM (from an 87-88, along with the brown top injectors) makes a nice difference, along with a 2.5" or larger downpipe and freeflowing exhaust. Manual boost controller will help bump the power up more than anything else. Good tune up consists of replacing all the factory junk with...new factory junk. Nothing wrong with the Ford wires, plugs, etc. - even at 300+ rwhp levels.

I had an 88 TC last year with basic mods and about 20 psi, and unfortunately, this is how it looks now....




Fun car, but watch out for trees at 90mph...especially in an FB!

Eville140

I like mine

It has a motor from the junkyard in it with a few free mods and tweeks. Putting out around 240-250 at the wheels and an easy 300+ ft#'s. Got a much better engine in the works for it.

84 Rx7 GSL
Ford 2.3turbo/T5 conversion
8.46 @ 84.5mph (1/8th) on the cheap 13" tires

87 mustang
2.3 turbo
11.96 @ 113mph

85 Merkur XR4Ti

onepointone

my friend bought a auto 86 merkur with money he inherited. he wants to put a newer 2.3 in it, so he said he would give it to me for $20 if i put it in my rex (joking around at first) then i looked into it, and we are supposed to be pulling it tomorrow .

hes going with a better head, t3/t4 hybrid turbo, and various other mods. i cant wait to actually get the motor in the car, then it should be sailing downhill from there

onepointone

i searched around alot for the stuff i said the prices about. my excel sheet is up around $2700.


directfreak - you must have EVERYTHING bookmarked, you know the address to everything

Directfreak

iTrader: (2)

Pretty much

RotorMotorDriver

iTrader: (1)

I love the look of those 17s on your car man. Too bad they dont handle as well as they look, eh? .

~T.J.

Eville140

Yea, I rolled around on them for a few weeks and that was enough. I'm just glad I had them laying around to try out before I bought rims. I will be getting some 15's for sure. I swapped back on the stock rims and it is much better driving and riding.


Later
Randy

Cloud

Randy - I hope you aren't offended when I flat out COPY the look of that car from ya Love the silver paint and no moldings or side marker lights...but mine's gonna be pissed-on about twice as much!

Now, if you sold a set of motor mounts to swap the 2.3T in, I would have actually saved my Tbird (pics above) from the wrecker and thrown the motor in one of the FB's my bro and I have laying around...but the 5.0 will have to do, I guess.

yayo420

iTrader: (3)

this thread has inspired me.........I work out of a ford ranger w/ a 2.3.....
me and my buddy are gonna turbo it!....Ive already started locating parts......I know it has nothing to do w/ this but i know youll like to see the outcome........

TurboJim

I'm selling the motor and parts off the RX-VO, I have lots of spare 2.3l parts. I made lots of custom parts. The chassis is FOR SALE guys, nows your chance to get a race car!