All that build-up and for it to come to this............Looks like the death of another two point three turbo project.

 

So, um, looks like the auction for this car ended at $610, reserve not met. Maybe he'd take $1k? Surely someone out there wants a turbocoupe powered FC vert?

 

I think the hood clearance deal, and just the plain "blast from the past" look of the engine turns almost everyone away from it.

 

Especially because what a motor looks like truely affects it's perfomance capabilities!

 

I see this thread's been cleaned up nicely... heh.

Anyway, for those who remember/care my friend turned out ok afterall. But back to the topic at hand...

The problem with the 2.3 is its utter obscurity and irrelevance to the import world. Sure, its fun to pop one in a fox and go humiliate someone, and its cheap, but its still a turbo-4 and a lot of people just like v8s better. The other issue is because of its displacement its limited in how much power you can make with it practically, AND, finally, because any engine swap puts you into E-Mod if you go SCCA autocrossing, people who race their cars really wouldnt like to mess with it.

Personally I'd rather live with a rotary and race in a sane class than go E-Mod with a 2.3T, and if you want to do a swap for just a street car you have to admit a V8 has some advantages in terms of big NA displacement. And then there is preference...

My friend has apparently sold out and is gonna go with a v8 Turbo, he doesnt know if he's gonna do it in a FC or in a fox yet. Im kind of stuck between a 2.3T, or a 5300 vortec ("Iron LS1" basically, cheap as dirt, strong, and still newer/more powerful/apparently ligther than a SBC or a LT1) because I want a cheap, fun, and RELIABLE car to build and drive while I'm waiting to get residency until I can go to college in FL after I move.

So, a lot remains to be seen. I was pretty bummed out before about the whole idea for a while but I just might end up doing it. The only real catch to anything is the hood clearance issue w/ the pully, but if it doesnt clear I just might put on a big, wide, flat cowl on it (kinda like a mustang, heh) granted I cant cut the supports or just SLAM the damn thing down, or modify the mounts to lower it just that little bit.

The accessories can be fixed by using the truck 2.3 accessory mounts, and the intake remains to be seen. Though, obviously, a nice wide flat cowl would basically negate any hood clearance issues.

And, well, obviously, going with a LSx variant would clear the hood... its all about what really matters to you in your car. Utter cheapness, but still powerful? 2.3! Looks, technology, etc? Well, Ellis Juan is your ticket.

And yes, even though it looks like 'a blast from the past' its utterly simple to work on, service, do maintainance or fix/replace if something goes wrong. And shortblocks are a dime a dozen, yadda yadda yadda. The only real practical bitch I have is the stock head sucks donkey *****.

 

Yeah, the 2.3 is actually a really good engine, but that's just not a well-known fact. I love it when you see a 2.3 in "Mustangs and Fast Fords" and it's running faster 1/4's than half the V8s.

 

2.3Ts can make power and torque that would split a stock 302 Block. Youd have to step up to a 351 or get a race block to make over about 500 whp or so with a 302, especially with the torque of a turbo or a blower.

What astonishes me about them is its a batch fire, flapper-door metered turbo 4 and in a #3400 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe it gets 30 MPG on the highway and moves that heavy car about as fast as an IROC-Z stock, so thats at least a 15 second car. The only real gripe is Esslinger's relatively bigbuck aluminum street head and a lot of guys dont know how to port the iron head. Everything else is not a big deal.

My only justification prob is how cheap the truck "LS1" motors are and figuring out what to do with the hood, and what way I really want to take the project. Big displacement NA is easier to control, but the 2.3T would be easier on the parts, cheaper, ligther, and make humongous torque at the cost of not being as easy to control.

Decisions Decisions...

 

You mean an 11 second FC isn't fast enough?

 

Yeah, but aren't they pretty heavy iron blocks? I mean, I guess the LT1 isn't all that much heavier than the aluminum LS1, but if it were me, I think the weight reduction would be worth the cost of the aluminum block.

EDIT: I only mentioned the LT1 for comparison purposes, since I'm not sure how much the iron LS1 weighs.

 

**** in supras need to get taken down a notch on the street, 'cos everyone knows they dont bother draggin'.

running a 12 at 140 mph and all...

(in all honesty, you do have a point... but 5300 vortec puts down 260~whp through crappy manifolds and 280 through ported stock manis, but Id have to pay more for a T-56.... vs 302/T5's that go for just as cheap except I might break the T-5 and need a T-56 anyway... gee this is fun! OTOH 2.3T's seem to be a lot easier on T-5s than v8s, sooo....)

I doubt the "iron LS1s" are any heavier than the SBC or LT1 (which is just a SBC with reverse cooling and optispark.. and a better intake than a TBI). The fact that they're cheaper tahn the LT1 and as or more powerful, and a LOT stronger with better heads with a better ignition system is the main reason Id jump onto that. Plus, I could grab a 6.0L shortblock and pistons if I feel like going crazy, or even an aluminum LS1 block if I'm ever given a reason to care that much about engine weight in a FC or find one cheap.

See, the kind of racing Id do with this toy Im making would be down a strip, around a track for HPDE, or some sort of open class autocrossing (E-mod with SCCA, NASA might be a little more accepting to swapped 7's) so I really dont have any reason to worry about the engine weight for the small effect on handling it would have in the kind of chassis the FC is. Though, yes, the 2.3T is in the same weight class as the 302 or LS1, if not slightly ligther.

Now, I think I can get into SM2 if I used a 2.3 out of a Mazda pickup (exact same lima, only difference is a valve cover!) and just put in stock turbo rods or pistons, or hell, go for broke and get some aftermarket pistons and some crower rods... then I'd be able to rev as high as an un-modified rotary if I felt like it if I got a cam kit for that rpm range.

But well, ultimately the tradeoff is if I want displacement, or the possibility of going SM2, at the cost of having to **** with the hood or engine mounts.

And, also, becuase of the way a lot of the racing classes tend to work out, if I was going to go all out for that Id have to stick to a rotary or use a different car alltogether, and I really do like RX7s.

I just have to stop over-thinking this so much, meh.

 

Yanno, now that my mind is thinking about it... https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showpo...4&postcount=97 (click the pics to make them bigger) <- does anyone got some tasteful ideas of how to deal with that by modifying the hood? I also think I could PROBABLY modify the engine mount extensions, but I was just wondering if theres anything obvious like a T-II hood or a turbo eclipse hardon-buldge that came to anyones mind.

Too bad Jester got that cobra :P Ill have to go race him someday, haha.

EDIT: It really looks like just the high alt mount and the way he had his intake was the cause for the interference. A low mounted alt kit or just the truck accessory setup would proably let it all clear. The only problem then would be how to figure out A/C.

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/attach...hmentid=171297 <- the pully there probably only interferes with the hood supports, if at all! Anyone know who got jester's car?

 

Maybe some kind of subtle hood bulge, just enough to clear the engine. But, the lines should so that it looks factory. Something like a TurboII hood scoop, except there is no scoop; just the same kind of lines and curves. Make sense?

 

Ironic how the title of this thread is "2.3 fits in an FC with tons of room, and then some" and we're discussing the need for hood bulges. It's all about the steering rack. The FC steering rack is responsible for most swapped motors sitting too high in the engine bay. +1 reason for LS1 swaps: totally perfect oil pan shape for placing the engine below the hood line.

 

Hey, even though the pully looks like its trying to peek out theres still a TON of room in that engine bay to the front and sides!

Anyway it probably is the rack. So what do you think would be better in your opinion, a hood buldge, or moving the rack and getting a tie rod kit so I dont DIE FROM BUMPSTEER!!!

 

In my opinion, it would be better to use a real engine like the LS1.

 

So only rednecks can use ford engines now?

Well, I guess I can use a modular... that still makes me sad.

 

The 5.0 works fine but the granny kit makes an undesireably similar hood clearance situation to your 2.3T idea. Look at any other 5.0 FC swap and check out how high in front the motor is; it's because of the steering rack, of course. I wouldn't expect anyone to notch the oil pan and pound back their firewall for a lowly 5.0, unless they want a challenge.

 

Well, my first question is how hard is it to bang on an oil pan unless theres a pickup tube nearby, unless you bang it so far up you interfere with the crank and the rod bolts?

Also Id put performance/dollar ahead of hood mods unless youre 1. a snob (or a *****) or 2. racing in a class that doesnt allow you to mess with the hood. I grin at a race car with obvious hammer marks on its body work or even duct tape if you had a little too much fun in the middle of a track run, and dont mind a little practical kludgery that serves a purpose...

But in the end going with a LS1 is usually the better option anyway. I'll admit if I see a deal on a LS1/T56 I'll grab it and gladly call myself a sellout, becuase they just are that damn good. I just see that the 2.3T is potentially a better deal depending on how you build it up.

 

i have a 2.3 out of a merkur xr4ti and i am doing this swap into my rx7 i am also adding an hy35 turbo a roller cam and a head from a volvo 740 gl wich takes a little modifification but is soposed to have better flow than any aftermarket heads exept for the esslinger i am just on a low budget the only problem i am running into is the motor mounts and trans crossmember i am using a t5 trans out of a 4 cyl mustang and i found a kit for sale on v8 rx7s but that site no longer works i was wondering what you did about that and if you have any ideas for me besided fabbing up my own

 

I personally think a 2.3T would be a more interesting swap, and potentially lower maintenance. It's always an advantage to have half the number of parts when it comes time to buy replacements.

 

Oh, definitely, but each part is gonna see twice the strain. That and one head for a 2.3T from Esslinger goes for the price of two for v8s more often than not.

91BlueS5 - you can put a v8 T-5 up to a 2.3 (a really good idea cos its stronger and longer geared and a better match for a RX) with an adaptor bushing for actually putting it into the crank of the 2.3. You just need the 4cyl bell or an adaptor plate on the 2.3T and a custom flywheel for usinga v8 clutch... but you can even put a T-56 up that way.

The only real handicap of a 2.3T is the stock ecm (maf conversion and a reflash works great, or just megasquirt that ****) and the head needs some work with a grinder or just a replacement with a better flowing one. Cam swaps are so ridiculously easy in a 2.3T its ridiculous... the timing belt is right there!

And yeah, all maintanance on that motor is extremely easy to go about doing. If I do do it Im prolly gonna use a later one from a mazda pickup for a few reasons... like SM2 legality, better ecm that already uses a MAF, and a cam position sensor so I can use a router board and SEFI.

But I still really want a LS1 if I can find one

 

thanks for the info i was planning on megasquirt already and if your lookin for an ls1 i might be able to help you out my cousin owns a scrap yard in newark and hes deals with alot of motors that is how i am getting all of my parts so ill ask him how cheap he can get one and let you know

 

Im Moving to FL in a few weeks, you're in NJ - thanks for the offer but shipping would probably be a bitch.

Also, if he runs a scrap yard, there should be a BUTT load of 2.3 distributer blocks lying around, and possibly even some 2.3T's, even in some cars.

If you find a Turbo Coupe in good condition ID grab that in a heartbeat, btw.

 

Hey Nith. Go to New Orleans and look for swap parts there. All those people were caught up in the floods leaving insurance companies with alot of cars now with salvage titles.

That's where I got my Ls1 for $1900 with engine, transmission, ECU, harness, mounts, manifolds and even the cats. The best part is the motor/tranny has 33k.

^_^ Good luck.

 

You do realize that rust can mess up even 'aluminum block' motors and can certainly give you probs in a tranny, right?

At any rate florida has its own share of pullouts from kids and old farts crashing cars, but right now I get to pimp out a sore back and some BIG *** RIMS on a ******* truck I get to bounce in down I-95 a few times. God I hope its a diesel... gas is gonna kill me.