Posts: 11
Joined: 7/27/2003 From: United States Status: offline
i need a lil help with my 4 cyl 2.3 mustang...when i bought it they had put in the engine new...but the transmission is crap...if n e one knows around how much it would be to replace it please tell me...and also...which would be more economic to do.....1.put in a turbo..2.a used v8 w/low miles..or 3.just get a whole new stang.......if i kept the 4 banger...its is possible to convert it to a dual exhaust instead of a single..? Thanks
Posts: 2963
Joined: 6/8/2003 From: United States Status: offline
economic is most likely the turbo, for gas mileage sake if you can keep off the gas (i think), but installation would be a bitch. i say get a nice lx 5.0 notchback. but hey im a 15 year old kid. and on the subject of the dual exhaust...it would be pointless since there is only one engine bank, but it may be possible...
bottom line in my eyes...new tranny cant be cheap, you seem unsatisfied with your current car, but dont seem to mind fox bodies. so i say just get a notch 5.0...you can get em under 3 grand i hear. if that's not economical enough for ya go buy a fiesta or something.
Posts: 11
Joined: 7/27/2003 From: United States Status: offline
Amazingly enough...my car moves now...one of my friends drained about 5 qts of tranny fluid and then replaced maybe 3 qts and it runs fine for now....i think the problem was that it was just too full....hopefully that was all that was wrong...and i was told i need a new oxygen sensor cuz black stuff is coming outta my exhaust...if i didnt put a dual exhaust which single would u suggest?
On the turbo subject how much would that run me? i'm not really concerned about the money issue...and my friend could put the turbo in for me soo..all i basically need is a base price for a good turbo! thanks
When you speak of cost that depends on what you want. For example, a local salvage yard has a 2.3L TC for $350. I havn't had the chance to check it out but I'm sure I just can't take that motor out of that junker put into my car, so that will be more money. Then there is the question of a transmission and rear-end. You say money is not a concern, but are you willing to wait the time it would take to complete the car. A project like this doesn't happen over night.
If your not willing to put in the time, and since money is not a concern, go to the dealership and pick out a new one.
you will need to do more than just a turbo install, you have to install a turbo timer because the engine timing has to advance and retard as the boost kicks in and out, plus , the stock 2.3l engine won't take alot of boost before puking parts, if you seriously want a turbo 2.3 look for a cougar, thunderbird, or xr4ti (all turbo) to engine swap, that way you have the turbo, the proper engine, oil cooling lines, and the eec-iv that controls all the timing advancement, this isn't a weekend job for a rookie, so do some research before you are carless for a couple weeks. i've been planning a turbo stang for 3 years, still can't bring myself to do all the work. if you want some more power cheap, take out the air tube, the big round thing that says for on it has a air silencer in it,remove it with a pair of needle nose plyers(both sides)then replace your air filter with a hi flow filter,then you could always upgrade your ignition coil, plug wires and plugs, and use synthetic oil in the engine, this is all noticeable but not a huge difference, i am also told that a throttle body from a 5.0 will fit with some modifacation, but i havent tried that yet. good luck
i'm getting e- mails that are telling me i'm not quite explaining myself correctly(actually that i'm not right at all) all i have to say,is if you listen to these people telling you it's easy, and you end up blowing your brand new motor,it's not my fault.
Posts: 1655
Joined: 6/14/2003 From: Poplar Grove, KY Status: offline
THE SECOND AND THIRD OPTIONS IS WHAT I WOULD CHOOSE. YOU CAN DO A 5.0 SWAP EASIER THAN TRUING TO FIT A TURBO ON YOUR 2.3. IF YOU WOULD GET A 2.3 OUT OF A TURBOCHARGED CAR YOU WULD NEED EVERYTHING COMPUTER, WIRE AND ALL THE HARDWARE TO GET IT RIGHT. THE 5.0 SWAP ALL YOU NEED IS A FRONT WIRNG HARNESS COMPETER ENGINE AND TRANS SET IT IN AND GO. BUYING A 5.0 IS JUST EASIER AND YOUR BETTER OFF DOING THAT. SINCE MONEY IS NO OPTION YOU COULD PICK UP A HIGHLY MODIFIED CAR FOR A FEW THOUSAND. IF YOU SELL YOUR CAR THEN THAT WOULD BE EVEN LESS OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE TO YOU.
Posts: 11
Joined: 7/27/2003 From: United States Status: offline
Thanks...yeah i've been told by alot to just get a 5.0 so i will prolly end up doing just that...i should get a stick right? that would be faster correct???what would enhance the 5.0? thanks
i' ve done a 5.0 progect and it's freakin' easy,i got the motor/tranny wiring and exhaust(basically all i need) out of a 88 lincoln mark 7, i parted the rest of the car out made $200 on parts(only paid $50 for the whole car) and $40 for the 1990 lx mustang, so the parts car paid off most of my project, to see pics of the project stang http://members.cardomain.com/not_his it runs great, goes like stink,all for like $25... CANADIAN . it still needs paint, windshield, guages hooked up, and exhaust from converter back,but i think it's worth it.
look, if the timing get's retarded, it has to go back to where it was(advance) and i know for a fact that a stock 2.3l will NOT take the boost from a turbo, also, a turbo timer has nothing to do with cooling... that's what oil lines are for. i talkes to a guy that built one(turbo stang) and he tried to add a turbo to a stock 2.3....first spool of the turbo it dropped a crank bearing, so don't come here talking like you know everything.I haven't done a turbo project yet and yes i don't hardly know anything, but i do know what a dozen people have told me, that have all been in this for a long while, one was a volkswagon mechanic,one owns 2 turbo talons,one owns a 83 buick t type 4 barrel 3.8 turbo and 2 86 grand nationals,and the rest were merker xr4ti owners,turbo ranger and stang owners,and i did own a 85 t- bird turbocoupe, so i don't know much about turbos...but i know what NOT to do.
if you think that there all the same block your talking out your ass and you've never even seen a 2.3l turbo, the blocks are different seeings as the turbo has heavy duty crank bearings, and one has lower compression( i can verify this)than the other..but with a name like jeep we never expected you to know anything about fords.lol..listen buddy i may not know alot and you say QUOTE "someone might believe you" maybe you should take your own advice! you are going to cost somone alot of money if they do what you say,and i havent said anything that will break anything...i just try to get them to do it right..you say it's no problem to do this turbo upgrade,i say research it and make sure there doing it right before they spend more money than they have to. i just wanna help, and i dont need any trouble from you, i'm here to have fun.,maybe you should do the same.
well i found out that you are right and that is what a turbo timer does,my deepest apologys, he said he called this "machine" a turbotimer because it retards the boost, so i misnamed it, still, this retarding still needs to be done and the stock ecm isn't going to do it, and this sound like a rich project a jeep owner would do.
[QUOTE=turboeeyore]you have to install a turbo timer because the engine timing has to advance and retard as the boost kicks in and out[/QUOTE] Oh my god. Please tell me you're kidding. Haha I don't even know what to say to this. It's pretty bad when I can't get past the first line without laughing so I'll just leave this alone...
[QUOTE=turboeeyore]also, a turbo timer has nothing to do with cooling... that's what oil lines are for[/QUOTE]
Again, what the hell...I don't know where your source for this information is but they are wrong....just wrong...
Let me edjumicate you:
A turbo timer's SOLE purpose is to allow the oil that lubricates the turbo time to circulate and cool down. Nothing more, nothing less. You run a turbo car hard and then shut it directly off...then guess what, after enough times of doing that the oil is going to begin to destroy the bearings in the turbo. Then that will lead to "shaft-play" of the turbo's turbine. Then guess what happens next...you're cruisin along, checkin your naws pressure gauge, pimpin your car, revving at every car you see, flooring it...basically being a jackass and running the car hard, then all of a sudden, remember those neglected bearings, yeah well they give you a big f*ck you and sieze up...then bye bye turbo, you've just ruined it.
The moral of the story is turbo timers SOLE, SOLE, SOLE DAMNIT purpose is cooling....not retarting timing, not retarding and increasing boost(that's a boost controller), and not there to look cool and pose like you have a turbo...it's to allow the turbo to cool down.
Thank you class, please hand in your homework assignments and notes as you leave the classroom. No I won't answer any questions and no I will not be available after class to help you. You are dismissed. Now give me your tuition money...
Posts: 708
Joined: 2/14/2003 From: United States Status: offline
Now that we all know how I feel, lets remember that this is supposed to be a friendly forum and while we do get aggrivated sometimes we must remember that not everyone in here has the mechanical knowledge of Jeep, myself or many of the other more advanced members. Try not to tear anyone apart. We dont want to hurt anyones feelings. Everyone is here to learn.
Posts: 708
Joined: 2/14/2003 From: United States Status: offline
If your making fun of someone who is trying to learn then yes your "incredibly helpful post" will be deleted. If you can correct the mistake and treat the guy like a human being then it wont. Bottom line end of story
Posts: 2199
Joined: 3/31/2003 From: United States Status: offline
Very hypocritical of you to delete my post since it proved him wrong....but happened to rip on someone that doesn't have a backbone. But you leave his up with no countering posts but teggy's? C'mon.
I say better to let him learn his lesson that he can't bulls**t gearheads, to quit posting mis-information (he corrected it what, twice and it's still wrong?)
To sum it all up in one nice bundle:
[QUOTE=turboeeyore]you have to install a turbo timer because the engine timing has to advance and retard as the boost kicks in and out[/QUOTE]
Turbo timers have nothing to do with spark
[QUOTE=turboeeyore]if you seriously want a turbo 2.3 look for a cougar, thunderbird, or xr4ti (all turbo) to engine swap, that way you have the turbo, the proper engine, oil cooling lines, and the eec-iv that controls all the timing advancement[/QUOTE]
To the best of my knowledge they are the same block.....Sounds to me like the only thing you'd really need that would simplify things would be the computer and harness for timing control.......if it's not based off a distributor (never fooled around on a 2.3 personally).
[QUOTE=turboeeyore]this isn't a weekend job for a rookie, so do some research before you are carless for a couple weeks. i've been planning a turbo stang for 3 years, still can't bring myself to do all the work.[/QUOTE]
It's not that bad if you follow directions, take it slowly, and have others to help out if you're not sure. It's the tuning part that's a pain in the ass.
[QUOTE=turboeeyore]replace your air filter with a hi flow filter,then you could always upgrade your ignition coil, plug wires and plugs, and use synthetic oil in the engine, this is all noticeable[/QUOTE]
No it's not. I drive a 4 banger daily that's an assload lighter than a stang. A good tune up would do your car better for performance.
[QUOTE=turboeeyore]i am also told that a throttle body from a 5.0 will fit with some modifacation[/QUOTE]
Or you could sit there with a flap wheel and bore out the stock one yourself? It works great and costs less than $7 to do (assuming you have a drill), and helps out your mid/high end a lot.
[QUOTE=turboeeyore]i know for a fact that a stock 2.3l will NOT take the boost from a turbo[/QUOTE]
Sure it will, as long as you don't try getting stupid and push the envelope.
[QUOTE=turboeeyore]]also, a turbo timer has nothing to do with cooling... that's what oil lines are for. [/QUOTE]
The turbo timer allows engine oil to circulate through the bearings after the motor's been turned off, which cools them and prolongs turbo life.
[QUOTE=turboeeyore]i talkes to a guy that built one(turbo stang) and he tried to add a turbo to a stock 2.3....first spool of the turbo it dropped a crank bearing[/QUOTE]
That doesn't mean anything. I know people who have blown rods out the sides of blocks driving to work. Does that mean that the whole engine seiries sucks? No, it doesn't.
[QUOTE=turboeeyore]]owns a 83 buick t type 4 barrel 3.8 turbo and 2 86 grand nationals[/QUOTE]
So three Regal T types? Great cars, but the carb'd versions suck.
[QUOTE=turboeeyore]the blocks are different seeings as the turbo has heavy duty crank bearings, and one has lower compression[/QUOTE]
Cranks and compression ratios aren't part of the block bud.
[QUOTE=turboeeyore]but with a name like jeep we never expected you to know anything about fords.[/QUOTE]
With a name like Smuckers it has to be good. I fail to see how what I used to drive affects my knowledge when it comes to gasoline engines, considering they all work on the same basis no matter who made it.
[QUOTE=turboeeyore]maybe you should take your own advice! you are going to cost somone alot of money if they do what you say,and i havent said anything that will break anything[/QUOTE]
What haven't you said that isn't wrong and won't possibly cause failure of a motor? In a worst case sinerio, turning an engine on will f**k it up. At least I'm not lying or talking out of my ass.
[QUOTE=turboeeyore]this turbo upgrade,i say research it [/QUOTE]
Research is always key, and believe me, and I more than know what's involved.
[QUOTE=turboeeyore] he called this "machine" a turbotimer because it retards the boost[/QUOTE]
That would be a boost controler...and it's called turning down, dialing down, depressurizing....first time I've head of retarding boost.
[QUOTE=turboeeyore]so i misnamed it, still, this retarding still needs to be done and the stock ecm isn't going to do it[/QUOTE]
Yes, retarding of the SPARK needs to be done. The blah blah blah blah ecm you talked about in a swap would probably swap right over, so just do that. Still a stock ecm that'll do the job.
[QUOTE=turboeeyore]and this sound like a rich project a jeep owner would do.[/QUOTE]
So suddenly, I become rich by being 18 and washing cars 60 horus a week and own a Jeep. Damn, it'd be nice if life was like that.jeep4523837840.0223726852
Printable Version
lil 4 cylinder 2.3 - 
..when i bought it they had put in the engine new...but the transmission is crap.
..if n e one knows around how much it would be to replace it please tell me...and also...which would be more economic to do.....1.put in a turbo..2.a used v8 w/low miles..or 3.just get a whole new stang.....
..if i kept the 4 banger...its is possible to convert it to a dual exhaust instead of a single..? Thanks 
