[Smokestang88]

Glad to be part of the modded mustangs forum now and i need help guys... i got a 88 mustang vert with the 2.3L and t-5 trans. and i need help and info converting that speed density over to MAF. i plan on building her up over winter and want it to run effeciently when the changes are made.... i bought a cylinder head from my uncle that had it for the mini stocks and i still have to measure the cam on it but didnt care cause it was ported polished and bigger crane cam andbigger valves all for 300 bucks... i know once i put the head on its not gunna run right. i need some info so i dont try converting it the wrong way and messing something up... thank you to who ever has the usable info to point me in the right direction......

[OHC230]

Hey Smokestang, welcome to the forums.

"I know once i put the head on its not gunna run right"

My guess is that it probably won’t run at all with any kind of circle track cam in it, if you are going to use the stock fuel system, mass air or not. If you want to stay with fuel injection, I did, you will need a Moates 1/4 horse tuner for your stock computer. Here is the link for that. QuarterHorse for Fords [QH1] - $249.00 : Moates.Net

Your other option would be to swap the cam with one that has a less aggressive lift profile. I can recommend a few. If that is the way you want to go.

Some pictures and specific info would help. you can post images on this forum through Photobucket.com for free.

[Smokestang88]

So the quarter horse really worked for you?... i know jet makes a chip for around the same price and was wondering if that would work also. i really dont want to convert to mass air if i didnt have to at time... i took the head into work and my buddy and i are taking it down so i can clean it up and just by looking at it he told me its got high dollar valves and i figured my uncle would of put the best into the head. he told me it cost him about 2 grand to get it built.... im taking my camera into work tomorrow and taking pics of it. its got the 1.89" intake valves stock length and 1.59" exhaust valves which they call "cheater valves". im getting pumped about this build!!!. since i work at carquest one of are other stores has a machine shop as well as our but they can bore out blocks there. they told me to bore it out 0.30" it would be 80 bucks so im gunna probably take advantage of that plus its a performance plus... i really appreciate the help from fellow stangbangers and i want to make this thing scream like hell in the spring time...

[OHC230]

"So the quarter horse really worked for you?..."


I think the Moates system offers the most value for the money by far.


"I know jet makes a chip for around the same price and was wondering if that would work also?"


The Jet performance chip is just that, a re-programmed bin file, made for stock engines and in your application won’t do anything for your car. The Moates is a complete tuning system. The Moates ¼ horse allows you to make continual changes to the bin files. If you are building a performance motor, you will need something like this, unless you are planning to run a carburetor. It would be worth your while to read up on it.

Just curious, what are your plans for your car?

[Smokestang88]

My plans are to put the head on and get the block bored .30" over, build a custom CAI, run bigger injectors im thinking like 24 pounders but might have to be bigger, run my ranger header on the head, run 2.5" exhaust to a 40 series flowmaster. would like to put a traction lok in the rear and change the headlights to either the chrome ones or the one piece ones and refinish the silver pony wheels i have on it.. then later on interior work and possibly turbocharging....

[OHC230]

“My plans are to put the head on and get the block bored .30" over”


So I guess that you need to decide now, weather to go with an N/A or a turbo/supercharger piston at this point?

These Speed Pro turbo pistons/ or flat top for N/A motors are pretty good for an off the shelf part. (see links)

Speed Pro ZL2500F75MM - Speed-Pro Power Forged Pistons - Overview - SummitRacing.com


Speed Pro ZL2455F75MM - Speed-Pro Power Forged Pistons - Overview - SummitRacing.com



“I’m thinking like 24 pounders but might have to be bigger”

Those should be good for about 170 HP


“Run my Ranger header on the head”

The Ranger header, despite its appearance, is not really an upgrade over the stock manifold, especially if you port the stock manifold. I’ve tested these back to back on the dyno and have even seen a small loss of HP with the Ranger header. I can suggest a few good header choices, depending on weather or not you decide to build an N/A/ Supercharged or turbo motor for now.

You mentioned that your head had a Crane cam in it, it can possibly be indentified by a number scibed on the end of the cam. Is that a roller cam?

[Smokestang88]

on the cam im not sure if its roller or not... ive worked on cars awhile but this my first motor build... but it will give me good experience... if ya would about where to find a header i would appreciate it... buddy at work was talking to a guy he knows that used to build alot of mustang/pinto motors and he mentioned that if it has a circle track cam in it that the electronics arent gunna adapt well and probably wouldnt be a good street cam.. i still got to measure it

[Smokestang88]

have you ran the speed pro pistons in any of your cars? also i was wondering how hard it is to install the quarter horse? i dont want to screw the computer up and how hard is it to figure out the program.... thanks again

[OHC230]

“Have you ran the speed pro pistons in any of your cars?”

Yes, like most forged pistons they require a little extra running clearance, but other than that they seem to hold up well.

“How hard it is to install the quarter horse?”

It just plugs onto the back of the J-3 port on the stock computer.



“I don’t want to screw the computer up and how hard is it to figure out the program”

You can’t screw it up, it can be unplugged. I posted the Moates link for you, that’s the orange one in my second post that says ¼ horse. Click on that link and read about the Moates tuner. Using the tuner, you could tune for very radical cams and still maintain an idle.

[OHC230]

"If ya would about where to find a header i would appreciate it"

I run this header in my car:
SPEEDFLOW 2300 CC PINTO LATE MODEL HEADERS
Item #: 91013239 Price: EA $134.99

Here is the link:

2.3 Ford Pinto Late Model Headers

[Smokestang88]

sorry havent been on in awhile.. been busy.... thanks for the info again.. im gunna check sum prices at work to today for pistons and see if i can get them cheaper but doubt it lol... i been wanting also to install a alum. driveshaft in it and the one ford racing offers looks like it would fit right in....