[-cold-machine-]

New to the forum and from the quick look I just had around. Seems to be a great source. Haven't been able to come across a decent source for modding a 2.3L Ford.

anyways. I own a 1990 Mustang Hatchback with a 2.3L automatic transmission. This thing is absolutly Stock. Not a single mod done to it. yet.. I need something with a lil more power. I'd prefer alot more power. So I'm going to go for as much as possible. But currently I am just looking for the cheapest mods I could possible do at the moment. Things are a lil tight having a new born. I am going to making a Cold Air Intake, with K&N Filter. and run another tub to give abit of a ram air effect to the Filter from under the vehicle. This should help abit. Not looking at throughing a turbo in anytime soon. Thought has crossed my mind alot. specially seeing some videos on youtube of SVO Mustangs doin 9 seconds 1/4mile. But dont need something that hot until my wife and kid no longer go in my car lol.

I have come across another thread. Speaking of changing the Cam over to a 470/280 changing the injectors to 24lbs switching to u.d pullies. plugs and headers. Im not much of a mechanic. I know my basic bolt ones and what not but im more of abody man then anything so.. like with the Cam is there anything else that I will need to do/change/modify? where would the cheapest place to get this size of a cam in Canada and roughly how much would i be lookin at? where can I find U.D pullies for my car and how much? and where can I find a decent set of headers as well?

IF someone could possibly help me out it would be greatly appreciated. This forum seems to be able to supply lots of information so this hsouldnt bee too hard of aquestion for some. Thank you.

[sleeper_inc]

How much do you want to spend? what power do you want?

I myself have a custom CAI, and a RR cam. I'm making around 105 hp

[MSO]

1. air intake: the most obvious way to add horsepower. 2.3s have the most ridiculous contraption called an air silencer.. it's very constrictive. replace it with a metal tube and a filter.

2. the header from a 96+ 2.3 ranger: this is a real header, not just a manifold. the ranger header is less restrictive and is an improvement in the exhaust flow

3. roller cam: you can get this from a 89+ 2.3 ranger or a 91+ 2.3 mustang. it's a roller and has less friction, creating more hp.

4. injectors and an FPR: bigger injectors and a fuel pressure regulator deliver a better air/fuel ratio. you'll need it when you're huffing in more air.

5. knock sensor: not exactly a performance gain, but definitely worth it. the knock sensor detects knock, even the slightest, most harmless knock. when it does, it sets your timing back and creates the feeling of a bogged-down engine.. set your timing correct and take it off

now for the more expensive stuff

6. exhaust: along with the ranger header, you'll need an exhaust. most people use 2¼ inch or 2½ inch pipe and look into high-flow cats. most ppl think that removing the cat altogether is a better improvement, in some cases it is. but engines are programmed to have some sort of backpressure, so unless you have some kind of computer programming, it's best to have a high-flow cat. it's also a must if you have emissions

7. T5 > Auto: the manual transmission is a great improvement over the automatic. the drivetrain loss with an automatic is much greater than the T5

8. T-lok/gears: a T-lok differential would put power to both wheels, and gears would help you accelerate faster. i put both of them at the same time because it would be cheaper to get both at the same time.

9. aluminum driveshaft: reducing weight in the drivetrain is always good. engine comes to speed faster

10. aftermarket ignition: increases hp, economy, engine speed, and keeps it safe

11. long-rod kit: costs around $500.. adds a couple hp by reducing weight of the piston and keeping the piston at the top of the combustion chamber longer




the first stuff is cheap/junkyard parts

we like the "dead-broke racing"

kinda like our motto around here



oh, and welcome to the forums!

[MSO]

and here's a post turbolx made in another thread

Originally Posted by TurboLX Well when i was N/A i ran a cold air intake, a gutted SVO/Ranger intake, ranger roller cam, Esslinger pullies, 24lb injectors, wide band with Kirban FPR and a custom Esslinger HEader and 2.5" exhaust with a single Flowmaster 40 and on the best tune i got 141hp at 178tq

there are some threads about staying n/a in here.. you can read through them, but most likely you'll just get pissed cuz of the off-topic

there is some good info tho

[-cold-machine-]

Thank you for the info. And pretty much I want to be pushing out AT LEAST 150rwhp. I don't mind spending a couple hundred dollars on a few things. But Like A I mention I am making my own Cold Air Intake. my Buddy and I have made several just for his Trans Am, his brother 95 Mustang, and one of his friends 96 Mustang. So that isnt gonna be to costly for me. Just gotta find the time to take my measurments go out and by my tubing and what not. As for the headers from a Ranger. Are these gonna be able to bolt right into place of my existing manifolds? and as for the cam I think I'll go and purchase a new cam something aggressive.

About reprogramming though. Any idea what can be done with this? It's something my buddy just informed me his brother could do. Just that was last week and he ended up leaving town for awhile so couldnt really ask to much about it.

Also just for sound wise.. What can I do to make it sound a lil more aggressive? somewhat bassy not whiney like some of the imports you see kickin around. if possible to even make it sound close to the Subaru Impreza's actually kinda like their sound

[MSO]

yea 150rwhp isnt hard, you've seen what turbo put out with those mods

and yes, the header shud bolt right in.. someone on here jus bought one..

here ya go Header thread

an aggressive cam depends on what you want. for instance a stage one from racerwalsh you wouldn't need any mods to the drivetrain. but the stage 2 its highly recommended and stage 3 its a must

for a tuner, you can get a couple things.. like tWeeCeR or however you spell it.. they're compatible with our computers

and for sound (oh god, turbo loves this part) you can get a flowmaster 40 to make it "sound like a big ol' V8"

lol

[-cold-machine-]

well,im not looking to do anything to my drivetrain yet.. if im gonna do any mods to that or swapping. Im gonna go with 3.73 gears but that wont be for awhile. and my stock Tranny.. seems to be able to take abeating.. I used to have a 89 Mustang with more Miles on it then what i got now. and I put that thing throug hell and never went on me.. Even with the tranny leak i had and just topped up the fluids once in awhile lol. So my next Q now is. if i put a 470/280 cam in my car would I have to upgrade anything else?
for the headers Im pretty sure the use car department at my work has a 98 Ranger. the headers should work from that? I'll just take a look tomorrow and go through there.

[MSO]

as long as its a 2.3 or 2.5 from our generation

i believe the later years the O2 bung is in a different location, so you might have to check that out

470/280? from where?

[-cold-machine-]

haha good question hoping youd be able to help me there. Gonna check right now to see if Esslinger sells them

[MSO]

well what kind of hp gains do you want from the cam?

[-cold-machine-]

what about this one from esslinger.

Cam only 500 lift 266 dur.@ .050 110 centerline 4000-8100 rpm solid lifter 3/

http://www.esslingeracing.com/mercha...egory_Code=CCK

[MSO]

dude that thing is beastly

seriuos mods to the drivetrain

[-cold-machine-]

I dunno much about Cams.. so.. a nice healthy number... not just like 17hp or anything.. like if i could get a nice big number just from a cam to bring me close to or above 150rwhp then that would be awsome. Also could you explain them to me abit.

[MSO]

dude, that thing will give you a lot more than 17hp lol

i dont really kno too much about cams

but i'd say like 40-50 from the cam alone

[93fourbangerstanger]

hmmm. i see you have an automatic,i think the first thing would be to go get u a standard tranny for shure. the for the rest talk to MSO

[-cold-machine-]

lol so from 88 that would put me up to 138.. not to bad.. But why would I have to do work to my drive train?

[-cold-machine-]

oh beleive me i so would go from a Auto to a Standard. If I was capable of finding one here in the city or close by but not a single one is available. and most are rebuilt when i do find and want a couple thou for it. Then I got the problem of my wife not knowing how to drive a stick and shes bitch all the tiem about it.

[93fourbangerstanger]

lol she can learn believe me sticks are always fun. i thought i would get sick of it, but sometimes if i have to drive my gf car or my brothers truck i get car sick lol

ya try to talk the down, say you can get three 2.3l cars for that price

[-cold-machine-]

for what price?

[93fourbangerstanger]

i would just go in with cash in hand and say this is all i got thats what i did at the junk yard

i got a 300 dollar door for 100 bucks