whats the best way to suck some more power out of a 2.3? i have a newer one '03, with a ton of new parts, and i've seen threads about pulling turbos off of just about everything, now i was thinking of finding a ued turbo on something, and running low, low boost, for just a wee bit more power, whats the best thing to pull it off of and how bad is the install? i'm trying to keep it cheap and easy. is a turbo on low boost the best approach? or should i be going in a different direction?

 

I'm in the same situation and am looking for the best way to turbo for cheap and with my stock internals and as much stock as I can.

 

step one - lift your radiator cap
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step two - slide a Ram with a 5.9L Cummins under it.....

 

i was waiting for something like that to be said.

 

 

Is "cheap and easy" even possible when doing engine modifications? LOL

I recommend doing some reading up on turbos and installations. I know over at RPS (That "other" evil Ranger forum) there are a bunch of turbo gear heads.

Next time go with the 4.0L......LOL

 

i didnt have a choice actually.

that snorkel removal thing, does it really make any noticeable difference?

 

ford did offer a 2.3L turbo motor. im unsure of the car its in but you can jus do the swap if your serious about a turbo. cant tell you much more about it cause i dont have much knowledge on that topic.....

basic concept on make some horse power: the faster you can get cool, dense air in and out of an engine the more power. plus keeping the engine as cool as possible and take any excess strain off the engine makes even more power.....

with that said....
headers (and heat wrap them)high flow catalytic converter(s) & muffler
cold air intake
a/c compressor delete(if you dont mind no a/c)
re-gear
aluminum alloy rims(no 22's!! 16" would suffice)
lighter fly wheel(if you are manual)
copper spark plugs(best conductivity... needs to be changed a shorter intervals)
low resistance spark plug wires
HP coils
solid aluminum radiator w/electric fan
pullies
ect.....

you didnt have a description of parts you already have but here's a list of most everything you can do besides a swap

 

Yeah i'm not exactly knowledgeable haha but if you know:
would heatwrapping the stock headers help?
i'm messing with the intake now just a wee bit
i need the AC, at least for now
i could look for other gears, but i'm on a limited budget
yeah i could probably replace my 16" steelies
i'm auto
i just got new plugs (E3) a few weeks ago
how much do those plug wires go for?
again, price estimate on the coils?
and i have an E-fan, dont know if it'll fit (or work, its been sitting for a year or three)

 

No wrapping the stock exhaust manifolds won't do anything. If you're on a limited budget forget about it.

If you don't have the knowledge, you should do some more research to see if you're actually up to tackling this process. It's not just a bolt on thing, this is a whole, mostly custom turbo swap.

 

The Merkur (spelling?) made in Germany, was powered by a 2.3 liter turbo-Ford. These cars are relatively inexpensive...probably less than just buying a proper turbo unit. My boss just sold one for $800.
The car kinda looks like an odd, RWD Escort. Come to think of it, so did the 90's Mustangs, IMO.
Mechanically, it shouldn't be a hassle hooking one up. As for the "check engine" light and Big Brother, well, that's another story.

 

whenever someone asks this question (including myself) it seems like "drop in a (blank) " is an inevitable answer haha

 

03 duratec....get a tuner

you can get some pretty peppy power out of the DOHC 2.3 with just a tuner

 

admitted threadjack, sorry dale lol but do they make a tuner for the '01 2.3? i havent been able to find any for my year and engine

 

What type of tunner do i get? i wanna tune it!

 

Xcal3 or diablosport tuners work best

talk to Johnbaum13.....he tuned his 05 and it'll outrun most 4.0's

Duratech 2.3's are in mid 01 and newer trucks.....early 2001 models still had the 2.5L