N/A or turbo 2.3?

[d3xt3r]

Yeah I know I have searched... I have read...

I don't see a whole lot about N/A 2.3s... can you build them up N/A to have a little more pep? I have a 93 hatch 4cyl 5spd with that duraspark crap!
After reading some tech articles on swapping a 2.3T in I see it is more than I want to deal with at the moment. I see the 90s and under are much easier.

It's my daily driver and I wanted just a little more pep, what do you guys think? Build a new 2.3 N/A or go for the 2.3T swap?

Thanks,

 

[rd]

There's not a lot of info because it's not done much for a daily driven car.

You can do the normal cams, cold air intake, headers, better exhaust, head work, etc, but you still may not have a hot rod.

Most of the na 2.3 stuff is for mini stock type circle track cars, and there are some very powerful versions out there. Ported or aftermarket heads, 2.5 liter strokers, Webber or Holley carbs on specific intakes, etc, etc. Racer Walsh in Jacksonville FL is the major vendor of this stuff.

I like my na 2.3 with it's 88 gas sipping horsepower, although I have 2 TC donors in the backyard waiting for time to fool with them.

 

[d3xt3r]

I don't want it to be a Hot Rod, just wondering if I could pep it up anymore...
I kind of like it N/A, mileage is awsome. I heard 2.3T isn't so good on gas.

Anyway, thanks I'll keep looking. I just want a clean daily that saves a ton on gas and looks good. I have an 84 GT that I drive on the weekends. That thing is a beast!

 

[Stinger]

There are no cheap mods that will make any real difference in the n/a power without doing alot of work.

The turbo 2.3's get the same or slightly better gas mileage than the n/a versions...if you drive them easy.

 

[Biffmeistro]

I've done a couple things with it that've given me a bit more pep, noticable, but not much. I just gave it a K&N filter, and removed the air silencer, not to mention giving it a tune up.
Probably just pulled another 5-10 horses out of it, but when you're running that few, everything helps.

You might be able to get one of those Vortex valves that I've seen, if they really work, and I've seen performance chips for 2.3 N/A motors.

 

[stykthyn]

CAI and free flowing exhaust is a must for any car. get rid of that factory crap. with motors as small as the 2.3 any little bit does help and a lot of power is lost through restrictive intakes and exhaust. Chips IMHO arent really worth that much all they do is advance timing and fool the temp sensors to think that the air outside is colder than it already is, thus giving more gas to the engine. on top of that you have to run premium fuel for most of them to work without knocking. Intake/exhaust. nuff said

 

[d3xt3r]

Thanks guys! Any recomendations on suppliers for CAIs and exhaust?

 

[BossHoss]

Thanks guys! Any recomendations on suppliers for CAIs and exhaust?

Make your own CAI,there is a "how to" at the top of the forum,I
added a ranger roller cam, a ranger header and a 2-1/2 inch catback
exhaust and flow pro-flow muffler(sounds nice,not ricey)I made my
CAI out if 3"pvc pipe,added an elbow and mounted a cone air filter
in the fender well,installed an MSD6A ignition box & blaster coil,
and use Mobile 1 synthetic oil,bumped up the timing...while this
didn't get me much boost in hp,it did help in mpg...
I went from 26mpg to 30+mpg(depending how I drive)
and at the way gas prices are,that's a plus.

I also have a turbo motor waiting in the corner to be installed at
some future date.

On the CAI...the problem with PVC is it will distort because of the
heat the exhaust manifold...what I did is,I went to home depot
and bought 4"piece of vent pipe ducting in the heating and cooling
section
It's flat,48"long and when you roll it up,it forms a 4"tube and has
a lock flange to lock it together.
It will look like this when done..
View attachment 454321
Take your 3"pvc pipe,wrap it in hood insulation(I had some new insulation from a previous project and withstands heat well..this will insulate the
pvc pipe from the heat and prevent it from warping) slip the tube
over the insulated pvc.add a 45 degree elbow,a couple of nipples
and mount it in the fenderwell.
Some of the vent pipe has a brushed aluminum look to it so it looks
decent.

Here's a pic of what mine looks like,it's not the greatest pic but
all I have at the moment..

Good luck

 

[Cougar]

I got a ranger roller cam & followers i'd sell for $80+shipping. It'll give a 2.3 N/A a solid torque boost.

 

[ACSPONY]

BossHoss, can you get a close-up of the vacuum lines for the CAI? I was going to make one but I couldn't tell what I had to do with the line(s) running out of the stock airbox.

 

[RustBucket]

I got a ranger roller cam & followers i'd sell for $80+shipping. It'll give a 2.3 N/A a solid torque boost.

He's got a '93 which means he's already got that cam.

 

[Cougar]

He's got a '93 which means he's already got that cam.

Ooops, my bad, guess i should read more carefully

 

[BossHoss]

I just plugged it.I believe there is only one,for the
flapper door....My lx is a 90,so your set up will be
different.