did a 93 lx, with a svo 2.3L
fun car but the head wheezes, and limits you to about 250hp at 20 psi on the stock head (with a GOOD intercooler and some increased fuel pressure). Beyond that you're gonna spend some money. But they can make some steam. 350-400 ain't too much of a stretch but streetability suffers. Once you get to "that" point (250 whp +/-) you have to make decisions. The head is done. The vam is done. The injectors are done. So you're gonna go standalone, which requires injectors, ported head, and honestly I'd probably ditch the stock rods and heavy pistons. Almost the same cost to go V8 at that point because 2.3L stuff is real expensive for just 4 of everything.
I wanted to keep fox body coupe "looks" but with a "different" powerplant, so I stuck wtih a modded 2.3L,1995 V6 5 speed (stronger), 3.73, and then focused on the handling and interior. Took a few years, but it was clean, fun, and fetched a lot more money than I would have ever imagined. Some guy at the gas station made me an offer on it which I turned down, then went & bought another car and called the guy back and said come get it.
I'd like to do one with an ecoboost but those things are not cheap. Of course nothing is cheap anymore.