After 1.5 years of toying around with the 200 I6 I have decided to drop a 2.3L in my 80 Mustang. The 200 I6 is a nice torquey motor but parts are just too expensive for me plus my block has nasty ring lands and cant be overbored more so I would have to find another block and then see if its good and I just dont want to mess with it. there are no turbo parts and C4 is only option without cobbling together custom parts for a T5 conversion. Im tired of having to customize stuff. I want a car I can go into any auto parts store or junkyard and get parts for it. I have decided to use my 84 turbo 2.3L motor and adapt it to a blow through carb turbo. 1982 Canadian turbo 2.3L was a blow through setup so it has been done. EFI would be better but converting a non computer car to a EFI car is way beyong my ability. I intend to have the following motor setup 84 2.3L shortblock, bone stock 88 turbo 2.3L head ported and polished, 1.84" intake and 1.55" exhaust stock exhaust manifold and stock T3 turbo turbo profile roller cam, havent found one yet. Previous owner claimed 14lbs boost was normal so I will leave it at that. I would like to adapt a Merkur or TurboT-Bird intercooler 2.5" exhaust setup the same as SVO with dual tailpipes. I am hoping to pull over 175rwhp with this setup. Maximum horsepower and maximum cornering ability is not the goal. Just want a quick fun to drive car that handles and brakes well. I have a '84 Turbo T-Bird T5 I was given that I would like to run. I have the clutch pedal assembly but am not sure what I need to install the cable and quadrant and such. I have to talk to my friend to see if I can trade or buy back my HAL tubular K-member. With it I can drop 25lbs additional lbs off the front and set engine back 1" which will help weight distribution. Just with all the 200 I6 accessories and brackets out of front but 200 I6 still in car it is already sitting 3" higher in front so I am going coil over front so I can adjust front back down. 200 I6 head weighs 120lbs, stock 2.3L heads is about 80lbs. Blocks are about the same. Passenger side accessories bracket by itself was 1/4" steel and weighed 30lbs.
Sounds interesting. There were a couple of years the Fox body had a factory turbo w/ the 2.3l engine, this was before the SVO model. The only thing I did not like about them is they has the 5200 series Holley/Weber progressive carb which was stock on the four bangers of that era and the later Pinto line. If it were me I would look for a different carb such as a Holley 350cfm (or 500cfm). The early intakes for the 2.3 had an adapter for the 5200 that appeared to have the standard two barrel Holley flange or it may have been the Autolite flange. The Autolite carb may be an option. Pony Carburetors may be of some help in this area. Good luck!
No, I'm not being a smartass, I was informing you this thread is 5 years old. I hate it when people dredge up ancient threads, because the topic in question is so far out of date it has often been resolved or simply abandoned by the original poster (if they're even still on the board).
