Hey Stangnet. You guys seem to know your stuff and be very helpful, so I thought I would make a post on here and ask you guys a question. Here's the deal. This summer I want to buy a new n/a 2.3 Head and modify it to get more horsepower. I dont really have the money or the time to be pulling the block apart, so I want to only modify things in the head without having to adjust or replace anything in the block. I have heard of guys taking Rangers cams and cam followers and putting them in the 2.3 Mustang. I also wanted to put in some oversize valves and shave the head for increased compression. Now, here are some of the questions I had for you guys. Would any of these head modifications require me to tinker with the block? If I did this Ranger cam swap do I need anything other than the cam and the cam followers? With these listed modifications how much do you think horsepower will be increased by? Can you recommend anything else that I can have done to the head without having to touch the block? Ok, I think that is all. If I think of anything else I will be sure to post it. Any of your input and time is greatly appreciated. Thanks again. -- James --
How much power you gain depends on what else is done to the engine. If it was a stock 91+ engine, the roller cam takes it up to 105hp. I've not heard food things about the head used in 91+ so I'm thinking if you put that cam in a stock pre-91 motor it might get you 110-115 maybe. Whateever it comes out to it will be a hell of an improvement. go on eBay and do a search for "ford 2.3" and 3 or 4 pages of stuff for that motor will come up... You can usually find a Ranger roller cam and followers listed on there. Expect to pay $100-120. I got one and it's on the way...
or go find a ranger or 91-93 4 banger mustang and pullem yourself for alot less. I think my cam was like 25 and the rockers 15$ pretty cheap! If your going to go through the work to do a head with big valves and roller cam, dont shave it! Go turbo! it cost around 3-500$ for the head work, for new/big valves. N/a hp is hard to come by, 115hp vs 200+ with a turbo motor seems like a easy sell? just some suggestions...
If its going to be a N/A or a nitrous car I would mill the head a hair to bump up the compression some and port and polish it also. (I think bhuff milled his head on here so I would ask him about doing it, his car runs pretty good from what I hear)I really don't think gutting your intakes will help you much but maybe go in and polish them up a bit. Then bolt on a decent shape roller and followers. Once all that is done I would buy one of those 50 shot nitrous kits off ebay for 235.00 (O ya and a2" - 2 1/4 " ehxuast with a high flow cat / muffler and a ranger header. If its got that pre cat next to the mainifold delete it also. )
