Missing horses

88hatch · 12-22-1999, 10:37 PM

I Installed a K&N filter in a DIY modified filter box which ducts straight into the intake (EFI). A hood scoop is planned to access cooler air but right now it is plenty cool everywhere. With the header and 2" exhaust(no cats) the car has less power and sucks up the gas. The O2 sensor was plumbed into the header but the EGR valve is temporarily just blocked at the intake manifold. I have lots to learn so any ideas where to start would be appreciated.

Unit 5302 · 12-22-1999, 11:26 PM

I think you are targeting a lost cause with the 2.3 in your car right now. It makes 88hp, which means you'll need to make a ton more. Your cheapest bet is to go with a turbo motor out of a '87-'88 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, '85-'86 Mustang SVO, or '85-'88 Merkur XR4Ti. They will make near or slightly over 200hp in bone stock form. They remain 2.3L so the swap isn't really difficult, and they are much more reliable than the standard 2.3L when you turbocharge it.

Otherwise you could convert to a bigger motor. That's just my 2 cents.

Mark McDaniel · 12-30-1999, 11:12 PM

You may have caused the power loss by adding and removing parts. All computer controlled engines require a cirtin amount of exhaust backpressure to operate properly. Removing the cats along with adding the header may have reduced the backpressure too much. Also the location of the O2 sensor may be wrong (it should be in the collector not in a sigle header tube), if you had to splice the wire on the O2 sensor to reach the collector, you have added resistance to the circut which will changed the signal it's giving to the computer, which in turn changes the signal the computer going to give to the fuel delivery system, ie more or less fuel. The EGR valve is a vital part of the vehicle emmisions system and I don't believe your going to have much luck unless you can get the thing to work again. Contact the headers manufacture to see if they have a fix for that. Remember automotive computers are only designed to operate within cirtain ranges. If you change the conditions of the engine too much for the stock computer to compinsate, your gonna have to modify or change the computer. Check your states smog laws also, disconnecting smog equipment and removal of the cats is against federal law. They can cost you and the shop that did the work $5,000+ for each and loss of the shop operating license. Be careful most states aren't very lienient in these matters anymore.
Good luck.

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88hatch · 12-31-1999, 07:14 PM

Thanks Mark. The O2 sensor is in the right place but I need to follow up on your other suggestions and comments.

Mark McDaniel · 01-08-2000, 11:02 AM

Hey, sorry it's taken so long to get back. Work, work and work. Busy time of year.
Probably the quickest way your going to find out what might be causing the problem is to put the car on an engine analyzer. Not real sure what that will cost up in Canada. There could be a number of different things causing the problem with power loss and fuel consumption. Did you have to splice the O2 sensor wire for reach on the header? If so, more resistance is going to tell your computer that a lean situation is occurring and then tell the fuel system to dump more fuel. Very noticable on a 4 cylinder motor.
With all of the sensors and relays on cars today gone are the days of doing things correctly in your own backyard. Check with the dealer, they might be able to supply you with the proper resistance reading on your O2 sensor. Try and get the EGR valve working.
If you want great power gains and have to get into modifying your computer, you might be better off going to a larger or turbo charged engine. The 2.3 is not a power monster. It will do the job it was intended to do for several hundred thousand miles if cared for, but it's no racer.

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12-22-1999, 10:37 PM	#1
88hatch Registered Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Red Deer, Alberta, Canada Posts: 3	Missing horses I Installed a K&N filter in a DIY modified filter box which ducts straight into the intake (EFI). A hood scoop is planned to access cooler air but right now it is plenty cool everywhere. With the header and 2" exhaust(no cats) the car has less power and sucks up the gas. The O2 sensor was plumbed into the header but the EGR valve is temporarily just blocked at the intake manifold. I have lots to learn so any ideas where to start would be appreciated.

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12-22-1999, 11:26 PM	#2
Unit 5302 Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 5,246	I think you are targeting a lost cause with the 2.3 in your car right now. It makes 88hp, which means you'll need to make a ton more. Your cheapest bet is to go with a turbo motor out of a '87-'88 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, '85-'86 Mustang SVO, or '85-'88 Merkur XR4Ti. They will make near or slightly over 200hp in bone stock form. They remain 2.3L so the swap isn't really difficult, and they are much more reliable than the standard 2.3L when you turbocharge it. Otherwise you could convert to a bigger motor. That's just my 2 cents.

12-30-1999, 11:12 PM	#3
Mark McDaniel Registered Member Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: St. Regis, Montana Posts: 26	You may have caused the power loss by adding and removing parts. All computer controlled engines require a cirtin amount of exhaust backpressure to operate properly. Removing the cats along with adding the header may have reduced the backpressure too much. Also the location of the O2 sensor may be wrong (it should be in the collector not in a sigle header tube), if you had to splice the wire on the O2 sensor to reach the collector, you have added resistance to the circut which will changed the signal it's giving to the computer, which in turn changes the signal the computer going to give to the fuel delivery system, ie more or less fuel. The EGR valve is a vital part of the vehicle emmisions system and I don't believe your going to have much luck unless you can get the thing to work again. Contact the headers manufacture to see if they have a fix for that. Remember automotive computers are only designed to operate within cirtain ranges. If you change the conditions of the engine too much for the stock computer to compinsate, your gonna have to modify or change the computer. Check your states smog laws also, disconnecting smog equipment and removal of the cats is against federal law. They can cost you and the shop that did the work $5,000+ for each and loss of the shop operating license. Be careful most states aren't very lienient in these matters anymore. Good luck. ------------------

12-31-1999, 07:14 PM	#4
88hatch Registered Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Red Deer, Alberta, Canada Posts: 3	Thanks Mark. The O2 sensor is in the right place but I need to follow up on your other suggestions and comments.

01-08-2000, 11:02 AM	#5
Mark McDaniel Registered Member Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: St. Regis, Montana Posts: 26	Hey, sorry it's taken so long to get back. Work, work and work. Busy time of year. Probably the quickest way your going to find out what might be causing the problem is to put the car on an engine analyzer. Not real sure what that will cost up in Canada. There could be a number of different things causing the problem with power loss and fuel consumption. Did you have to splice the O2 sensor wire for reach on the header? If so, more resistance is going to tell your computer that a lean situation is occurring and then tell the fuel system to dump more fuel. Very noticable on a 4 cylinder motor. With all of the sensors and relays on cars today gone are the days of doing things correctly in your own backyard. Check with the dealer, they might be able to supply you with the proper resistance reading on your O2 sensor. Try and get the EGR valve working. If you want great power gains and have to get into modifying your computer, you might be better off going to a larger or turbo charged engine. The 2.3 is not a power monster. It will do the job it was intended to do for several hundred thousand miles if cared for, but it's no racer. ------------------