HEADERS
 

I just got a 4 cyl. mustang and i want to beef it up ! can i put headers for an 81 2.3 on my 89 2.3 im pretty sure its the same engine

i don't htink it would do much, especially switching to an OLDER header. I believe the newer 2.3s produced more power (108 vs 88)

81 came with headers on it I thought the were manifolds?? I Dont know why you would Mod a 2.3???

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1988 LX 5.0 3060lbs (full Tank) 14.90@100.2 On a Gtech
Drivetrain: 2.73 Stock Gears (New Gears coming in a week), World Class T-5, Lakewood Bellhousing, Summit Adjustable Cluch Quadrant & Cable, Alumminum Driveshaft, Flaming River Manual Steering Rack
Suspension: MAC Control Arms,Maximum Motorsports Front Grip Package, H&R Sport Spings, Bilstein Shocks
Engine: Steal Mounts, Ram air, K&N, Under Drive Pulles
Exhaust: 1 5/8 Un-Equal Length Mac Headers, X-pipe W\cats, Edelbrock cat\bac

Are you trying to make a fast 2.3 it can be done!

Your 89 mustang has 88 horsepower, it went up to 105 in '91 to '93 mustangs. I've heard if you weld a bung into the older mustang 2.3L header (same engine) it will work fine. With a computer controlled 2.3L mustang it won't be cheap to get it up to V6 power levels naturally aspirated (at least compared to the new 3.8L's horsepower) and with the high revving you'd have to do with the engine and lack of cubic inches you won't have much torque. Your best bet for "beefing it up" would be to get a turbo and all related stuff from like a Thunderbird turbo coupe or even better an SVO mustang (made '84 to '86) and to get an intercooler designed for the '86 SVO. Stock '86 Mustang SVO's made 200 horsepower with low boost on that 2.3L. I think your mustang has a mass air metering system (i may be wrong), my friend's has mass air on his '89 so you could add a better camshaft, better exhaust, get your upper and lower intake manifold extrude honed ( www.extrudehone.com ), get a throttle body from a V6 thunderbird (i've heard it'll fit and give you more airflow), use an earlier mustang header or maybe one from a newer ranger 2.5L (they have headers stock) and a better air intake tube and filter and you should have around 140 horsepower which isn't all that bad, and it'll still be drivable on the street. That with better gears (like 4.10) and your mustang would have good acceleration, and with GT suspension would handle better than a GT because of less frontend weight (about 300 lbs. lighter directly over the front wheels i think.)
*cheap mod tip - in the middle of the intake tube going from the throttle body to the mass air flow sensor is a big round thing that has a Ford insignia inside an oval. this is the air intake muffler, take this off, take an exacto knife or something similar and cut out the air restriction on the inside (restriction in muffler cuts down diameter by like 1/2" or more) and then if you feel like it, cut off the bottom 1/2 of the actual air box to expose the air filter element to more air (as opposed to the 1 1/2" by 1 1/2" square tube that leads to another intake silencer leading to the fenderwell.
Good luck! www.racerwalsh.com - order their catalog! they have TONS of stuff for 2.3L mustangs, in fact it'll probably blow your mind. Also, www.powerheads.com has turbo 4 cylinder heads which i believe could also be used on a naturally aspirated 2.3L, and the head is CNC ported so it flows really well.

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'84 Mustang 5.0 LX
My car

I know a Kid with a 2.3 with 250HP N/A I did not think the guys head was on right but he showed me his Dyno sheet 250HP was like up at 6500RMPS He had a custom cam and ported heads and custom intake. It ran high 13's It was in his Ranger. His DAD had a shop and he was a pro Motto Cross Racer, he was cool, he siad he would help me on my car and then he move out of state to go to collage http://www.mustangworks.com/msgboard/frown.gif

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1988 LX 5.0 3060lbs (full Tank) 14.90@100.2 On a Gtech
Drivetrain: 2.73 Stock Gears (New Gears Are in my house3.55), World Class T-5, Lakewood Bellhousing, Summit Adjustable Cluch Quadrant & Cable, Alumminum Driveshaft, Flaming River Manual Steering Rack
Suspension: MAC Control Arms,Maximum Motorsports Front Grip Package, H&R Sport Spings, Bilstein Shocks
Engine: Steal Mounts, Ram air, K&N, Under Drive Pulles
Exhaust: 1 5/8 Un-Equal Length Mac Headers, X-pipe W\cats, Edelbrock cat\

I've also heard of people breaking 200 horsepower with the 2.3L, but most are either carbureted or turbocharged. I've never really heard of any one building up a fuel injected 2.3L to that amount of power, but it shouldn't be all that hard to do.

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'84 Mustang 5.0 LX
My car

thanks for your help i definetly think im gonna beef this 2.3 up!! if you have any suggestions on how to get more power send em my way ..thanks
mike

There is a Pinto at our local track it says Boss 2300 and a couple of people will laugh! Yesterday in 95 d temps it ran 9.98 it will go faster! It was built in Pa by a place called Housepower that does a lot of 2.3s