4 cylinder - to buy or not to buy
 

I am considering buying a 4 cylinder and upgrading it to the 5.0. This would be the first Stang that I have done this with. The car is an 89 5-speed, no turbo, convertible.
The cost is 1500.00 for the car in good running condition. I want a 5.0 put in it.
Is this worth my time and/or money? I could use any advice or help. Thanks guys.

In my own opinion you would be better off saving your money and getting a 5.0L.

However if you relly are set on doing this swap you had better find a suitable 5.0L parts car to get everything you need, which would be practically everything dealing with the driveline, you could use some of the 2.3L parts but they will break eventually. Consider that a parts car could cost you $1,000-$2000 dollars you would be better off just waiting.

But you could always drop a 2.3L turbo in there which is amazingly simple and has the performance of a v8, and with a few mods can get you 350hp.

Brad.

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Brad
88lx 2.3T soon to have 350hp
www.turboford.org

There aren't any upgrades for the 2.3L that will impress you with
performance, maybe gas mileage, but not performance.

You cannot add a turbo to it, the block,pistons just can't handle the boost,
nor can it withstand "the squeeze" (nitrous).

Your best bet if you are getting this car would be drop a 2.3L turbo in it.
This motor puts out at stock 200hp. It is a direct bolt in and you don't
need to change transmissions, but you may need to change fly-wheels IF you
are swapping a t-5 vs an auto (very simple anyway).
As for the wiring and computer it is a snap. Just swap computers, and
splice in a few wires from the turbo engine into your n/a engines' wiring
harness, then you just match up the pins to the computer (I can help you
more when you get to this point, it isn't a biggy).

That is about it! Of course you might want to get a better free'r flowing
exaughst, and the rear-end from it if you can (yours right now is a 7.5"
with no trac-lok and has crappy gearing).

As for mods for the turbo there are alot of things you can do.
Port/polish the upper/lower air intake manifolds and exaughst manifold
Port/polish the head, maybe get some larger valves.
Bigger exaughst, 3" downpipe at least.
Turbo upgrade, you can do a t3/to4 hybrid turbo, very cool.
Intercooler, you can do water-air, or air-air.
A chip, preferably a "pe" chip
Boost Controls, this keeps boost set in a desired range and can get you
above stock boost level's.
You can put nitrous on this engine.
There are plenty more things you could do, but it depends on $.

This engine can take up to 500hp with correct mods.
Still get great gas mileage. Handling is still much better over the 5.0L.
And imagine what people think when you beat the pants off of a v8 mustang or
camaro!

Well if you have more questions let me know. And visit this site and the
user links if you want to know even more, especially Chris Roth's homepage.

www.turboford.org

Brad.
88lx 2.3T


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Brad
88lx 2.3T soon to have 350hp
www.turboford.org

Well, i did this conversion myself, and it was cheap, and i got a nice 5.0 for about 3 grand (including car) I have a brand new motor, transmission has 5k on it. Basically, i got a 5.0 with 0k on it for 3 grand. Sure, you can get a 5.0 for about 3,000, but it'll have 120,000 miles on it, and you'll have to change everything out anyways, it will be even more for a conv. Its your choice, its an easy swap, i can give you a list of everything you need if you want.

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'93 4 banger notch converted to a 5.0
AOD, high flow cat H-Pipe, 2 1/2 inch flows, 4.10's, 110 lph pump, K&N, pullies, Alum. driveshaft, 14 degree timing, 180 degree thermo,. 14.2@98 MPH

Columbus, Ohio