What's faster, a 2.3t or a 5.0?
stock for stock? the turbo coupe.
once modified, it depends on your wallet.
It may just be me, but stock for stock a manual 2.3T agianst a S.O. 5.0. The 2.3T would win in most cases. Ive owned a sport coupe and a couple 2.3T's, so Ive experienced both.
This conversation has come up several times on several Ranger forums, and the last I heard, was that light to light, they'd match each other, but on the hwy, the 5.0 would win.
My car is way faster now with a 2.3T than when it had the stock 5.0. Ultimately, it depends on how much money you spend.
having raced a couple of 2.3's on the highway in a strong 86 5.0, I doubt the 5.0 would catch up unless it was well in the triple digit range of speed.
Really if you think of it the 2.3 can wind out faster because of less rotating mass and has a few more rpms before redline, so as long as the driver can shift quick and precise it would for sure have a light to light. As for on the highway that could go either way, it would depend on who would run out of gearing first.
I actually was considering turboing my Ranger, but it was a '96 and the last year of the turbo was 89 (yes 89, Merkur xr4Ti), figured I'd have to do a whole bunch of rewiring.
the "official" top speed of a 87 tc was 147mph according to motor trend. I found it interesting that was also the tire speed rating ;).
I know a 302 can do well over 100mph, if you've got all day to keep other from dropping back into third. 3rd is only good for about 112 id guess on the aod before you hit valve float.
I don't know about that, I've got a GT40 5.0 with 3.73 and a wide-ratio AOD/4R70W hybrid and I've personally had 135. I wasn't running out of power or RPM's either, I was on a road that scared the hell out of me at that speed. On something a bit more friendly I bet I could to a lot better.
2.3T is much faster if you have the manual one.
And in stock format, more fun. The 5.0 is a boring car in stock imo. It's big, heavy and slow.
But a 2.3T auto is not worth the money imo, then you can get a 5.0 instead. The 2.3T MUST be mated with a manual :D
Quick check for 5.0 guys: Raise your hand if you've got a "stock" 5.0 still.
when I was young and dumb, I got my 199mph modded digi dash to read 137mph on a bone stock 250+k mile 5.0. the aod is useless stock. anything over 1/2 throttle downshifts to 3rd.
since doing the t-5, I've only past 100mph once, wasn't watching the speed with a 80mph speed limit. but my gps recorded 112 mph. that was just letting my foot rest on the pedal in 5th. math wise, 3rd on the stick should run out of power about 118mph. the problem isn't going to be speed, but how willing you are to get a ticket for double the posted speed limit.
since having two kids, I'm a lot more careful now a days
mine is bone stock minus pushing a t-5. I even still have the air silencer behind the fender.
Oh, absolutely!!!! Did the 87-88 auto even get an intercooler?
yes. boost was limited and it had a different turbo. everything else is the same.
You can't see it, but I am NOT raising my hand.
Bone stock 5.0 in my 87......for now!
:popcorn:
what if we added a 2k budget to modify the car, then what?
$2000? Hmmmm.....
8.8 with good gears
GT-40 heads
H.O cam (since you have flat top pistons)
Explorer intake
65mm throttle body
headers, new dual exhaust
Speed Density computer
19# injectors
1.6 roller rockers
new fuel pump
associated gaskets
And if you're lucky, you'll still have enough left for gas. Then, it'll feel like a crazy bada$$ car for you.
My experience, from racing a TC against a 5.0, both of which I owned:
When I bought my parts '87 TC, I was driving it home to strip it, and my buddy was driving my '88 5.0. Both cars were bog-stock except the 88 had 2-1/4" duals with no cats and the TC had a Magnaflow catback, and we played with each other the whole 30 minute trip (should have been more than an hour, but there you go). I can honestly say that neither car was faster than the other. I could not catch the '88, nor could it lose me. This was driving a rural road with a fair bit of twists & turns mixed among some nice straightaways. The TC definitely outhandled the '88 though. Any time we approached a bend I would be right on his bumper, but then at passing lanes I'd get beside him but couldn't get by him. Again, neither could he gain on me. Even on a mile long straight stretch both cars were evenly matched (the TC's speedo was showing around 200km/hr, or 120MPH toward the end of this straight stretch). Mind, the 88 was a low mileage car (47k) and in pristine operating condition, while the TC had about 130k on it (the odometer was around 220,000 km) and was on its final journey, so that might have played a role, but even with 130k the TC seemed to work fine. Also, while the '88 was a 5.0 car it was a very basic one: Power windows, locks, mirrors and A/C were its only "features". The TC was fairly loaded. I know it's not scientific, but that was my experience. And what an experience it is, by the way, racing against your own car :hick:
And that being said, from those experiences, I would also guess that the '88, once it had the T-5 and 3.55 TC rear in it (the original rear had 2.73's), would have handily outrun the TC that the rear end came out of - bottom end, anyway (or probably anything under 100 MPH). Higher end, the lack of revs would have killed it. And with the poly front LCA bushings, CHE rear arms, Bullitt springs, subframe connectors, brand new Monroe sens-a-trac struts & shocks on all four corners, and TC sway bars & brakes it would have outhandled the stock TC too. In fact, that '88 became the best handling car I'd ever driven after those mods. That car was absolutely FLAT in turns, and it just plain went where you pointed it.
Unfortunately, although it handled exceptionally well, it also transmitted every single road imperfection through to the occupants. You could run over a squirrel and tell what it had for dinner. This ruined the car for me :punchballs:. I should've listened to Chuck, when he warned me against the poly bushings...
then you can have a 5.0 like in my 87
You have one for now........
its still going to end up being stock... just SEFI instead of CFI... :hick:
On the TC end a 2K budget for a car that already handle great could be:
bigger injectors
quarterhorse
bigger turbo
wideband (for adjusting tuning)
walbro 255hp
full 3" exhaust
K&N cone filter
Kirban adjustable
That in it self would definatley boost a TC's power. And if you dont go new on everything, but hit up ebay and places like turboford. Alot more could be done.
I look at it this way:
If you've got a 5.0 keep it and mod it. You can get a bunch of power out of it and it's cost effective as it's already in your car.
If you've got a 2.3T keep it and mod it. You can get a bunch of power out of it and it's cost effective as it's already in your car.
If you've got a 3.8 do what ever you want. Just get that thing out of there if you want to go fast.......
H/C/I on a 5.0 a set of 4.10s a shift kit, 125 shot of nos and 28x10.50x15 slicks ebay parts and your at 2k or less and I'd bet you'd have a high 12 sec bird
I had a 90 and a 93 with the 3.8, so I know how much they suck!
I've had a 90 and a 93 (technically my mom's) with the 3.8, so I know how much they suck!
I've had a 90 and a 93 (technically my mom's) with the 3.8, so I know how much they suck! About the only thing I liked on the 90 was the full digital cluster.
I've got all the best factory parts from the crank pullet to the tail-shaft seal, but just cuz they're factory parts doesn't make it in any way stock.
I plan on going the same route.
explorer upper, 19# investors, h.o. cam, sd computer, stang shorties mark 7 h-pipe, mustang exhaust, t-5, f-150 clutch.