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Topic: Resurrecting Darkthunder (Read 4747 times) previous topic - next topic

Resurrecting Darkthunder

Reply #15
Quote from: daboss351;127640
just how tempermental are the 2.3's to build?


Depends on what you're doing with it, really...

People will bitch about them being temperamental, and these seem to be people running huge amounts of boost and/or lots of aftermarket parts. Comes with the territory.

Mine has been dead reliable since I built it. Granted I'm only running 17 psi into it, but I've had zero problems with the engine itself (I've had problems caused by my own goofups though).

That being said, the problem areas tend to be head gaskets, and distributor/intermediate shaft gears stripping or breaking. Although, I've never had that happen.

Garrett H.
'94 F250 XLT- 4x4, 5 speed, 7.3 IDI Turbo Diesel, 4" intake, 4" exhaust, 5" turnout stacks, manual hubs, etc.
'87 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
Engine, wheels, tires, etc!
Exhaust sound clip
Another clip

Resurrecting Darkthunder

Reply #16
At 400HP they're tempermental. At anything over 360ish they're tempermental. Just about any 4-Cyl will be.

Resurrecting Darkthunder

Reply #17
Quote from: SLEEPER T-BIRD 87;127658
2.3T

More gratification , more milage , just plain fun.


;)


i agree 100 percent  sometimes i love my turbocoupe so much i wanna forget about my v8!:iagree:


Resurrecting Darkthunder

Reply #18
Build one engine then the other. You never know, you might end up with a car the 347 could go into. Darkthunder Part II.
"Real cars dont power the front wheels, they lift them"
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
1984 Mercury Cougar GS 5.0:cougarsmily: BBK Equal Length Shorties, BBK O/R X-Pipe, Magnaflow Magnapacks, Mustang GT Stainless Tailpipes, 18" Magnaflow Rolled Edge Tips. Turbo Coupe Hood, Mach 1 Chin Spoiler. 17"x9" Cobra R's, Falken Ziex 255/50s, and 245/45s.
1984 Ford Thunderbird 3.8L "Drag Queen"
2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Lone Star Edition 5.7L Hemi 400hp, lex DOD14M Magnaflow retro-fit ler kit

Resurrecting Darkthunder

Reply #19
I prefer the V8 engine to the I4 and personally I would go the V8 route. But with your goals it seems like the turbo 4 might work out better although I dont think it will be much more cost effective than the V8 option... That Esslinger aluminum head aint cheap and neither is the cam.

Also, you forgot to mention tuning hardware for the 347. For that you'll need a TwEECer RT or PMS and wide band... unless you plan on running a carb. Then the 347 would be cheaper than the turbo 4. BTW, the TwEECer is supposed to work with the 4 cyl EEC-IV.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
86 5.0 Turbocoupe (Katrina), 87 5.0 Sport (Rita)

Resurrecting Darkthunder

Reply #20
How about a nice GM 350?
:flame:
Death awaits you all with nasty, big, pointy teeth.

1988 5.0 Bird, mostly stock, partly not, now gone to T-Bird heaven.
1990 Volvo 740GL. 114 tire-shredding horsies, baby!

Resurrecting Darkthunder

Reply #21
Quote from: Dogcharmer;127694
BTW, the TwEECer is supposed to work with the 4 cyl EEC-IV.


It does, a bunch of people over Turboford use it.

Garrett H.
'94 F250 XLT- 4x4, 5 speed, 7.3 IDI Turbo Diesel, 4" intake, 4" exhaust, 5" turnout stacks, manual hubs, etc.
'87 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
Engine, wheels, tires, etc!
Exhaust sound clip
Another clip

Resurrecting Darkthunder

Reply #22
Stay AWAY from Powerheads. They do really shoddy work. Check out TF, they burned quite a few people over there recently. If you really want a good head, call up Bo at Boport.

Resurrecting Darkthunder

Reply #23
Thanks for the heads up on Powerheads... I'm gonna edit that out of my previous post.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
86 5.0 Turbocoupe (Katrina), 87 5.0 Sport (Rita)

Resurrecting Darkthunder

Reply #24
If you're starting from scratch, build a 393.

It's 351W based but uses standard 302 pistons and rods.  EL CHEAPO.  Plus that's nearly 50 more cubes than even a 347... for no more cost, probably less actually since you're using budget parts.  The 351W intakes and headers may be slightly, but not much, more..
.
1984 Thunderbird V8


Resurrecting Darkthunder

Reply #25
Quote from: turbo83coupe;127636
2.3 THAT BEAST!  Be different! Heck, check out SLEEPERS currnt build, and that would be enough encouragement for me to build (if i had a bay that needed an engine). And, call me crazy, but I like the sound of a 2.3T better anyways (clearly an oppinion), v8's sound awsome as well. What edzactly do you mean by having a "headstart on the 2.3T stuff"? That could be a very good/big factore in your decision...

Frank M.

btw, that 85 is a sweet looking car!!

Thanks. The engine will come from my 87TC should I go that route. Right now it is pretty much stock, minus the RR cam and the exhaust. But the cam really won't matter anyways. It's kinda ironic to think that I would be different to swap the 2.3t in when that was the original engine. :D

Quote from: cougarman;127612
how about a carburated 4.6 markVIII engine? theres lost of aftermarket stuff available to get that horse power cheap

I briefly thought about that a while back... I never really researched about how much it would take to get it in the 400hp range though. It would be the best of both worlds... minus the weight. I'll look into it.

Quote from: CougarSE;127603
Antonio, being different is good and all but sometimes tried and true is the key to happiness.  I would go with a fuel injected 302 block based engine.  This is what I chose for my 88 TC, EFI 302.  Whatever you do, put a 5 speed behind it!

Oh yes, there will be 5-speed.
2005 Subaru WRX STi|daily driver

Resurrecting Darkthunder

Reply #26
I should have made myself more clear. I ment that if most people were in your shoes, they would swap in some sort of V8 and not a 2.3T...
Did you ever consider working the stock iron head over?
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/665379

1983 TurboCoupe-T3 .60/.63, 3" exhaust, Motorsport front mount, PJ, large VAM, green tops, 8.8" w/ 3.55's, 13.72@97mph
1985.5 SVO
1984 Fullsize Bronco- 300, NP435

Resurrecting Darkthunder

Reply #27
Just a note on the 2.3T vs 302 weight.  You add AL heads to a 302.....they weight difference isn't all that much.  Not that I'm advocating a 302....but I do have to admit that the weight difference isn't as much as some folks think.

As far as weight balance, my '83 is about 53/47....
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo - '85 Marquis LTS - '86 LTD Wagon-  '81 Granada GL 2dr

Resurrecting Darkthunder

Reply #28
Quote from: turbo83coupe;127738
I should have made myself more clear. I ment that if most people were in your shoes, they would swap in some sort of V8 and not a 2.3T...
Did you ever consider working the stock iron head over?

I completely understood what you said. I was just stating the irony of it.

Quote from: Chuck W;127739
Just a note on the 2.3T vs 302 weight.  You add AL heads to a 302.....they weight difference isn't all that much.  Not that I'm advocating a 302....but I do have to admit that the weight difference isn't as much as some folks think.

As far as weight balance, my '83 is about 53/47....

Do you know what the 2.3t weighs? Does this site's numbers sound about right to you?

Also how much of your original interior is intact? I am pretty much going to gut mine out and reinstall it. Minus the rear seats and a pair of Recardos (or the like) in the front.
2005 Subaru WRX STi|daily driver

Resurrecting Darkthunder

Reply #29
MY 351w WEIGHS HOW MUCH!! 525 POUNDS HOLY shiznit. i thought around 400
RIP 1988 and 1990 Lincoln Mark VII LSC
I welcomed the dark side and currently am driving a 2000 Dodge Durango SLT plus, with a 5.9, Code named project "Night Runner"
Shes black on black, fully loaded, with headers, 180 tstat, e fan, straight exhaust into a cherry bomb vortex ler, full tune up, ported intake and T/B, MSD coil, and round aircleaner.
Mods to come: Fully rebuilt and heavily modded 46RE, and a richmond rachet locker.
my $300 beater ;)
R.I.P Kayleigh Raposa 12/18/90 - 2/24/07