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Topic: Resurrecting Darkthunder (Read 4746 times) previous topic - next topic

Resurrecting Darkthunder

Reply #30 –
Quote from: Ether947;127786


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.


Yup, sounds about right.  THey could give some better info on how the engines are dressed, but the 2.3 is pretty heavy for what it is.

My interior is complete minus the rear seat and the power seat tracks....the 80+# of cage though pretty much offsets that....and then some. 

Oh...and it's Recaros ;)
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo - '85 Marquis LTS - '86 LTD Wagon-  '81 Granada GL 2dr

Resurrecting Darkthunder

Reply #31 –
A little more weight a little more,Hp ? trade HP for wheight anyday.
Old Grey Cat to this.88 Cat, 5.0 HO, CW mounts, mass air, CI custom cam, afr165's, Tmoss worked cobra intake, BBK shorty's,off road h pipe, magnaflow ex. T-5,spec stage 2 clutch, 8.8 373 TC trac loc, che ajustables with bullits on the rear. 11" brakes up front. +

Resurrecting Darkthunder

Reply #32 –
New Ford BOSS 302 Block
331 stroker kit.
AFR 205's
Holley Systemax II
Comp cams XE-R grind of your chouce
And obviously the supporting mods.

You'll be running 400+ to the wheels easy.  More with a meaner cam.

Resurrecting Darkthunder

Reply #33 –
I'd say go with the 2.3 turbo. Guys are geting 300-400hp out of them easily with big turbo(holset) and a megasquirt fuel management
My 2.3t mustang was all stock conversion an ran 14.90's on all motor with 230,000 miles and 10psi of boost,and a shiznit clutch. I turned it up to 18psi and it slipped the clutch before any mor e acceleration,I'm sure it would have went low 14's with a good clutch and timing and some race fuel. So now my t-bird dont seem so fast!!
1987 T-bird SportCoupe,302,5spd,8.8,3.27s,pbr brakes,spindles,2003 rear,18inch 06 gt rims!!!!:evilgrin:
2006 Gt Mustang,3v,5spd,8.8,3.55s,GT500rims.
1990 T-bird LX,3.8,aod,loaded,stock!!
1999 Trailblazer(wifes rig)

Resurrecting Darkthunder

Reply #34 –
I can give opinions on both directions really.

Going 2.3L would be the more fun route in my opinion. Ive had so many people look under my hood and their eyes bug out. Ive raced quite a few respectable cars, and most of them had a hard time believing that it was a 4 cylinder car. Theres nothing like the turbo experience either. That rush of power when the boost pegs 20psi, and the car struggles for traction, the sound of that thing spooling up, and the pure "technical" vibe you get from having a turbo car.

Going 5.0 would alieviate one thing i miss when driving the 2.3L. Torque. When im corner carving, I have to be on the throttle a good bit before the apex, so as im hitting the apex, boost will peg and i come out of the corner hard. With a V8, its more of a "point and shoot" deal. Apex, throttle, gone. Also like most have said, the aftermarket is plentiful. Ive been frequenting mustang forums, and people sell performance parts left and right for the 5.0's. The driving experience with a V8 is a blast when you can mash the throttle and instantly go, no wait for boost, no fancing clutch kicks or riding the clutch.

Thats why im building one of each. Maybe you could pull off putting the 2.3 in Dark Thunder. Then nabbing some mounts, a T5, and throw a 5.0 in the TC. Even though its rotting, itll be fun, and if you find another shell, its easy to do the 5.0 swap in another car. Make Dark Thunder your play car, and set up another car as a driver.
It's Gumby's fault.

Resurrecting Darkthunder

Reply #35 –
Quote from: Tbird232ci;127882
I can give opinions on both directions really.

Going 2.3L would be the more fun route in my opinion. Ive had so many people look under my hood and their eyes bug out. Ive raced quite a few respectable cars, and most of them had a hard time believing that it was a 4 cylinder car. Theres nothing like the turbo experience either. That rush of power when the boost pegs 20psi, and the car struggles for traction, the sound of that thing spooling up, and the pure "technical" vibe you get from having a turbo car.

Going 5.0 would alieviate one thing i miss when driving the 2.3L. Torque. When im corner carving, I have to be on the throttle a good bit before the apex, so as im hitting the apex, boost will peg and i come out of the corner hard. With a V8, its more of a "point and shoot" deal. Apex, throttle, gone. Also like most have said, the aftermarket is plentiful. Ive been frequenting mustang forums, and people sell performance parts left and right for the 5.0's. The driving experience with a V8 is a blast when you can mash the throttle and instantly go, no wait for boost, no fancing clutch kicks or riding the clutch.

Thats why im building one of each. Maybe you could pull off putting the 2.3 in Dark Thunder. Then nabbing some mounts, a T5, and throw a 5.0 in the TC. Even though its rotting, itll be fun, and if you find another shell, its easy to do the 5.0 swap in another car. Make Dark Thunder your play car, and set up another car as a driver.

That's an excellent comparison. And I have to say it helped me make up my mind. Thanks.

...oh yeah... V8. :)
2005 Subaru WRX STi|daily driver