I really HATE the 2.3 !!

Topic: I really HATE the 2.3 !! (Read 26652 times) previous topic - next topic

I really HATE the 2.3 !!

Reply #15 – January 26, 2008, 04:40:32 PM

Not to slight anyone, but it's not the motor's fault. It's not even the 20+ year old electronic's fault. It's just the way things happen some times.
You could be having similar problems with a 5.0, it doesn't matter.

I've had as many problems with the 2.3T as the next guy (I had to replace a shortblock AND THEN a head this past year before it was finally running right again), but I don't blame anything on the fact that it's a 2.3T motor. My XR4Ti never gave me a fit and idled smoother than any 2.3T I've ever had, and never missed a beat up to 18-20psi on the stock fuel system.

The fact is, the 2.3T is a durable and capable powerplant, even when pushed to over double it's stock power levels. It is however a very dated engine and in most cases, it is running on very old electronics with wiring of the same vintage. shiznit is going to happen, and sometimes it will be hard to track down. That would be the case no matter what engine you were dealing with.

Yes, I will be moving onto a different engine in the car, but it's not because the 2.3 is a bad engine. It's because I want to do something different. I've been messing with them for 15 years.

Take a deep breath and trouble-shoot. From your post on TF it looks like you might have an avenue to pursue.

I really HATE the 2.3 !!

Reply #16 – January 26, 2008, 05:11:04 PM

Yes Chuck, I will figure it out and I am not going to give up on it. I am just frustrated. I agree with all that you said in your post. I do actually like this motor or I wouldnt have gone as far as I did. I also do have a lot of knowledgible people assisting me, plus the high tech fancy tools. It was just a frustrating morning because this thing is quick even with the problems.

And I am eager to start my next project, which is to get the "anemic 4.6" as someone had described it, in a late model GT stang to be a nasty ride. But I cant in good conscience start that till this is a slam dunk or well at least minus the hiccup.

Thanks to all you guys for your words, it helps with the frustration :)

I really HATE the 2.3 !!

Reply #17 – January 26, 2008, 05:54:35 PM

Quote from: 1WLD BRD;200029

yawn , a stock reliable, or done up, unreliable turbo four... that is still slower then a mildly built 302...
what century do you live in?

Find me a mildly built 302 that will run me, and I'll tell you what century I live in :shakeass:

I really HATE the 2.3 !!

Reply #18 – January 26, 2008, 06:01:18 PM

Let me finish what I started,I'll run you.Heck,I'd run 'em now.All I have to do is bolt on my heads,toss the E303 in,and bolt in the 5 speed,then,hang on !!! LOL.

I really HATE the 2.3 !!

Reply #19 – January 26, 2008, 06:04:07 PM

Quote from: 1WLD BRD;200029

yawn , a stock reliable, or done up, unreliable turbo four... that is still slower then a mildly built 302...
what century do you live in?

That is a bullshiznit statement right there. The 2.3T is more bombproof than the 5.0. They all share the same electronics, so where does the lack of reliability come in? It doesn't.

I really HATE the 2.3 !!

Reply #20 – January 26, 2008, 06:06:06 PM

Quote from: chri85tc;200058

Yes Chuck, I will figure it out and I am not going to give up on it. I am just frustrated. I agree with all that you said in your post. I do actually like this motor or I wouldnt have gone as far as I did. I also do have a lot of knowledgible people assisting me, plus the high tech fancy tools. It was just a frustrating morning because this thing is quick even with the problems.

And I am eager to start my next project, which is to get the "anemic 4.6" as someone had described it, in a late model GT stang to be a nasty ride. But I cant in good conscience start that till this is a slam dunk or well at least minus the hiccup.

Thanks to all you guys for your words, it helps with the frustration :)

I'd run a compression check, just to rule out the possibility that Michael stated.

I really HATE the 2.3 !!

Reply #21 – January 26, 2008, 06:06:12 PM

I myself have nothing bad to say about the 2.3.I've never owned a car with one,or driven a car with one.I would have to say they were pretty good engines to give the Turbo Coupe Car of the Year honors at Motor Trend.

I really HATE the 2.3 !!

Reply #22 – January 26, 2008, 06:15:10 PM

Quote from: Tbird232ci;200070

Find me a mildly built 302 that will run me, and I'll tell you what century I live in

you'll see one at CJ if you care to line up with me...

:burnout:

I really HATE the 2.3 !!

Reply #23 – January 26, 2008, 06:18:48 PM

Quote from: Chuck W;200073

That is a bullshiznit statement right there. The 2.3T is more bombproof than the 5.0. They all share the same electronics, so where does the lack of reliability come in? It doesn't.

ok, let me rephrase that.... UN STREETABLE.... is what I meant to say... ask anybody who is pushing the 400hp mark with their. 2.3L and see how finicky it is, then ask the same person that same question about their 5.0L pushing the same power...

I really HATE the 2.3 !!

Reply #24 – January 26, 2008, 06:33:33 PM

Ah, the good ole 2.3 vs 5.0 argument. I've had both and prefer the 5.0 engine myself only because it makes more torque down low and is much cheaper to modify (also it's much easier to work on imo). However I have to agree with Chuck in that the 2.3 is a much stouter block than the 5.0. I could run 17 PSI boost through my 2.3 all day long with no problems. Try doing that with a 5.0 block.

Granted 17 psi on the 2.3 was only making around 210 HP...

I really HATE the 2.3 !!

Reply #25 – January 26, 2008, 06:34:08 PM

there is a whole board of guys that handle 400hp streetable 2.3Ts.

personally i had one (in a low traction ranger) in the 275rwhp range that would walk all over the "mild" 5.0s around me. my favorite was the kid with performer RPM H/C/I and 4.10s that i took by three lengths....

that engine is now in my car. i hope it runs as strong this spring as it did then.

I really HATE the 2.3 !!

Reply #26 – January 26, 2008, 06:41:02 PM

I have no complaints about mine, in fact the only problems I've had have been because of stuff I or the machine shop that worked on my head screwed up.

I really HATE the 2.3 !!

Reply #27 – January 26, 2008, 08:42:07 PM

Quote from: Chuck W;200073

That is a bullshiznit statement right there. The 2.3T is more bombproof than the 5.0. They all share the same electronics, so where does the lack of reliability come in? It doesn't.

Sorry Chuck, I have to have a friendly disagreement with you there. The 2.3T EFI, even in stock form, is just not very reliable. Yes, there are many out there, and quite a few with 200K+ on them, but they are the exception and not the rule (out of the dozen plus daily driver TC's I've owned only one made it past 125K on it's original engine). You know just as well as I do that the heads are notorious for cracking (and wiping cams, and sinking springs, and broken towers, and shredding seals, and blowing seals up the valves, and pounding seats right put). The factory PVC system fails to keep up with even stock boost levels, the factory cooling tubes not only fail to cool reliably or well, but they corrode heavily as well. I can go on and on and on (granted we can all find faults in just about every engine, but even you have to admit the 2.3T has more then usual).

When you combine all of the above with just poor engineering or cheap build quality (piston skirts breaking off, inadequate water pump, disjointed oil pump/distributer/auxiliary drive setup, heavy weight for size, etc, etc) and combine it with poor ancillaries (too small clutches, bad hydraulic forks, poor transmission choices, etc, etc) it's just not going to have a stellar reputation.

Yes, it's a good engine for making power on the cheap, nobody is denying that. But to do it to V8 power levels, and stay reliable, just doesn't happen. Sometimes you just have to face the music, and as much as I hate to admit this, I think MM&FF called it right. This archaic, heavy, limited engine is dead. Nobody "new" is really going to care (because the list of faster, cheaper, lighter engines available grows every day) and it will quietly fade away to old-timer status with the Nailhead Buick, the Flathead Ford, and the Stovebolt.

I think once (if) the EcoBoost comes out, the 2.3T will really finish it's death-throws (in the street-legal automotive world).

I really HATE the 2.3 !!

Reply #28 – January 26, 2008, 08:44:15 PM

Quote from: vinnietbird;200075

I myself have nothing bad to say about the 2.3.I've never owned a car with one,or driven a car with one.I would have to say they were pretty good engines to give the Turbo Coupe Car of the Year honors at Motor Trend.

Did you ever read that? It was kind of like clubbing baby seals. The TC beat 3 different Turbo FWD Dodges and a FWD Pontiac wheezer. It was no contest in any category except for fuel mileage. In fact, over half of the ads in that issue are from FoMoCo.

I really HATE the 2.3 !!

Reply #29 – January 26, 2008, 08:46:22 PM

Quote from: gumby;200087

there is a whole board of guys that handle 400hp streetable 2.3Ts.

No, there's not. 300HP ones yes, 400HP, no. No ones going to buy that propaganda for a minute man. There's only a few dozen true 400HP+ 2.3T's on earth, and none of them have seen more then 3,000 miles of street time.