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The age old question

What's faster, a 2.3t or a 5.0?
Current: 1986 Thunderbird, 105k 3.8/C5, 2 tone  Midnight Wine/Medium Taupe, wing windows, wire wheel covers.


Former: 1985 Cougar GS 115k Oxford White/Regatta Blue, 5.0, full console, 14" 8 hole aluminum T-Bird rims, Edelbrock valve covers.

The age old question

Reply #1 –
stock for stock? the turbo coupe.

once modified, it depends on your wallet.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

The age old question

Reply #2 –
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.

The age old question

Reply #3 –
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.
Current: 1986 Thunderbird, 105k 3.8/C5, 2 tone  Midnight Wine/Medium Taupe, wing windows, wire wheel covers.


Former: 1985 Cougar GS 115k Oxford White/Regatta Blue, 5.0, full console, 14" 8 hole aluminum T-Bird rims, Edelbrock valve covers.

The age old question

Reply #4 –
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.
1986 Mercury Cougar - 2.3T/T5 swap, TC brakes and suspension and rearend, 3" exhaust, 255 lph fuel pump, Stinger BOV, Gillis MBC @ 18 psi
2003 Chevy Suburban Z71 - Daily driver
2015 Chevy Volt - Wife's daily driver

The age old question

Reply #5 –
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.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

The age old question

Reply #6 –
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.

The age old question

Reply #7 –
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.
Current: 1986 Thunderbird, 105k 3.8/C5, 2 tone  Midnight Wine/Medium Taupe, wing windows, wire wheel covers.


Former: 1985 Cougar GS 115k Oxford White/Regatta Blue, 5.0, full console, 14" 8 hole aluminum T-Bird rims, Edelbrock valve covers.

The age old question

Reply #8 –
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.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

The age old question

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Haystack;422534
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.

The age old question

Reply #10 –
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

The age old question

Reply #12 –
Quote from: TheFoeYouKnow;422537
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.


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
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

The age old question

Reply #13 –
mine is bone stock minus pushing a t-5. I even still have the air silencer behind the fender.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

The age old question

Reply #14 –
Quote from: Thunderbird88;422544


But a 2.3T auto is not worth the money imo, The 2.3T MUST be mated with a manual :D
Oh, absolutely!!!! Did the 87-88 auto even get an intercooler?
Current: 1986 Thunderbird, 105k 3.8/C5, 2 tone  Midnight Wine/Medium Taupe, wing windows, wire wheel covers.


Former: 1985 Cougar GS 115k Oxford White/Regatta Blue, 5.0, full console, 14" 8 hole aluminum T-Bird rims, Edelbrock valve covers.