2.3 T going back together after sitting for years

[Spoolin-SVT]

Well I use to mess around with this all the time and kept blowing engine after engine , mainly from my own stupidity and never really having a way to tune it. I have been busy with other projects and never had time for this.
But just recently my daily driver (2010 Tuarus SHO) decided to lose compression on cyl #6. So I figured I would get my 93 notch up and running again but the way it should of been years ago. I.E. New unmolested hacked up PIMP specific harness and a PIMP its self to finally have a way to tune this and get serious with it and some other goodies on its way thanks to stinger.

The set up going in it now is fairly straight forward and simple , here is the run down:

-110k Long block out of a 88 Merkur xr4ti
-Stock "bigger" Garrett turbo
-Large intercooler I stole from my Pro Turbo Kit for my cobra (Inlets and outlet on same side, should make for cleaner routing with stock facing intake)
-Bo-Port Header with Stingers 38mm external waste gate (will be using a conversion to mount the t3 turbo to this header)
-Full 3 Inch exhaust from turbo back
-Stock throttle body from 94/95
-Gutted upper intake mounted to a knife edged lower
-Stock #35 injectors with a Walbro 255 in tank
-I do have a cam gear although not sure if it will be needed with the stock cam
-World class T5 from a 5.0 with a Centerforce Dual friction clutch.

I have some valves and springs and a couple of good un cracked heads that I have waiting to be ported for some more fun down the road aswell.

As you can see it is a completely stock long block with some good quality bolt ons.
The main goal for now is to get it running as it should with all the kinks worked out and in a nice driving form as this will become my new daily while I fix my SHO.
Once I get it in good working condition I will begin trying to go a little further into some power. This car will be ran on 92 octane. SO I am not sure of what boost I will shoot for , will have to play around with it and see what I can get away with.
I am really excited to see how fast I can get this car with a completely stock long block and turbo. My goal is to get it into the mid to upper 12's and somewhere around 275-280hp. If I can get that, I would be very pleased for a stock car more or less. Do you think that is achievable? Let me know what you guys think and if there is something I am over looking.


I am looking for suspension parts as we speak, will be getting a Tubular K member / coil overs and some rear suspension upgrades as well here shortly.

[Stinger]

You'll need larger injectors before you turn it up much.

[Spoolin-SVT]

Yeah that is something I was also looking at, will the injectors max out before the stock garrett?

[Stinger]

At stock fuel pressure yes. You also risk burning up the injector drivers if you push the low impedance injectors to 100% duty cycle.

[Spoolin-SVT]

I do have a Kirban FPR so if I can turn it up some if it comes down to it. I will however look for another set of injectors I can grow into.
Would you recommend high or low imp. injectors?
Also is there any off the shelf cams you would recommend for a easy upgrade without having to modify the head. Will be going with a custom grind once I do build a head. Would like a roller and one that is not from Bo since I cant get my hands on one, although I do see them on TF time to time but they tend to get snatched up rather fast.

[Stinger]

There is really no point in swapping cams twice unless funds aren't an issue. Esslinger has a new .450" lift "drop in" cam but you'll have to upgrade the springs (as you will with any cam that's worth a crap).

Modern High imp like we sell are the best option.

[Spoolin-SVT]

Well I was working on the car today, had some motivation after getting my pimp in the mail. Still waiting on the harness though. Got the engine bay almost back to normal since I was a dumb kid and painted my engine bay black with rustoleum when I was 18 or so. Getting the bay to look decent before I put it back together.

In the mist of cleaning I had a friend of mine send me a picture that Esslinger had a sale going on with cams and other various parts, so I figured I would call them and see if I could get a cam.
Turns out they are having a sale but not on the hyd roller cams for our 2.3t engines. Oh well, still ended up spening over $500 for a cam and retainers.
After talking to the tech who was a real nice guy, he opted for me to go with the same cam you suggested, the 450" lift one.
As it is a drop in for the stock top end. I was a bit hesitant at first as I kinda thought I should of gotten a bigger one and I know my plans for this car are only going to grow as time goes on but it does seem to suite my current combo the best and bigger is not always better.

This cam should offer a significant gain over the stock slider or so I am hoping. Do you think that I could get close to 300whp with this set up and the stock t3 garrett? My brother just stole my extra set of #60 injectors for his 5.0 , so I am going to use the #42's that came off of his car. Not much bigger then my stockers but it should suffice for now with some fuel pressure changes.

(By the way me and my brother and our friend are loving these PIMPS, he got one a few weeks back for his turbo 5.0 , I just got one for my 2.3 and he just bought another for his turbo 331. Very easy to pcik up and learn for a first timer, awesome product. Could not be happier.)

[Stinger]

That cam should suit you pretty well for quite a while. If you ever get the head ported and want to get it machined for a larger cam at that time, that would be the time to sell the .450 cam to upgrade.

A T3 and 42's is somewhat difficult to get to 300rwhp but it's possible. It will take 22+psi which is bordering on not being pump gas friendly.

Good to hear you guys are liking your PiMP ECU's. It seems there are quite a few "groups" that know each other that are all running them just like you guys. I know of at least 4-5 groups of 3+ people that all know each other, have PiMP's, and bought them together, or because of a recommendation from their buddies.

[Spoolin-SVT]

I hope it does, I really liked my A237 back in the day and this should be a good improvement over that one. He said it would make peak power between 5500-6000. Hoping to get a decent sound at idle but he did say it should have a good amount of vacuum so we will see.
Is the stock garrett going to be holding me back more then my stock head? There are a few hx35's here locally for sale for a reasonable price. I just feel like the stock garrett will very responsive and fun for a street car on the stock head that is.
Yeah I have actually seen quite a few cars around here in WA that are running the pimp, I ran into Jedneck from here and turboford I believe at one the events here a few weeks ago. He had one and seemed to really like it as well. Honestly haven't heard or seen anything bad about them yet. Once I decide to go EFI on the 408 I will be ordering another along with my friend and his 2.3 t ranger set up.

[Stinger]

The A237 is a turd so you should definitely like it over that cam.

The stock turbo is great for a street car with a stock head. It's just hard to get to 300rwhp with it. It has been done but it's pushing it. An HX35 with a stock head sucks. With your upgrading cam it wouldn't be quite as bad since your peak RPM is raised but HX35's spool so slow on a stock head that I don't like the combo.