Turbo swap....Requirements???

Hi, Just wondering if anyone knows what all is needed to swap the T-3 off a XR4Ti onto an N/A 1990 LX 4cyl? If its too difficult I'll just go V8, just need a general idea of how hard it is. Any help is appreciated, Thanks in advance, Bram

Reply to
Bram
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Bram opined in news:C_7Ua.20811$ snipped-for-privacy@newsread1.prod.itd.earthlink.net:

My memory is foggy as to years of change here.

If the engine has a MAF and the exhaust manifold fits the head (with MAF, it's probably the dual-plug), then all you need is the down-pipe from turbo to cat.

get EVERYTHING from the XR4 including the computer and computer harness.

If you can just get the Turbo, and the Mustang still has the distributor... the head is restrictive.

Reply to
Backyard Mechanic

Backyard Mechanic opined in news:Xns93C37A182A0AFBkMch6d@216.168.3.44:

Arrghhh sent before I meant to,....

AND you would have to change the computer and some wiring (I've done the turbo upgrade a couple times)... same as with installing a 5.0.

BEST way is getting full donor car in either case.

Reply to
Backyard Mechanic

probably wouldnt cost much more (if any?) to do a v8 swap and have more potential for the dollar?

Reply to
Fero1

All turbo 2.3 cranks are cast. The pistons are forged....

You want the whole motor! It has lower compression and is designed to run boost. You also want the computer and all wiring. You'll also need the crappy VAM to run the Merkur computer. You're N/A computer won't handle boost nearly as well as the old setup.

Please go to

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and check it out.

Also if you decide you don't want to do the project, you can sell the car there. If you are in WA or OR and don't want to do the project, I'll buy it and swap the stuff into a Mustang myself.

Your tranny will bolt right up.

AnthonyS

news:fhiUa.21785$ snipped-for-privacy@newsread1.prod.itd.earthlink.net:

Reply to
Anthony S

Arghhh that's what I get for quoting hearsay! I'd read the XR4 and SVO cranks were forged, TC was cast.....I've had several (actually all three popular versions) and I didnt care...

Anthony S opined

Reply to
Backyard Mechanic

They are very, very strong cast cranks, but nonetheless they are cast. I've had 3 in my possession. Last year I sold off all my turbo 2.3 stuff, and I may get back into it for the purpose of drag racing. The new appearance of lots of cool aftermarket products has me excited. This time I won't do an SVO though. I'll do a conversion into a regular Mustang or start with a Turbo GT.

The 2.3 turbo crank is very stout. I've had a few in my hands and it is the heaviest and beefiest 4 cylinder crank I've ever seen. It is currently running at over 700 hp to the tires in Joe Morgan's turbo Focus race car.

AnthonyS

Reply to
Anthony S

The first thing I did was check the merkur engine (forged crank) the turbo is in remarkable shape considering it just sat in a insurance impound lot for 4 yrs. I wasn't clear about the question, Would the N/A ecu w/ superchip,35lb/hr injectors, work with the turbo? I'm not talking about running 15psi, im talking about the stock 6psi. If not I have an AIC I bought for an 87 civic I did for a friend a few yrs ago. really trying to avoid the V8 swap, just runs too hot, and changing the springs, struts, a-arms, rear, brakes, fuel line, etc etc etc..... is just too much work. but thanks all for the advice, Bram

Reply to
Bram

Argghhh..... The freakin' cranks are NOT FORGED. Go to

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and ask away and read away.

Stock boost on any turbo 2.3 with EFI was 10 psi minimum or up to 15 psi on the SVOs. You can't run that much boost on an N/A ECU or the Merkur injectors. The Merkur and all turbo ford injectors are low impedance. All of Ford's N/A injectors are high impedance. The N/A computer doesn't have the correct injector driver and will fry the turbo injectors in short order.

And no matter what you read anywhere... the cranks are NOT FORGED. They are indeed cast. I've owned enough of them to know. I recently sold 3 of them to the same person.

Anthony S

Reply to
Anthony S

The boost on the merkur is (mech gauge verified) max 7psi. the crank in the merkur is forged, don't know if they all were but this one is. the 34 lb injectors that came with it are low impedance, thats why the statement about 35 lb/hr accel injectors. the aic would handle the fuel input, but I was wondering how to avoid the vam. thats the whole deal, I hate them, all of them. And on a different note I have a friend running 35psi on the stock bottom end in his 86 XR4Ti, I just can't see a nodular iron crank taking that much boost. not trying to start a flame-war or anything. Thanks again, Bram

Reply to
Bram

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