Learn me: 4-cyl Fox-body Stangs

I might have a deal to swap a golf cart I don't want for a 4-cyl fix-body mustang I don't need.

It's a 5-speed, low miles & pretty good shape, and he thinks he has an LSD he can swap in. Sounds perfect for playing in the dirt, general hooning, and beating the crap out of.

Beyond that, what do I need to know? I'm not particularly keen to swapping a 5.0 in(I'd just find a 5.0 Stang if I decide to go that route). But maybe, someday, I might want something more from it. I have a vague recollection there is performance potential from the 2.3, but what's the $/fun ration? Does the stock 2.3 accept the 2.3 turbo bits, or are there internal differences? Anyone ever swapped a hopped up Zetec into one?

The popular idea is that the 2.3 doesn't have enough power to beat up/twist the shell(tq boxes and whatnot), so you buy one reinforce the torque boxes and put in subframe connectors, and then swap in the V8.

The turbo bits will bolt up to the n/a motor but it has a weak bottom end compared to the turbo motors. The 2.3's are reasonably cheap to build since they are big in the dirt track community

Wow that is a find, around here they all got used up in the dirt tracks. I worked on one briefly and it had a lot of modes to make it stiff enough for even dirt track racing. If it is a notch back it will be a lot stiffer.

I know they made a turbo 2.3 Lima for a couple of years but the only one I ever saw was a turbo out of a Thunderbird, and that took a lot of modification to make that fit. There used to be a bolt on super charger also but that is probably hard to find.

I thought the mustangs were 2 spark plug per cylinder, meaning a different head?

Any idea if a Zetec has ever been swapped into one? I didn't find anything on google. Though I do happen to have a Zetec and a nice pile of parts to make power. 8)

if it's an 87-93 notchback just flip it and buy something you actually know you like with the profits.. if it's a hatch swap an LS into it and have some fun. sell the motor to someone that blew up the motor in their Ranger.

petegossett wrote: Any idea if a Zetec has ever been swapped into one?

To steal a quote from another thread, If you ask whether it will fit, they will ask if you have a sawzall and a welder.

Oh, I'm sure it's possible. I just don't want to be the first to figure out what it takes!

I owned one. The only thing it will do is make you wish it were a V8.

Hmm…I just found this. It's incomplete, but has some encouraging details none the less.

Stock, these cars are pointless. Get it & flip it unless you want the blank canvas that is a Fox-stang.

ddavidv wrote: I owned one. The only thing it will do is make you wish it were a V8.

You give it too much credit. I also owned one. It wasn't slower than my old 170 falcon, but it tried. My old air cooled beetle was faster.

The 2.3 Lima got twin spark plugs only after a certain year (and depending which vehicle it came in?). Here's a good run down on the ranger's 2.3 which can be different than the mustangs but should be swappable and compatible. http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/4cylinders.shtml

I've considered finding a four banger fox for a Zetec swap too. I'd look at having the two top holes on the bellhousing relocated (machine shop) downward to match the Zetec or use a plate to 'cover' the two sets of holes, with one set bolting to the bellhousing and one set to the block, and then machine out the thickness of the plate out of the face of the bellhousing.

You should be able to use the flywheel and clutch. I've bolted a 2.3 Lima flywheel to my Zetec already. The pilot bearing 'hole' needs to be honed, at least it does on my Zetec that was mated to automatic Focus. I was going to use a master cylinder hone with my drill. The dowel holes on the Zetec either need to be enlarged or you need some stepped dowels. Use the mustang's starter and it location on the bell. Chop the wings off of the aluminum windage tray to make room for the starter. You need to either get and control a Focus fuel pump or convert/modify the fuel rail to give it a return line. The intake/exhaust are on opposite sides. You'll probably need to do something with the oil pan. I'd first check with Armstrong Race Engineering for a drysump/wetsump pricing, then I'd probably look at cutting the mounting flange off of the sump and doing a 180° to get the sump in the same spot as the stangs. Or doing my crazy homemade drysump idea.

Have fun until you blow the berkeleying motor up. Don't expect power and don't expect fuel milage, but put a decen clutch on and it should be fun in the dirt. I just dropped a 2.3 Mustang engine into my Ranger. Got it for $225 and swapped two sensors around. That was it. I think in 89 or 90 they went from single plugs to dual plugs. I've got the old engine with a cracked head sitting around. I plan on a rebuild.

I know the ZTEC swap is an option thanks to the availability.

But another option would be the 2.3 Duratec from a Ranger. If you swap in the car cams, it runs a lot better, too. It's a very nice engine, IMHO. But I am biased.

(and one can only get a manual ranger with the 4 cyl in the last era of the trucks)

Get a NC Miata's transmission and a Ford Duratec (probably be cheaper than the Mazda version).

Ah, well I already have the Zetec and a nice pile of parts for it. It was intended for the Europa(and may, possibly, some day before I die, end up there), but I'd like to put it to good use somewhere. If this Mustang happens to fall into my lap I might consider the swap, but up to that point I think just wringing the 2.3 for all of its(what, 100?) HP would still be fun.

What exactly is it? Year, body style?

Since the 4 cyl Stangs are basically worthless or get used for a V8 swap, I've always wanted to build a lightweight, N/A screamer out of one. Like take all the money you saved with buying a 4cyl hatch and give it all to Esslinger and Racer Walsh.

I know that I'd never get anywhere near my money back or be as quick as a GT with a few bolt-ons but dammit, I think it would be a blast to DD a 10,000RPM screamer Mustang.

In reply to stanger_missle:

See, and I think an '85 or '86 sedan with a SHO-V6 swapped in and a run through the Maximum Motorsports catalog would yield a really nice do-everything Mustang that isn't another GT with the usual add-on's.

In reply to stanger_missle & pres589:

See, that's pretty much my mindset too. I could just turbo the 2.3 easily enough, but I'm finding weight quoted at ~450lbs for the 2.3 vs ~285lbs for the Zetec. With the parts I already have for the Zetec I should be in the 175-180hp range - ported/polished head w/titanium springs, cams(don't remember the grind offhand, but they were in the medium range of what's available), header, and ITBs on Megasquirt. That's only 25hp less than the SVT and I'm thinking the car should be ~300lbs lighter.

The car is a notch-back. I don't remember the year offhand, I drove it down the road & back last fall and it's a decent car. Seems to me that it's an '88 possibly.

Do it Pete. Just slap the Zetec in there and lets get this party started.

petegossett wrote: In reply to stanger_missle & pres589: See, that's pretty much my mindset too. I could just turbo the 2.3 easily enough, but I'm finding weight quoted at ~450lbs for the 2.3 vs ~285lbs for the Zetec. With the parts I already have for the Zetec I should be in the 175-180hp range - ported/polished head w/titanium springs, cams(don't remember the grind offhand, but they were in the medium range of what's available), header, and ITBs on Megasquirt. That's only 25hp less than the SVT and I'm thinking the car should be ~300lbs lighter. The car is a notch-back. I don't remember the year offhand, I drove it down the road & back last fall and it's a decent car. Seems to me that it's an '88 possibly.

Do it.

...and make sure it goes into the project car threads...

Well, I still have to see if the deal goes through. Details, you know…