PINTO CAR CLUB of AMERICA
Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: Stone on May 09, 2020, 11:01:29 AM
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I am planning to convert my 77 2.3 to a 2.3 turbo. I have many questions but the first is can I use my original engine and add the turbo and misc or do I need to use a 2.3 turbo long block.
I am looking to find a complete 2.3 turbo but I seem to find all the parts more than complete engines.
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The easy answer is, "Yes, BUT..." The main difference between the "regular" 2.3 and the turbo engine is the block has provisions for the turbo oil drainback. People have drilled and tapped the block or created a feed to the oil pan. So, that is a problem but if you are skilled you can work around that. The greater difference is the pistons in the turbo motor are forged and have a lower compression ratio. If you are replacing the pistons that might not be an issue. That said many of us have original turbo engines over 150,000 miles, good crosshatch on the cylinder wall and just keep running them.
There are just so many little things to the swap. I did a write up on my conversion (two parts, the link to part 2 is at the end of part 1). https://www.fordpinto.com/general-pinto-talk/so-you-want-to-build-a-turbo-pinto-part-1/msg76893/#msg76893 (https://www.fordpinto.com/general-pinto-talk/so-you-want-to-build-a-turbo-pinto-part-1/msg76893/#msg76893)You might want to read that and then consider your approach.
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next best thing is to find a 1985 to 88 ranger 2.3 block , it has the drainback there , just pluged , these can be had cheep , great if your still driving the car and can do the swap when the time comes , (less chance of small parts getting lost) also the intake manifold can be used for the turbo , you just have to change the injectors out for the larger ones , snagg the EFI wiring out the ranger also , you just have to add a few extra wires forthe mass air sensor , the rest like the distribtor , the head is the same , the next plus is the block has the one peice rear main seal , not like the two piece seal you have now ,
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Uggg.....what a chore without a doner car! I would say the max boost on a stock 9:1 cast piston Pinto engine would be 5psi. You detonate that dude one time and ka-boom.