Building to 400hp on the 2.3 — am I missing anything

[Valhalla]

Coming from loving an HPP Mustang convertible ......IMO unless 4 cyl turbo builds is a die hard hobby and have $20K+ to blow ......maybe better to do a 2.7 easy build.

Last I looked at high grade 2.0/2.3 it was min $12K for long block plus everything else

Why not 2.7 with Garett tunrbos upgrade, exhaust, OC and tune? should easily get 550 lb ft and 400+ hp, reliably....and butter smooth power delivery.

Or get the raptor 3.0 and build it.

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[baseline mac]

I get the whole why a. 2.3, get a new motor, why this and that or people think it’s stupid. Just having fun with it. I have other toys and I really like this one. Just wanted to see the options. I know full race and pandaworks have been doing big things with these motors. Wanted to gauge where everyone was at….

 

[Valhalla]

There is a guy that just posted last month that at about 115k his 2.3 popped between cylinder 2 and 3. New motor needed. he had no mods and meticulously maintained. That is why I think it would be a money pit.

You do you.

 

[RadDad]

I get the whole why a. 2.3, get a new motor, why this and that or people think it’s stupid. Just having fun with it. I have other toys and I really like this one. Just wanted to see the options. I know full race and pandaworks have been doing big things with these motors. Wanted to gauge where everyone was at….

To each their own! I do lots of random mods to all of my cars, so I totally get it.

What is your goal/purpose with the 400HP? Do you have a purpose like drag racing, track racing, autocross, hauling ass off-road or is this just a "for funzies" type of thing?

 

[baseline mac]

Pure fun. No reasoning. I think mid 300s is more likely based on responses.

 

[RadDad]

Pure fun. No reasoning. I think mid 300s is more likely based on responses.

Pure fun is a great reason. I think aiming for mid 300s is a much more attainable goal without getting into serious money.

Anything is possible with enough cash, it's just about how big of a project you're willing to tackle and reliability and resale considerations.

 

[baseline mac]

Agreed, I have messages out to pandaworks and fullrace, if anyone has connections let me know.

 

[23OBX2.7]

Or get the raptor 3.0 and build it.

The $ / HP makes bo sense w raptor plus lose sleeper stealth

 

[JerryG]

Things you don't have on your list- larger turbo, wmi, radiator, jet coat your turbo and 1st 12" of your downpipe before installing them, definitely upgrade to a performance clutch, and most importantly, upgrade to 13.5" brakes. Brakes are by far the best performance upgrade.

 

[JerryG]

Coming from loving an HPP Mustang convertible ......IMO unless 4 cyl turbo builds is a die hard hobby and have $20K+ to blow ......maybe better to do a 2.7 easy build.

Last I looked at high grade 2.0/2.3 it was min $12K for long block plus everything else

Why not 2.7 with Garett tunrbos upgrade, exhaust, OC and tune? should easily get 550 lb ft and 400+ hp, reliably....and butter smooth power delivery.

Because they don't come in a MT. The engine isn't the limiting factor- it is the transmission. The safe limit is about 410tq.

 

[23OBX2.7]

Because they don't come in a MT. The engine isn't the limiting factor- it is the transmission. The safe limit is about 410tq.

Makes sense

 

[Valhalla]

This is really the age old 4x4 story...
I get hung-bigger tires-trouble turning tires-regear-getting hung bigger tires- breaking axles- go tons- getting heavy/no response-upgrade engine/power-snapping output/input to trans-stronger trans-snapping transfer-bigger trans- body ripping apart from flex.... new machine, I'm not going to build this one up as big.... but I do need a bit more tire. REPEAT!!

 

[Mike J]

The engine changed in 2025 I believe- it’s now a closed deck engine and you can probably crank up the boost and survive. I have the old 2021 engine and it’s open deck. I’m staying with the extra 30hp I get just running 93 you can’t push an open deck engine hard and not expect issues .

 

[Leafy]

Things you don't have on your list- larger turbo, wmi, radiator, jet coat your turbo and 1st 12" of your downpipe before installing them, definitely upgrade to a performance clutch, and most importantly, upgrade to 13.5" brakes. Brakes are by far the best performance upgrade.

How many repeated high speed stops are you making that the thermal capacity of the stock brakes is insufficient? Stock brakes, even with the stock pads, can easily lock up any 33” AT tire on dray pavement for at least two high speed stops a row. You could probably pad that to at least half a dozen with the right pad compound.

On the power side of things, people already safely make 350hp on the 2.5 duratec block stock, and that has weaker rods and pistons than the 21-24 bronco 2.3, and the same block architecture. I wouldn’t be too worried about it, especially if you up size the turbo and don’t get greedy about low and mid range torque.

 

[Q1svt]

I get the whole why a. 2.3, get a new motor, why this and that or people think it’s stupid. Just having fun with it. I have other toys and I really like this one. Just wanted to see the options. I know full race and pandaworks have been doing big things with these motors. Wanted to gauge where everyone was at….

Building small displacement motors is fun…

Problem is Ford’s 2.3l are not solid enough…

here is a person that sells parts for 2.3l and other brands. Listen and see what high boost did the rods.. To build right you need to strip it completely and mod block, crank, rods, pistons, etc, etc, etc

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