Frankenstein's Monster Six

[Alvor315]

I'm working on my next engine, but I'm low on funds and I was hoping to find parts from other cars to supplement the parts that are going to cost.

So here's what I have.

The tempo 2.3l engine was based on our small six, and because of that, one of things that transferred over was the bore diameter.

If you are lucky, and you find two 2.3l turbo tempos you can get yourself a set of 3.68" forged pistons. The question here is, does anyone know the deck height on these pistons? I think it's a little shorter than the stock 200ci pistons, but I don't remember exactly, and I'm having a hard time finding it.

Next question. Does anyone know of an engine that used 4.715" forged aluminum connecting rods? Or rods in such a length that they could take up some of the slack caused by the shorter deck height of the 2.3l pistons? Unfortunately the 2.3l uses 302 (I think) length con-rods at 5.700".

Those are the two big cost items on the list. Anything else I can scavenge? I'm guessing there aren't too many wrecked 6s with aluminum heads.:roll:

Thanks,
Al

 

[80broncoman]

I wasen't aware there was a turbo Tempo. Are you sure about this?

And 302s do NOT use 5.7 long rods they are not even close to that stock. THey are quite close to 5.0 or 5.1 inchs I can't remember off the top of my head.

 

[CZLN6]

Howdy Al:

The Tempo HSC pistons are the same bore diameter and pin height as our 200/250 engines. The difference is that the 200/250 pistons have a recessed dish of 6.5 ccs while the Tempo HSC pistons have a flat-top. The flat-topped pistons will help to raise the CR a little, but will hurt combustion efficiency, compared to a dished piston, and increase piston weight a little.

To the best of my knowledge the 2.3 turbo engines are not based on the Tempo 2.3 HSC engines. The 2.3 HSC four cylinder engines have the cam in the block and a rocker arm type head. The Turbo 2.3 engines have an overhead cam and a cross-flow head.

What is your goal for this engine?

Adios, David

 

[JackFish]

What about the turbo'ed fox-bodies?
Was that not the same motor as the pinto?
And again, the tempo/topaz never got a turbo, AFAIK.

 

[rbohm]

8) the 2.3l turbo engines were based on the old 2.0ohc pinto engine, with some design changes to americanize the engine. it is a different animal from the tempo 2.3 four cylinder engine. as i recall the tempo never got a turbo charger.

as for 302 ford connecting rods, they are 5.09" in length, shorter than the 221-289/boss 302 connecting rod length of 5.155". it was the 302 chevy, as well as other small block chevys, that used the 5.7" connecting rod. the tempo 2.3 uses the same length connecting rods as the 200 six does.

jackfish, yes the 2.3l engine in the fox body mustangs was the same engine as in the pinto/mustang ll

 

[Alvor315]

You are correct sir, in that tempos did not come stock with turbos. You would need to find a mustang, or capri. Wow,i really screwed the pooch on that one. You are also right on the conrod length. The 302 stock conrods are 5.090". The 289 and boss 302 used 5.155" rods and there are some aftermarket rods available at 5.400". 5.7" I just saw in connection with a chevy 302. I tried to confirm the conrod length on the 2.3 but I couldn't find that info this time. Man this stuff is giving me a headache.

Thanks for correcting me,
Al
(edit) lol you beat me to it rbohm

 

[Alvor315]

I plan to get 300 hp turbocharged. But I want to do it with a high compression engine. I was thinking 10:1 cr or higher. That makes the connecting rods very important. They are the first thing to go wrong in a high cr engine, after detonation that is. At least that is what I've found in my research anyway. The stock connecting rods are capable of handling the hp, but not the torque of a high cr + boost.

 

[JackFish]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1988-FOR ... 2c59280332
Here's a pic for reference.

 

[rbohm]

I plan to get 300 hp turbocharged. But I want to do it with a high compression engine. I was thinking 10:1 cr or higher. That makes the connecting rods very important. They are the first thing to go wrong in a high cr engine, after detonation that is. At least that is what I've found in my research anyway. The stock connecting rods are capable of handling the hp, but not the torque of a high cr + boost.

8) properly prepped, the stock 200 rod will handle a substantial amount of power. but that means polishing, deburring, and shot peening the rods as if you were prepping them for a race engine. you also want to make sure they are as straight as possible. also dont forget to change out the stock rod bolts for arp bolts.

 

[Anlushac11]

The 2.3L HSC was based on the same tooling as the 200 inline six so its not a accident that many parts are the same.

The 2.3L HSC was cast in Lima plant which incidentally was same plant US 200 L6 was cast at.

The 2.3L HSC was released as a stop gap due to overwhelming demand for the 2.3L in Europe for the excellent selling European Capri ii and in US for the Fox bodies.

The 2.3L HSC was only offered in the Tempo/Topaz and Taurus/Sable.

There was a 2.3L HSO engine which bumped power from 90hp to 100hp with same 125ft lbs torque. I seriously doubt it had forged pistons.

I have never heard of a factory 2.3L HSC that came with a turbo. There were some AWD Tempo/Topaz's built.

 

[JackFish]

The 2.3L HSC was only offered in the Tempo/Topaz and Taurus/Sable.

Which 4 cyl engine came in the fox bodies? They too were offered with turbos.

 

[80broncoman]

The 2.3L HSC was only offered in the Tempo/Topaz and Taurus/Sable.

Which 4 cyl engine came in the fox bodies? They too were offered with turbos.

Fox Cars got the 2.3 OHC (A.K.A. pinto) engines.

 

[Lazy JW]

..... I tried to confirm the conrod length on the 2.3......

A chart which I pirated from SpeedTalk shows a 2.3L OHC produced from 1974-97 having a con rod length of 5.2047", a bore of 3.780" and a compression height of 1.583".

Also a 2.3L HSC produced from 1984-94 with a con rod length of 5.457", a bore of 3.680" and a compression height of 1.520".

I know virtually nothing about these engines so take this with a grain of salt until verified elsewhere.
Joe