Import motor swap?

Do not do an import....

Go over to the fordsix.com site! A new aluminum head for the 170-250 is coming out in the summer. That's is what I'm going to be doing. 300+ horsepower N/A! Check it out. A motor that light with that much power will make my Maverick one bad motherf*****!

 

This is not so much an arguement for Mavs or even Fords... However it does shine some light on your line of thinking from a domestic view.

Ford tried the whole 'screw pushrods' thing like you think, but then the General showed up at the party with the LS line of all aluminum V8s and walked all over the SOHC and DOHC Ford v8s.
I am not a diehard Ford or Chevy guy, just diehard domestic, so I will say that the General got one thing right in the past 10 years by using that lightweight pushrod v8!
I have owned them and no modern OHC Ford ever stood a chance against the LS unless they had a power adder. (Read SC Lightning, SC Cobra, or NOS)
Imports were even worse.
My Z was 3800 lbs with me in it... Most imports had a 1000 lb advantage and lots more 'mouth muscle' when you are hanging out, but then they don't even come close.
Heck, there are guys out there that claimed more performance than my Z that couldn't take my Powerstroke van when they tried!
So are those the same 500 hp riceburners you speak of? If so, I'd like to have put my Z on that same dyno, it must have been 1200 hp!
Rice= Big talk, big mouth, big ego, and little substance.
Dave

 

You can be different without resorting to import engines!
How many engines did Ford build in the past few decades that you could use?
I was going to list them, but it would be too long of a post.
It would be better to use the SVO or Turbo Bird 4 cylinder than to go import or even off brand domestic.

Knock the 302 all you want, but the fact is that you can do infinate combos with it and IT FITS our cars very well.
Heck, we all know you could go EFI and get a super tough aluminum block if you have deep pockets, but you could even do away with the pushrods as lamented in another post!
There are 2, maybe more by now, heads out there that convert the 5.0 to unique valvetrains.
The Araq roller valve heads for example, have far fewer moving parts than even a SOHC I4 engine.
So is it a matter of really being different, or lack of imagination?
Because if you think about it, you are being different than Ford guys only to be the same as the rice guys... and being a mix breed car, it alienates both groups.
Dave

 

The nissan Sr20det has way more potential then a 2.3 turbo out of an svo. The Sr20 can handle 400hp easy on the stoke bottom end, slap on a bigger turbo larger incjectors run a power fc and your set. Unlike the 2.3L wich you would turn into a hand granade if you ran enough boost threw it. It would be way cheaper buying an SR and doing a swap then it would be to get a 2.3's bottom end built up. Who cares about the ford logo in the engine compartment as long as your making decent Hp.

 

Dave is right. If you have a Maverick or Comet, then your already different. Then be different, there's nothing wronge with that.
Maverick Man told a reporter in an article I read that "If everyone had a Maverick, I would not have one". There are to many Ford & aftermarket parts for Fords not to have a Ford drivetrain.

 

Im with ratio here. i watched a program on little HP gains that could be gained here and there and this and that. For 30 minutes about getting all you can out of a ricer. i was fairly impressed and thinking about some of it for the wifeys car. but at the end of the show, the fastest one they had pumped several $K into got wupped by a STOCK 98 stang. I got the same thing a lot from guys with 30k cars and over 15k in improvements, ive beaten all but one. i think the rematch should be different with my 2k in improvements. I think the only thing that would even be somewhat interesting to me is the AWD conversion, but my 3k dollar highboy would do better on real rocks and mud and snow.

 

Sorry to say The 2.3l can handle 400 plus HP has for many years. Boost or no boost. I have personally built a 330 hp 2.3l turbo motor. There are guys pushing more than that. There is a certain pinto that has a 2.3l turbo and runs some laughing gas. It is a 10 second car. Point is guy, 2.3l turbos can make and handle power. Been there done that.

Edit I ran 28 lbs of boost. I would have ran 35 but the turbo I had (t3 turbonetics Hybrid wouldn't put out anymore. I ran the stock cam too. Head was mildy cleaned up. Intake extrude honed. Bigger injectors. i could have buolt it for even more but It was my daily driver not a race car.

 

How 'bout a Jag 6 or v12? Twin Cam and it's a FORD

 

You scared me for a second...
First thought that came to mind was the X-Type I6 and V12!
Most of those have been converted to SBCs and SBFs because of how complex and expensive they are to run and maintain with the stock engines.

Then I realized you were talkin' late model.
Dave

 

So can the 2.3 turbo. I've heard of (and personally seen) some making 500+ HP on the stock block, crank, rods, and pistons....even the stock iron head is capable of 400+ with porting.

Get the motor and build your own EFI (megasquirt). Or, get the stock EEC and wiring and add a J3 adapter, burn a MAF bin onto it using the PE fuel & spark tables, a good ported head and a Holset turbo.....or any of the Precision turbos (SC61 sounds good) and make 400+, and still get 27 mpg. Mine gets around 33, but is basically stock (for now) and around 200 HP. I'm thinking that a Isuzu NPR intercooler might fit in front of the Maverick radiator in the core support. Haven't tried it, but next time I've got my IC out, I might test fit it in the '74 which is for sale.

I hate to say it, but by the time you add a bigger turbo, injectors and all the necessary mods to the "other" engine, you could have had a 2.3 which is simpler and easier to work with....with double the power. You can do up a 400 HP 2.3 with junkyard parts, with the exception of the ported head. You'll have to either port it yourself or have someone do it for you...but it's still the stock iron head.

Saw a guy once run a 6.05 in the 1/8 with a stock bottom-end 2.3T on 'roids (Holset HX35W with the HX40W comp wheel, stock head ported, and a dry nitrous setup). Surprised the heck out of me! My maverick don't run near that fast with a 415" windsor.

No doubt one of the other engines would make some power (they definetly will) but the SVO/TC engines are a dime a dozen and easy to mod...if you know what you're doing.

 

I guess my point was, everytime someone wants to do something different with THIER car or bring up a new idea most poeple here slam them. How many out there would have gave me positive feed back if I was to ask about using Jaguar XJ6 front and rear suspension?

I'll bet most would say keep it stock or use mustang II parts.

BTW 2.3's almost weigh as much as a 5.0 so there is no advantage and the SHO 6v weighs the same as the 5.0.

 

Jaguar is ford owned so you won't get beat up too much
I would say modify it, and use what you can,
Yes 2.3s are heavy. Although a nice Esslinger aluminum head could shave off 25 to 35 pounds

 

you did ask about the jag(well, you asked me anyway ) since I talked you into part of it :evilsmile

I think the point tom is trying to make is the same one that a few of us have said time and time again(tom included) besides the fact that its "your" car and you can modify it how "you" want, the majority seem to take the tryed and true methods , and many times when a different idea is brought up its balked at with detering comments, such as, "it cost too much...., you can make more power easier with ______,.......it cant be done because _________........,dont modify it because ___________........," you can fill in the blanks as you like.

and while the majority will never stray too far from the proven tryed and true methods(which is fine), its no reason for those that either lack the imagination or know-how to dismiss an idea purely based on thier own biased opinions.

theres my take on the matter,.....oh yeah, and keep a ford in a ford

 

I support strange ideas.
I like the idea of Lambo doors on someone elses Maverick. I like the idea of a convertable Maverick. I think a mid engine, Rear drive Maverick using a Northstar V8 would be cool, and I really like the idea of a Toyota powered Maverick. I will tell anyone that is doing their first project or wants it to be finished in a short time to screw together a healthy 302 and use off the shelf parts to put together a really cool, great performing hot rod. Anyone that really wants to be different needs to do something no one else would think of or be crazy enough to do.
Thomas, you would have had my support on your Jaguar suspension absolutely. I remember you posting pictures of your exhaust about a million years ago and saying to myself, "That looks awfully familiar".
Anyway, point is do something weird and take lots of pictures while you're at it.
Enjoy.

 

Don't know about anyone else but I'd take just about any other engine than a ford straight six with the lack of power and not so great gas mileage.

Not to mention having to spend $1,000 or more to get to the level of a stock/mild 302.
Did I mention I don't like ford I6's