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My 1986 2.3L LX notchback/turbo conversion build.

8K views 25 replies 5 participants last post by  xCrystalxMariex 
#1 · (Edited)
Back in 2008 I purchased my first car. 1986 mustang lx. Ya know, the 4 cylinder with the 3 speed automatic. Black Blue Text Electric blue Light


She had around 75,000 miles on her, no body rust, no cancer, and ran like a rapped ape. All factory parts. Land vehicle Vehicle Car Sedan Full-size car


In fact a couple years after I had her, I got to watch the odometer roll over all zeros. Gauge Speedometer Measuring instrument Auto part Tachometer


Fast forward several years, and several vacuum leaks. I'm now driving my beloved stang two footed due to carb issues and vacuum issues. There's a slight knock to the motor but otherwise healthy and reliable.

Fast forward a couple more years and I'm driving said stang 1000 miles to get home. SHE MADE IT!

A few months later she committed suicide by sucking her all thread through the air cleaner and into the carb ultimately making a bunch of noise and busting my head.

Since then she has been under reconstruction to upgrade and fix her. Hopefully I can make her into something I am proud to affix a pony badge on. (She didn't come with any. Factory.)


Currently- 1986 2.3L lx notchback, conversion to SVO 2.3L turbo automatic notchback.
 
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#2 · (Edited)
First things first. After she choked on her nut, I started taking apart the top end of the motor hoping to fish out any metal that was left and to check on the cylinders to find out if there was any damage or if I could clean her out and fire her back up. I was trying to stay positive since I killed the motor immediately after the clunking started.
Auto part Engine Carburetor Automotive engine part Vehicle


Auto part Engine Automotive engine part Metal Automotive wheel system


Auto part Engine Automotive engine part Vehicle Metal


As you can see I wasn't that lucky. The cam is grooved and the tops of the cylinder head have grooves as well from the metal.

Bummer. So I yanked the motor.
Engine Auto part Font Technology Photography



Currently- 1986 2.3L lx notchback, conversion to SVO 2.3L turbo automatic notchback.
 
#3 ·
A few interesting things I found when I took her apart: the cam was in backwards. The distributor had been stabbed at 180 off. And my plugs were ran to different cylinders so that the firing order was right for all the backwards sh*t someone had done to it. Smh.

I'm surprised she even ran.


Currently- 1986 2.3L lx notchback, conversion to SVO 2.3L turbo automatic notchback.
 
#5 ·
You could probably put another head on that short block, and that engine would run for another 100k.
I used to have a Turbo Coupe, back in the day, and it was a fun car!
I don't think that there are any currently active forum members who own 4 cylinder Fox cars, but I see that you have already found some of the old threads.
And, if you haven't already found a donor power train, you might want to explore some of your other options, as well... such as a V8 or even an Ecoboost like suggested above.

Welcome to the forum!
:)
 
#7 ·
My goal is a 5.0 eater that appears stock (sleeper). I looked around on the craigslist and found a totaled SVO and pulled all the suspension and the rear end from it. The motor had already been scrapped. I was lucky that the SVO donor also had a 5 lug conversion and cobra s wheels to go with.

Originally I was going to find a new head for the block and have it fortified to handle boost, what I found instead was an 89 lx with some 50,000 miles on it and a VERY CLEAN motor. So, I decided to use the 89 motor. It is fuel injected instead of carbureted so I get an upgrade and don't have to replace my busted carb.
Land vehicle Vehicle Car Hood Automotive exterior

89 donor

I rebuilt the fuel injectors and the motor got cleaned out and all new gaskets. I hand painted the fuel injector and the motor with high heat paint to give it "that look".

Vehicle


Selfie Leg Hand Photography Fictional character


Auto part Engine


Vehicle Honda Car Magenta City car



Currently- 1986 2.3L lx notchback, conversion to SVO 2.3L turbo automatic notchback.
 
#8 ·
That is amazing. :) good job


Vicious Mustang: Racing aluminum heads. Professional products lower and upper intake. 75mm throttle body. trickflow stage 1 cam. PYPES headers, h pipe, exhaust. T5z transmission. Spec stage 1 clutch. 4.10 gears. Tubular lower control arms. Powerdyne supercharger 42lb injectors @9psi.
 
#12 ·
This is the point my stang sits at. I need to finish fishing the wiring harness out of the 89 donor car so that I can hook everything up. I need brakes and lug nuts. And a bit other odds and ends before I can at least fire it up and run around the block. Small stuff like the battery and starter cylinoid. Small stuff adds up in price and so I am at a stand still until June.


Currently- 1986 2.3L lx notchback, conversion to SVO 2.3L turbo automatic notchback.
 
#13 ·
Opinions on putting the wing from the 89 hatch on to my 86 notch?

You guys think it looks good or funny?

Land vehicle Vehicle Car Automotive exterior Bumper


I was thinking about removing the third break light from the window and hook up the one in the wing instead.


Currently- 1986 2.3L lx notchback, conversion to SVO 2.3L turbo automatic notchback.
 
#15 ·
It doesn't quite sit right. But you are correct it's not bolted on.

The the front ledge of the notchbacks truck lid has a ridge and the sides of the wing hang over the trunk lid side a bit but not over the actual car.

But I think with some heat and bolting it down I can get the wing to conform to the shape.

I think it looks nice. But I've had mixed opinions from others.


Currently- 1986 2.3L lx notchback, conversion to SVO 2.3L turbo automatic notchback.
 
#17 ·
[QU as OTE=straybullitt;2202390]I'm a Bullitt fan so... I like it smooth and clean.

:)[/QUOTE]


I do as well. The idea came from setting the wing back there just as a place to set it. Normally I would have kept the 86 all stock lookin on the outside but I do think this Wing looks good.


Currently- 1986 2.3L lx notchback, conversion to SVO 2.3L turbo automatic notchback.
 
#18 ·
Great project you have going there.
I had an 88 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe that I did a fair amount of work to the motor. The biggest factor in making HP was the head and cam, I had Esslinger Engineering go through the head/cam/injectors which added an extra 70rwhp. They are strong motors and with a little work can make a lot more HP than any stock 5.0l V8.
Can't wait for you to get her running.
 
#19 ·
It looks like Crystal went MIA olerodder...
Do you know what that means?

:hijack:

I had an 83 1/2 Turbo Coupe. When they were first introduced, Jackie Stewart was promoting them for Ford and he broke the track record at Laguna Seca, for engines of that displacement, in a completely stock car!
The car was a blast to drive! For the era.
The first generation Turbo Coupes were very light. They were slightly lighter than a V8 Fox body. It was great fun beating ALL of my friends through the twisties in that car.
It did have some issues though. Mainly, due to it being one of Ford's very first production vehicles that was equipped with fuel injection, the technicians were learning about fuel injection systems on the customer's cars so the "service" was sometimes "spotty".
However, when everything was working correctly, it ran really good. And those engines were as close to bulletproof as you will find.
 
#20 ·
Not MIA. Ran outta funding. My project had to take the back burner for a bit... But I just picked up an esslinger built 2.3 to stab.... Should get me closer as I don't need all the electronic components since it's carburated. (Currently fuel injected and not running)

I'll update as I go. The goal is motor stabbed and running by Jan 1.

Sent from my Moto E (4) using Mustang Evolution mobile app
 
#22 ·
Getting ready to put that fuel injected 2.3 for sale... Whadda y'all think I could get for it?

Its still fresh as the day I stabbed it. 50,000 miles.

Hoping to get some spending money for the stang.

'86 Mustang LX Notchback
orig. 4cyl 2.3L carb. c3 auto. 88hp.
1 of 16 Color codes.

1st (incomplete build)- motor swap 4cyl 2.3L fuel Injected. c3 auto. SVO suspension. disc brakes. 5-Lug Conv. ?hp.

Current- upgrading to Esslinger built 2.3 c3 auto w/ t9 goals. N/A garrett airResearch T3 Turbo, Holley Blowthrough. 250+ hp. SVO suspension. disc brakes. 5-Lug Conv.

Future Dreams- DOHC
 
#24 ·
Turbo charged no. Complete... oh yeah.... Its completely gone through. Rebuilt fuel injectors and new gaskets throughout. 50,000 orig. Miles.

'86 Mustang LX Notchback
orig. 4cyl 2.3L carb. c3 auto. 88hp.
1 of 16 Color codes.

1st (incomplete build)- motor swap 4cyl 2.3L fuel Injected. c3 auto. SVO suspension. disc brakes. 5-Lug Conv. ?hp.

Current- upgrading to Esslinger built 2.3 c3 auto w/ t9 goals. N/A garrett airResearch T3 Turbo, Holley Blowthrough. 250+ hp. SVO suspension. disc brakes. 5-Lug Conv.

Future Dreams- DOHC
 
#26 ·
That around what I was thinking. So far no bites though.

'86 Mustang LX Notchback
orig. 4cyl 2.3L carb. c3 auto. 88hp.
1 of 16 Color codes.

1st (incomplete build)- motor swap 4cyl 2.3L fuel Injected. c3 auto. SVO suspension. disc brakes. 5-Lug Conv. ?hp.

Current- upgrading to Esslinger built 2.3 c3 auto w/ t9 goals. N/A garrett airResearch T3 Turbo, Holley Blowthrough. 250+ hp. SVO suspension. disc brakes. 5-Lug Conv.

Future Dreams- DOHC
 
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