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Description of Ford's 2.3 Turbo engine calibration differences

Category: General 2.3

Comments

Body changes and option differences will not be discussed here.  Only engine calibrations and related performance equipment, so that differences can be noted, and an upgrade path developed from that information..

If you have a car with different equipment please let me know. There are some oddball cars out there, and there may be running changes that cause differences from what's detailed here.   And if I got something just plain wrong, please let me know! Some early turbo cars had a "W" in the VIN in the engine code place, the rest were "T"s..  The calibration was constantly evolving, though, as Ford got better at learning how to extract more power from the 2.3 Turbo.  That's why I've created this list.  So we can learn from Ford's evolution of the 2.3 turbo engine.

The HP ratings do not refer to the capacity of the transmissions, they refer to the engine calibration that was fitted with the stated transmission. Cougar XR7s, if equipped with the 2.3 turbo engine, have the same calibration, as the Thunderbird Turbo Coupe of the same year.

Click on the year and model to jump to the calibration description, or just browse down the page.

84 thru early 85 SVO-all manual transmissions
85.5 thru 86 SVO-all manual transmissions
83 thru 84 Thunderbird EFI turbo and 83 thru 84 Mustang GT Turbo
85 thru 89 Merkur XR4ti
85 thru 86 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
87-88 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe

Here's a table, listing the important EEC related differences between the calibrations

84 thru early 85 SVO-all manual transmissions
Rated at 175 HP
Intercooled, 30 lb/hr green top injectors, 10 or 14 PSI boost, depending on the position of the octane selector switch, teeny-tiny camshaft-get rid of it.  It got bigger for 85, but got bigger still for 85.5s. "Inline" shaped intake manifold, large VAF meter (~380CFM), single exhaust, 3.45, 7.5" posi rear, 4.03 first gear in transmission.

85.5 thru 86 SVO-all manual transmissions
Rated at 200-205 HP
Intercooled, 36 lb/hr brown top injectors, 10 or 15 PSI boost, depending on the position of the octane selector switch, .400 lift camshaft equivalent to the Ford Motorsport -A231 grind, "4 square" shaped intake manifold, large VAF meter (~380CFM), dual exhaust, 3.73, 7.5" posi rear, 3.50 first gear in "World Class" transmission.

This model has the best possible EEC, for PLUG-IN swaps into other turbo cars, prior to 1987 models.  Usually, no wiring needs to be changed, yet horsepower and drivability are greatly improved.   The recipient car must be intercooled.  The 5 hp variance has been attributed to different fuels and temperatures used during calibration testing.  The EEC catch code is "PE"

83 thru 84 Thunderbird EFI turbo and 83 thru 84 Mustang GT Turbo
Non-intercooled, 30 lb/hr green top injectors, 10 PSI boost, tiny camshaft-get rid of it,   "Inline" shaped intake manifold, small VAF meter (~285CFM), single exhaust
-all manual transmissions (T-5) Rated at 155 HP 3.45 posi rear gear 4.03 first gear in transmission
-all automatic transmissions (C-3) Rated at 140 HP 3.45 posi rear gear 2.47 (?)  first gear in transmission

85 thru 89 Merkur XR4ti
Non-intercooled, 36 lb/hr brown tops injectors, 10 or 14 PSI boost depending on; automatic or manual transmission application, "4 square" shaped intake manifold, small VAF meter (~285CFM), single exhaust.
-all manual transmissions (T-9)  Rated at 175 HP, camshaft equivalent to the Ford Motorsport -A231 grind, 3.61 open "Euro" 7.5"  differential, 3.36 first gear in transmission
-all automatic transmissions (C-3)  Rated at 140 HP, teeny-tiny camshaft-get rid of it, 3.36 open "euro" 7.5" differential,  2.47 (?)  first gear in transmission

85 thru 86 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
Non-intercooled, 36 lb/hr brown top injectors, 10 or 14 PSI boost depending on; automatic or manual transmission application, "4 square" shaped intake manifold, small VAF meter (~285CFM), single exhaust
-all manual transmissions (T-5)  Rated at 175 HP, camshaft equivalent to the Ford Motorsport -A231 grind 3.45 posi 7.5"  rear, 4.03 first gear in transmission
-all automatic transmissions (C3)  Rated at 140 HP teeny-tiny camshaft-get rid of it, 3.45 posi 7.5"  rear, 2.47 (?)  first gear in transmission

87-88 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe
Intercooled, 36 lb/hr brown top injectors, 10 or 14 PSI boost depending on; automatic or manual transmission application, "4 square" shaped intake manifold, large VAF meter (~380CFM), dual or single exhaust depending on; automatic or manual transmission application.

This model has the best possible EEC for swaps into other turbo cars, prior to 1987 models.  Hpowever, numerous wiring changes must be made, and additional sensors added, but horsepower and drivability are greatly improved.  The recipient car should be intercooled for maximum power gain.
-all manual transmissions (T-5)  Rated at 190 HP, tiny camshaft-get rid of it, 3.55 posi 8.8" rear, 3.97 first gear in transmission, dual exhaust.
-all automatic transmissions (A4LD)  Rated at 150 HP, teeny-tiny camshaft-get rid of it 3.73 posi 8.8" rear, 2.47 (?)  first gear in transmission, single exhaust.

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Last changed: February 18, 2006