Is the 2.3L Stroker Kit worth and extra $700?

[GeneralChaos]

So who actually has the facts?

Im stuck in this bind and its looking like a gamble either way.

Im looking for a street monster (600whp or bust WTF ) so the 2.3 is appealing, although if im spending this insane amount of money I want the car to last, and I want to be able to drive it around if I feel like it. People bring up rod ratios a lot, but I need to do a bit more researching into that.

and unfortunately the 2.3 strokers havent been around for a long time to determine reliability, but the concept of stroking has been around for a long time, and also as stated before all the factors come into play like if the owner cheaped out, didnt take care of it, put it together wrong, etc etc.


2.0 engines have proven performance although slower spool and not as much torque. they rev a lot higher which I honestly dont want because id rather not shift at 9500+ rpm for my transmission sake, although the added torque of a stroker doesnt help either. the 2.0's are definately cheaper also.

the fact of the matter is as much as people say the 2.0's are "reliable" I have seen MANY broken 2.0's. but quite a few working ones also. it all comes down to the owner, and with not as widespread use of 2.3 yet maybe were just not hearing about it. kind of like the news, the bad stuff gets played more then the good (crankwalk threads anyone?)


So if anyone actually knows cars with a lot of miles on them (over 50k) please speak up, many of us want to know as the research we can find is still limited and a lot of hear-say.

in the mean time more reading and talking to the shops. I want to do this right the first time.

 

[definitiveno]

I dont think you will find 600hp streetable, or manageable on the street........

6That kinda power really isn't for every body, seriously, and not for the street. Keep it on a track buddy.

You can find some info on this if you punch torquefreaks into the search bar to see a true 600 hp car, grndsm has a 600hp stroker half way down the track threads forum, and rdrkt is making that kind of power with his stroker with a t68 I beleive. Just punch in "rdrkt stroker", he has had very good luck with his motors.


I dont think any one knows of any 2 liter, 2.1 liter, 2.3 or 2.4 that has sustained 600hp regularly and lasted 50 thousand miles, if so a small handful, the shifting at 9500 should not be a problem, if youve got a built motor you better have a tre or buscher trans in your car, and you don't need 9500 rpms to make that power on a 2 liter anyway.


Best of luck.

 

[GeneralChaos]

I dont think you will find 600hp streetable, or manageable on the street........

6That kinda power really isn't for every body, seriously, and not for the street. Keep it on a track buddy.

I disagree here as ive been in MUCH faster rwd race cars on the street. its what you make of it.

but thats off topic. I will search that stuff though so thanks for that information

 

[definitiveno]

I disagree here as ive been in MUCH faster rwd race cars on the street. its what you make of it.

but thats off topic. I will search that stuff though so thanks for that information

You know what, nevermind. I thought it was rdrkt, but it might have been bus or some body else. Just look up stroker, you will find a thread where like a few pages into it he's puts a link to his 600hp monster, very experienced guy, just can't remember his name at the moment.

 

[Big Woo]

I have had a 2.3L in the car and running for the last year, Thus far over 5K on the engine.

4G64 6-bolt crank, JE pistons (yes JE pistons with no slap, and no squeaked pistons) Oliver rods.

If the work is done correctly, and the necessary components are replaced or upgraded, I see know reason why there would be any reliability issues.

 

[sweet97]

Nate at SBR has a 600+HP ride and that is MUCH too MUCH power for the street, asking for trouble. just my opinion.

 

[definitiveno]

You know what, nevermind. I thought it was rdrkt, but it might have been bus or some body else. Just look up stroker, you will find a thread where like a few pages into it he's puts a link to his 600hp monster, very experienced guy, just can't remember his name at the moment.

Was it swordfish? Oh i give up, his car was awesome though......

 

[Ludachris]

coming from a guy that has a 2.3 im on the 2.4 bandwagon. coming from a v8 world before my dsm addiction, i can say for a fact that there really is no replacement for displacement with all else being equal. i can also tell you that there *are* some of the bigger names out there running bigger inch motor under the 2.0 guise. i cant tell you how i know this but i talk to some of the bigwigs in the rwd world now

Ah yes, I do have a 2.3L, but I can't defend it just yet. I can only tell you why I went with it - and I spelled that out in my last post. Sure it was somewhat of a gamble, but any built motor is going to be a gamble with the abuse I'm going to dish out. I just wanted a little more low-end power to play with so I went stroker. Didn't know enough people who went full 2.4L so I couldn't get much feedback.

 

[CanadianTalon]

Don't freak out about a 1.50 rod/stroke ratio on the street because it isn't going to make your motor fall apart in 10K miles. I have a friend running a stroked B16 honda motor with an 89MM LS crank and B16 rods. 1.50 rod/stroke ratio just like the 2.3L strokers, and it runs a 0.96" compression height piston which is a lot smaller than the 2.3L DSM setup. It's the car he drives to work every day and hes put about 15K miles on it with a Vortech supercharger and no problems whatsoever. I think you're focusing too much on R/S and too little on the fact that a well assembled motor will last a long time.

 

[peregrine]

and i think its been mentioned in this very thread that the mustang guys have been running horrible rod ratios in their strokers for years. its a pretty weak arguement for not stroking. if you can afford it go for it.

 

[definitiveno]

and i think its been mentioned in this very thread that the mustang guys have been running horrible rod ratios in their strokers for years. its a pretty weak arguement for not stroking. if you can afford it go for it.

What RPM do those guys take their engines?

 

[peregrine]

depends. ive seen them go to 8000 on a 347. granted thats rare. id say that 6000-6500 is a safe max on a well balanced stroked v8. no need to go higher in most cases. unless its a solid roller meant to go that high

 

[clipise]

Don't freak out about a 1.50 rod/stroke ratio on the street because it isn't going to make your motor fall apart in 10K miles. I have a friend running a stroked B16 honda motor with an 89MM LS crank and B16 rods. 1.50 rod/stroke ratio just like the 2.3L strokers, and it runs a 0.96" compression height piston which is a lot smaller than the 2.3L DSM setup. It's the car he drives to work every day and hes put about 15K miles on it with a Vortech supercharger and no problems whatsoever. I think you're focusing too much on R/S and too little on the fact that a well assembled motor will last a long time.

funny that u mentioned that....i have a buddy w/ a similar set up. drives every damn day, w/ no problems.

eric (stampy) from AMS has the 2.3 stroker. revs it to 8500, and has no probs....correct me if im wrong.

 

[GeneralChaos]

and i think its been mentioned in this very thread that the mustang guys have been running horrible rod ratios in their strokers for years. its a pretty weak arguement for not stroking. if you can afford it go for it.

Thats exactly what I was thinking. this has been going on for ages.

 

[rdrkt]

I have a 2.4 in the Talon with a GT40 and it makes 560/500 to the wheels. I have a 2.3 in the Galant with an EVO3 16g from FP. On my Talon you can see the dyno chart and its pretty damn nice. On my Galant in 5th gear at 2k I can smack on it and have 16lbs before 2400 I have a couple other little things I have to do and I think that it will spool even faster.

I defintely think its worth the extra money.

 

[AMS stampy]

funny that u mentioned that....i have a buddy w/ a similar set up. drives every damn day, w/ no problems.

eric (stampy) from AMS has the 2.3 stroker. revs it to 8500, and has no probs....correct me if im wrong.

you are correct, She just put down 630 whp and 525 ft lbs on 27lbs of boost on a GT35R and 2.3 stroker with Ross pistons and Crower Rods.

Eric

 

[Scrymerr]

I just finished reading the thread, and I will be looking for a motor in the near future: either 2.0 or 2.3. I have taken the powerband and cost issues into account, but the one issue I would like to investigate further is the reliability.

How long would a built 2.0 last on a daily driver going to the track or dyno say once a week as opposed to the 2.3. If and when I buy a built motor, I want it to last as long as possible.

 

[peregrine]

I just finished reading the thread, and I will be looking for a motor in the near future: either 2.0 or 2.3. I have taken the powerband and cost issues into account, but the one issue I would like to investigate further is the reliability.

How long would a built 2.0 last on a daily driver going to the track or dyno say once a week as opposed to the 2.3. If and when I buy a built motor, I want it to last as long as possible.

truthfully only time will tell. i personally dont see why the strokers and 2.4s wouldnt last just as long if they are built right.