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Vehicle Owner

Member ID: Sleeper_Inc

Location: Regina Beach, Saskatchewan

Vehicle Info

1988 Ford Mustang

Bragging Rights

  • 0-606.5 sec
  • Top Speed140 mph
  • HP180
  • Weight2824 lbs

Major Upgrades

  • turbo
  • engine swap

Modifications

Performance Parts

Car Audio & Video

Interior

Exterior Styling

Ratings

    • Currently 4/5 Stars.
    • Currently 4/5 Stars.
    • Currently 4/5 Stars.

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Last updated: Mar 11, 2008

Hits: 18,096

Anthony’s Ford Mustang:
“1988 2.3 turbo Mustang”

  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
68 guestbook comments

I bought a 1989 Ranger Roller cam, this a a good upgrade for 1979-1990 Mustang 2.3's, its even good for the 2.3 Turbo engine. This is not a good upgrade for 1991-1993 mustangs because they come with these cams stock, thats how they make 105 HP. This cam install will make you gain a few HP (better than the 88 HP that 79-90 mustangs came with) This is a write up on how to install the ranger roller cam (89-95 ranger 4 bangers have, and the 91-93 mustang 4 bangers have)

BTW, I only paid $15 for the cam, and followers

First you have to get a cam that is in good shape. I found mine in a 1989 Ranger that wasn't beat on. The cam I got had almost 0 wear on it. it was even shiny (you'll see in the picture)
Sleeper_Inc's 1988 Ford MustangSleeper_Inc's 1988 Ford Mustang

And here are the rollers
Sleeper_Inc's 1988 Ford MustangSleeper_Inc's 1988 Ford Mustang

Sleeper_Inc's 1988 Ford Mustang

Now on to the project at hand.

1. Disconnect the battery (- side)

Sleeper_Inc's 1988 Ford Mustang

2. Take your air intake stuff off

Sleeper_Inc's 1988 Ford Mustang

3. Unbolt you EGR valve and unplug your TPS, and IAC, then take your upper intake manifold off, make sure you disconnected all your vacuum lines, and wires (put a bag over the intake holes so trash doesn't go in your engine)

Sleeper_Inc's 1988 Ford Mustang

4. Take some tape and label your spark plug wires then unplug them and move them over so you can take to valve cover off

5. Move your EGR tube out of the way and use a rope to keep it up if its able to move like mine was

6. Remove anything on the valve cover, unbolt the valve cover bolts, and the the valve cover off

7. Line your engine up TDC and make sure the cam mark lines up with the marking plate

8. Remove the upper radiator tube so you can get to a timing cover bolt (trust me, it makes life easier!)(Make sure you catch any fluid that leaks out)

9. Remove the timing cover and make sure your cam mark is still lined up

10. Take the cam gear off, making sure not to move the timing belt to much (you might have to use a puller or you can beat on the back with a wrench like I did)

Sleeper_Inc's 1988 Ford Mustang

11. Take the retaining plate out of the back so you can take the cam out (held in by two big philips head screws)

12. Take a valve compresser and take the followers out (here is a link to how to make one for $5
Home made valve compresser)

13. Now that all the followers are out you can take the cam out, I got lucky and didn't have to take my radiator out

14. Now that the old one is out, look over the engine and make sure that it doesn't have any cracks or damage
Sleeper_Inc's 1988 Ford MustangSleeper_Inc's 1988 Ford Mustang

15. Install the ranger cam

Sleeper_Inc's 1988 Ford Mustang

16. Put the retaining plate back in

17. Compress the valve springs and put the roller followers in (you might have to rotate the cam to get them in, its okay to do that)

Sleeper_Inc's 1988 Ford Mustang

18. Start to make sure everything is in order, put the cam sprocket on (DON'T PUT THE TIMING BELT ON YET!!!)

19. Align the cam so its matching where the old one was, then take the sprocket off (making sure not to move the cam) put the timing belt on the sprocket and just try to align it right (Cam has a key in it so there is no way to put it in wrong)

20. If everything lines up you can put everything back together making sure everything is where it should be.

Sleeper_Inc's 1988 Ford Mustang

*hint - this is a great time to flush your radiator and clean the parts of your engine, also make sure that you oil up the cam before you put it in so you don't damage it the first time you start it up.

On my car it started to sound mean at 3500 RPM, intake sucking air, cam, it was down right sweet, great upgrade for you car, now it might move out of its own way.

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Vehicle Owner

Member ID: Sleeper_Inc

Location: Regina Beach, Saskatchewan