Can’t stop redlining the 2.3

[davebdave]

Is anyone else obsessed with intentionally over-reving the manual 2.3? The fast and furious inspired tachometer taunts me the way it gets darker and darker as if to say “Watch out, don’t think about it, don’t do it, I told you not to do it!!!” This little screamer is totally the wrong engine for the Bronco. So much that Ford gives us a fake v8 sound as if to apologize for the Mazda derived screamer under the hood. The Bronco ought to have a small v8 that lays over at 5000rpm but with stump pulling low end torque. So now I’m driving my Bronco like a Hot Hatch and loving every minute of it! Probably my “black box” has already messaged Ford and voided my warranty.

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[gbub]

You can over rev any engine. I have hit the rev limiter on my 4.0 SOHC powered Ranger many times over the years. My V8 powered vehicles don't have rev limiters but I am sure I have over revved them too. I try to go by sound because If I am in a situation were I feel the need to rev that high I have more things to look at other than the tach.

 

[CalvinT]

Years ago they sold shift indicators, a light that came on at a given RPM. The owner would set the RPMs. A tuned ear also worked, but that was before fake engine noise.

Maybe someone makes one that works on modern engines. My other suggestion is find out how to turn off the fake engine noise and learn to pay better attention to your engine.

 

[Tonka Bronka]

Yeah, no.

 

[PWillette]

The little 2.3 does like the RPMs but nothing gained going to redline IMO. I just stay in the power band by ear and the seat of my pants.

 

[CitrusBronco]

It’s not a warning it’s a fun meter and it’s saying “yes, YES, YES!”
Let that little motor run.

 

[Area51BS]

I would like nothing more than a 600hp v8. But I am impressed with the 2.3 and the 2.0 in the Maverick. Not sure about longevity if constantly ran hard. But I don’t so no worry. And no fake engine sounds from mine. I wouldn’t buy it if it can’t be shut off.

 

[crzyhawk]

...people look at the tachs when they shift? The 2.3 is a bit more difficult to shift by sound given it likes to rev higher and is too quiet, but using the tach as a shift indicator is something I've simply never done.

 

[Chrome_Pony]

Give me an I4 turbodiesel Bronco with a 3K redline that will never see 2300RPM and I'd be happy.

Had a bored .030 302 with a Holley 750 and Dynomax headers into no mufflers on my 75. Sounded angelic, but now I would prefer to go a hell of a lot longer between fill ups and have insane torque low down, like my LWN does.

 

[Brian_B]

The little 2.3 does like the RPMs but nothing gained going to redline IMO. I just stay in the power band by ear and the seat of my pants.

I hit the turbo pressure limit before the engine red line.

Yeah, nothing really gained going from 5k up to the redline anyway, the torque falls off pretty hard, and once you hit 5.5 you start losing horsepower.

Panda has a great Dyno chart for the 2.3
https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/bronco-2-3l-pandatuning-is-here-.126427/

Like @PWillette posts - you can really feel it, even if you aren't listening for it.

 

[CarmeloS]

What speedo is that? I might wanna retrofit it later on

 

[burgerking]

If I go WOT in 1st I usually hit the limiter before I shift. If not it grinds going into 2nd most of the time. I don't think I've hit the limiter in any other gears.

 

[Techun]

I hit the turbo pressure limit before the engine red line.

Yeah, nothing really gained going from 5k up to the redline anyway, the torque falls off pretty hard, and once you hit 5.5 you start losing horsepower.

Panda has a great Dyno chart for the 2.3
https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/bronco-2-3l-pandatuning-is-here-.126427/

Like @PWillette posts - you can really feel it, even if you aren't listening for it.

I was prepared to "well acksually" you but yeah looking at that chart it is so flat before 5.5 and falls off so hard after, you're better off just shifting at like 5.5k

 

[davebdave]

I get that the engine power falls off a little at 5.5k but how much wheel torque (not engine torque) is lost with the upshift to the next gear and how far down is the power at 4000 rpm vs 6000? I say shift at redline for acceleration and fun.

 

[gbub]

Had a bored .030 302 with a Holley 750 and Dynomax headers into no mufflers on my 75. Sounded angelic, but now I would prefer to go a hell of a lot longer between fill ups and have insane torque low down, like my LWN does.

A Holley 750 is an awful big carb for a 302. Was it able to open the secondaries?

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