Ford Focus ST Forum banner

2.3L longblock into 2015 Focus ST?

20K views 32 replies 14 participants last post by  Girds  
#1 ·
I know FRPP put a 2.3L mkc engine into the focus, and I know speed performance is building a 2.3L short block for a forum member, but wouldn't it be better to put a built 2.3L longblock into our car? I don't see anyone offering a 2.3L built longblock, but yes the extra displacment is cool, but the 2.3L heads and HPFP are significantly better? Aux fuel is cool, but imagine 450 fwhp on direct injection only fueling with less turbo lag from a larger displacement motor.

Should I get the Focus RS? I'd love to put a built 2.3L longblock into my focus to negate the weight of the awd system, but a vendor has to offer it. Even ford isn't offering the crate motor at this time.
 
#5 ·
I hope so, but I'd even more love to see a 2.3L after market long block from a vendor ready to take a beating if I'm gonna pay long block money. The mkc 2.3L is mounted horizontally, but the 2.3L in the mustang is mounted longitudinally. I'm going to assume it's the exact same motor just mounted differently on the sub frame.
 
#7 ·
I think the only shortcoming on the 2.0 for the Focus is the turbo is a little on the small side. If a Legal Slightly Larger swap was available without tanking the warranty I would think that would be a very popular mod. Randy had mentioned the possibility of a kit with Mountune. If you could do that in conjunction with say adding the MP275, keep your warranty and run 315-320 at the crank that would be plenty for our cars on the street (also very close to RS numbers). Certainly would put the car in another league with proper suspension and some good tires.
 
#9 ·
I'm looking for 460-500 whp and the 2.3L is heavily fortified compared to the 2.0 EB motor. I'm aware we will need fab work for mount the DP, but the 2.3L should bolt right in. I want the increased fuel supply of the 2.3L motor and it's robustness. maperformance put down 500 fwhp on a stock 2.3L with stock fuel. I figured the extra grand would spend on the aux fuel setup you could put towards a longblock. The focus RS is supposed to have an even stronger version of the mustang 2.3L as well.
 
#11 ·
Perhaps a ticking timebomb with stock internals. I'm really looking for 2.3L longblock that has 4032 forged pistons mahle pistons and manley H beam forged rods. The fact that they made that with stock fuel impressed me.
 
#13 ·
I'll take my closed-deck block over the semi-closed/open design of the 2.3. I don't know if its a particular concern, but the rigidity of a closed deck will always win. When you see 600+ hp reliable builds on 4 cylinders, they are pretty much never on an open-deck that hasn't been filled or re-lined, etc. While the 2.3 (especially in Focus form) has pretty robust liners, I still trust a closed deck more.

"Heavily fortified" is a far stretch. HP/L we've still got the 2.3 beat stock internals to internals :) There is no replacement for displacement, and displacement means better spool, higher power potential, etc, but personally, I'd rather do it with my block than the 2.3 block.

It does have better fueling thanks to the 4 lobe cam as opposed to the 3 lobe, but I won't sell my engine over it. It'll still need auxiliary eventually, be it methanol, "gasoline", etc.
 
#15 ·
#30 ·
Heres 750 done 3 years ago, i could go on there are tons on HT

new stock sleeve K20 record - 8th Generation Honda Civic Forum


Im not disagreeing that closed is better, but on this platform i wouldn't worry about it.
And I'm not saying its not possible. I'm saying those cars don't last very long, just as my pistons wont on my car. I can throw down 460whp, but if I drove my car on a track, the pistons would be asking to melt under the continual heat. Reliability always hits your weakest link, and on a stock sleeved open deck at higher power levels, I've seen plenty of failures, even from the same block that car has at less power, that can be attributed to the deck. I've seen it in plenty of cars to know its a general thing, that an open deck high horsepower build implies its worth it to worry about it, just as we should worry about pistons and headifold restriction :)

I'm not saying its a requirement, but it does make the 2.3 weaker in my eyes, especially when Ford relined the block just for the RS making a little extra ponies. That says to me there's a reliability concern in that area already.
Of course, this is all just my advice. I try to offer what little insight I can when the opportunity presents itself, and I've seen plenty of past heartache due to no one worrying about open-decks at similar power levels that I figured I'd bring it up.

But... maybe I'm missing it but wouldn't the potential advantages of the dual scroll "standard manifold" vs. "headifold" type head by worth the swap alone? I mean how many here are hoping for 600HP? I'm thinking a clean, relieable and easy to work-with (meaning doesn't blow the tires off due to a torque hit) 350-400WHP sounds like a dream.
2.3 is still an integrated headifold design, it's just twin scroll headifold instead of a monoscroll :)
 
#28 ·
I guess I can wait to hear about the speed performance 2.3 stroked 2.0 EB motor. They've been working on it quite a long time though I think. @ST3 4 ME
 
#29 ·
But... maybe I'm missing it but wouldn't the potential advantages of the dual scroll "standard manifold" vs. "headifold" type head by worth the swap alone? I mean how many here are hoping for 600HP? I'm thinking a clean, relieable and easy to work-with (meaning doesn't blow the tires off due to a torque hit) 350-400WHP sounds like a dream.