[thunderbuggy88]

hey there, due to some aviation background i know the difference between having one plug per cylinder and 2 plugs. the plane feels like it loses all power when you lose just one plug out of 2 per cylinder. now based on that im wondering if the benefits are the same in the ford 2.3l engines. i have a 1988 thunderbird turbo coupe with a 4 plug 2.3l. will a 8 plug head fit on this block and, if so, will i benefit power wise? are there any major valve differences or cam differences between the heads?

ive heard also that the intake bolt pattern was changed slightly which would really make things difficult is this true?

[Canuck623]

It will probably fit but you will have to swap over lots of other electrical stuff to make it work. The 8 plug has 2 modules, 3 crank sensors, 2 coils. You get the picture. Everything from the PCM to the plugs would have to be changed. Oh and no noticeable power increase would be felt. That was JUST for emissions and nothing else.

[phantom]

I second that ,there are plenty of other more cost worthy options out there for more power.

[mark v]

The 2 plug engines were for emissions. Believe my I has one in my 1989 Ranger and it was slow as hell.

[MichaelJennnings]

Originally Posted by mark v

The 2 plug engines were for emissions. Believe my I has one in my 1989 Ranger and it was slow as hell.

You are right about it being an emissions thing for the dual plugs. It didn't do much for performance at all. Just allowed for a leaner mixture is all. Very similar engineering idea to the old rotary engines in the Mazdas. I loved to freak people out by connecting the coils directly to the primary plugs set the point gap and start the engine with no distributor caps. Nobody could figure it out until I explained what the second plug was for.

As for retrofitting a dual plug system onto a single plug engine, not worth the money or the headache. Plus, the ECM for the car would not work correctly. The calibrations would be off. This isn't like in the old days of dropping a V-8 into a car that had a I-6. With all of the electronics, emissions equipment let alone the emission laws, it isn't worth anything.

[Canuck623]

Originally Posted by MichaelJennnings

You are right about it being an emissions thing for the dual plugs. It didn't do much for performance at all. Just allowed for a leaner mixture is all. Very similar engineering idea to the old rotary engines in the Mazdas. I loved to freak people out by connecting the coils directly to the primary plugs set the point gap and start the engine with no distributor caps. Nobody could figure it out until I explained what the second plug was for. As for retrofitting a dual plug system onto a single plug engine, not worth the money or the headache. Plus, the ECM for the car would not work correctly. The calibrations would be off. This isn't like in the old days of dropping a V-8 into a car that had a I-6. With all of the electronics, emissions equipment let alone the emission laws, it isn't worth anything.

Yup your right....everything I said a week or so ago but you used way more words so you win!!!