North American Turbocoupe Organization



Marine 2.3 Cylinder head update...
Kuch Offline
Senior Member
#1
SO I posted on here asking about a 2.3 head I found on the local craglist that I never heard of. It was off of an OMC boat motor used in the late 80's-early 90's and it is a Ford 2.3. I did some research online and one of the sources was the link I have listed below as it has some great pics of the heads used. I ending up buying the head from the local guy and I need some of the head experts on here to verify if this is indeed a turbo head. Use the link pics for reference as mine looks exactly like it. I still have to take it in to get magnafluxed for cracks, but it looks very clean in the chambers, and since the boats are not turbo'd and should not be getting beat on like a car would, I am hoping it checks clean. If so, this may be another source for Turbo 2.3 heads. So, is it a turbo head or not? Thanks

https://www.nlamarine.com/products/omc-c...4319206597
1988 Turbo Coupe, Black/Black, 5 Speed, Moonroof,  T3/T4, ported E6, 255LPH, Kirban, Stinger Exhaust, MGW shifter, K&N, Gillis valve, BP1.5, PIMPx, Koni's
1964 Ford Galaxie 500XL, 390 6V, Big Solid cam, Headers,3.89's, 4 Speed, Vast and fast
1960 Ford Starliner, 292 Y Block, 312 4bbl intake, headers, 3 Speed, slow and low
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anasazi4st Offline
Senior Member
#2
(03-04-2020, 04:12 PM)Kuch Wrote: SO I posted on here asking about a 2.3 head I found on the local craglist that I never heard of. It was off of an OMC boat motor used in the late 80's-early 90's and it is a Ford 2.3. I did some research online and one of the sources was the link I have listed below as it has some great pics of the heads used. I ending up buying the head from the local guy and I need some of the head experts on here to verify if this is indeed a turbo head. Use the link pics for reference as mine looks exactly like it. I still have to take it in to get magnafluxed for cracks, but it looks very clean in the chambers, and since the boats are not turbo'd and should not be getting beat on like a car would, I am hoping it checks clean. If so, this may be another source for Turbo 2.3 heads. So, is it a turbo head or not? Thanks

https://www.nlamarine.com/products/omc-c...4319206597
Dang sure looks like a turbo head to me, but I am no expert. Lots could be different that we can’t see, as far as clearances and sizes and the like.

Can I ask what they were offering it for? If nothing else you might have a great supply of parts.
Another proud dues-paying member.

1987 Turbo Coupe w/T5OD, 8.8 axle, grey smoke; most options. Got it in 1991 with 41K miles: 3 turbos, 2 heater cores, 3 T5OD full rebuilds, 6 clutches, 1 head gasket, 2 Teves II ABS units, etc. later....
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Jeff K Offline
Administrator
#3
Yup, looks like a turbo head. What is the casting number?
Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 24 psi, forced air IC, water injection, BPV, Ranger cam, subframes, etc., etc.
86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP N2O, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.
11 Crown Vic Interceptor
14 Toyota Camry (wifes car)
95 Taurus GL Vulcan winter beater
67 Honda 450 Super Sport - completely customized
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Kuch Offline
Senior Member
#4
I paid $80 for the head complete with cam and valves and springs as it looked clean and looked like a turbo head. The casting numbers on it aren't very clear but it's either an RF E6ZE or an RF E8ZE. The 6 or 8 isn't very clear, but one of those two. Is there a way to tell Inconel valves compared to stock?
1988 Turbo Coupe, Black/Black, 5 Speed, Moonroof,  T3/T4, ported E6, 255LPH, Kirban, Stinger Exhaust, MGW shifter, K&N, Gillis valve, BP1.5, PIMPx, Koni's
1964 Ford Galaxie 500XL, 390 6V, Big Solid cam, Headers,3.89's, 4 Speed, Vast and fast
1960 Ford Starliner, 292 Y Block, 312 4bbl intake, headers, 3 Speed, slow and low
Mikey97D likes this post
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Jeff K Offline
Administrator
#5
As far as I know the Inconel exhaust valves were only used in turbo applications. Ford used the "turbo" open chamber heads in NA applications back in the mid to late 70's.
Jeff Korn

88 Turbo Coupe: Intake and exhaust mods, T3 turbo at 24 psi, forced air IC, water injection, BPV, Ranger cam, subframes, etc., etc.
86 Tbird 5.0 (original owner): intake, exhaust, valvetrain mods, 100 HP N2O, ignition, gears, suspension, etc., etc.
11 Crown Vic Interceptor
14 Toyota Camry (wifes car)
95 Taurus GL Vulcan winter beater
67 Honda 450 Super Sport - completely customized
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Mikey97D Offline
Senior Member
#6
I am not sure what the regular valve material, but inconel can be mildy magnetic.
From a Google search:
"The word Inconel is an industry term coined by the International Nickel Company (INCO) to describe alloys high in nickel content, meaning Inconel is not one specific alloy. ... Although not naturally magnetic, certain Inconel alloys have magnetic properties, depending on the particular elements involved."

Too bad you were not located closer or would could scan at my workplace Niton Analyzer.
1988 TC, 5 spd, Stinger 3" Exhaust, Schneider Roller Cam, -4° Cam Pulley, Cone Filter, Gilles Boost Control Valve set at 17 psi, Walbro 255 lph, CHE Rear Lower and Upper Control Arms, Braided Brake Lines, Hawk HPS 5.0 Front and HPS (F) Rear, CRES Inserts in front calipers, and '93 Cobra Wheels with General 235/50R17 Tires.   
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Kuch Offline
Senior Member
#7
Good info on the Inconel valves, I will see if they have any of magnetic property to them, I asked about them because the valve seals in this head had two different kinds of seals installed. One set of grey colored ones on the exhaust side and brown ones on the intakes. Not sure if Ford would install two different sets on a standard head, and it could have had a replacement set installed at some point in the past, but if changing the intakes, why not change all of them. I did wire brush out the chambers real good today and they do look crack free, at least visibly. I take it over to my friends shop next week for a magnaflux inspection.
1988 Turbo Coupe, Black/Black, 5 Speed, Moonroof,  T3/T4, ported E6, 255LPH, Kirban, Stinger Exhaust, MGW shifter, K&N, Gillis valve, BP1.5, PIMPx, Koni's
1964 Ford Galaxie 500XL, 390 6V, Big Solid cam, Headers,3.89's, 4 Speed, Vast and fast
1960 Ford Starliner, 292 Y Block, 312 4bbl intake, headers, 3 Speed, slow and low
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