2.3 or 2.9 whipple

Frankycheechoo

Member
Established Member
Joined
Nov 26, 2017
Messages
113
Location
Vaughan
I’m getting conflicting information from some people and there experience with either blower .
I’ve heard the 2.9 is great and will make a bit more power but be lazy and not a fun experience on the street , the 2.3 is more torque down low and way more reliable and easier to drive gives power all the way through the curve .
I’m not changing my stock manifolds yet but most likely do it down the road .
Anyone can chime in with there personal experience , some numbers ?? And any issues what the best way to go . Car is weekend driver and will hit a track a few times in its life bit nothing crazy .
Thanks


Sent from my iPhone using the svtperformance.com mobile app
 

01yellercobra

AKA slo984now
Established Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2005
Messages
21,126
Location
Cali
What fuel are you planning on using? If you only want to run 91 or 93 the 2.3 is probably right for you. My buddy made 590rwhp on 91 with his 2.3. If you want to try E85 I'd go with the 2.9.

FWIW, I ran my 2.9 at 18psi and around 15 degrees of timing on 91 and it never felt lazy like that. But it's a ton of fun on E85.
 

Dusten

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2006
Messages
14,904
Location
Conway, Wa
Dyno's disagree with people's driving feel. I've seen a ton of dyno's showing at similar pulleys the 2.9 making more power than the 2.3 all aspects. But you can more aggressively pulley a 2.3 on pump gas.

I vote 2.3 for a low boost setup that's running a safe tune.

If you're gonna run good fuel and turn it up, the 2.9 all day.
 

MG0h3

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2014
Messages
13,683
Location
El Paso, TX
Now that I’ve driven an Eaton car for the one and only time, here’s my thoughts.

This has to do with how fast you are spinning the blower.

The comments above are spot on, but even on 91, my 2.9 car never felt lazy.

Conversely, my brothers stock Eaton car is an absolute turd. I probably never would’ve bought a Cobra had I not bought the 2.9 car I did. Was the first Cobra I’d ever driven or ridden in.

Everyone says the pulled Eaton was the snappiest. That’s because they were spinning it.

You can make 700 whp on E with the Whipple or TVS 2.3. Great blowers. They are just going to run out of steam sooner.

Pretty sure the 2.3s at 15psi are usually around 540-550whp. My old Gen 2 2.9 was 590/540 at 15psi on 91.


Sent from my iPhone using svtperformance.com
 

Albatross

Active Member
Established Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2019
Messages
302
Location
Georgia
My 2.9 hits hard as hell down low. It makes over 650rwtq @2500. Makes nearly 700 by 3500. Trust me, it is fun as hell on the street.

As @01yellercobra stated, if you are able to run E85 get a 2.9. Also, you will need a solid return system to completely utilize the full potential of either blower.
 

2003RedfireVert

Male and Female He created them.
Established Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2022
Messages
2,375
Location
Fly over country
I went KB 2.8, return style, E85 because I knew I wanted to be 700rw or close to it. As mentioned above, if you ever plan on E85 and return style, go with the bigger blower. Otherwise the 2.3 will make plenty of power on pump. Good luck and let us know what you decide.
 

Dusten

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2006
Messages
14,904
Location
Conway, Wa
I went KB 2.8, return style, E85 because I knew I wanted to be 700rw or close to it. As mentioned above, if you ever plan on E85 and return style, go with the bigger blower. Otherwise the 2.3 will make plenty of power on pump. Good luck and let us know what you decide.

Was the 2.9 not available? Because it'll make well past 700
 

Dusten

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2006
Messages
14,904
Location
Conway, Wa
It was. I got a brand new KB 2.8 for $3,600. I couldn’t pass on it. The whipple 2.9 was $4,500. The extra $1,000 I saved went towards the fuel system.

That makes sense. Your post is worded as such that you bought the 2.8 because it would make the power. I just wanted to clarify the 2.9 can also make it for anyone reading. My 2v makes 715 on a 2.9 so a 4v can do it easy peasy
 

2003RedfireVert

Male and Female He created them.
Established Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2022
Messages
2,375
Location
Fly over country
That makes sense. Your post is worded as such that you bought the 2.8 because it would make the power. I just wanted to clarify the 2.9 can also make it for anyone reading. My 2v makes 715 on a 2.9 so a 4v can do it easy peasy
Oh…yeah…I didn’t mean for it to come out that way. Yes the 2.9 will make a lot of power.
 

causajt

New Member
Established Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2021
Messages
14
Location
Reston, Va
I had a gen 2 2.3 whipple on stock cams with 17.5 psi and hit 603 Hp. Added 106360 comp cams and a gen 2 2.9 at 20 psi and hit 650. I have more power, but it drove better with the 2.3. Both tunes at 18 degrees on 93. Of it’s a street car on 93 I’d go 2.3. I really need to spin my 2.9 harder on e85 for it to be happy.


Sent from my iPhone using svtperformance.com
 

03terminatorcobra

Active Member
Established Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2018
Messages
142
Location
CA
IMO, it comes down to fuel.

91/93/e85 - 2.3
e85 - 2.9

Based on your description, your mods will be blower only and LT's in the future. I have had both 2.3 and 2.9.
The 2.3 was snappy on pump fuel making 550. When I added e85 with a retune it made 650 (I also added LT's and and full exhaust) and was amazing.
I upgraded to a 2.9 standard inlet and made 620 on pump and 710 on e85.

The 2.3 was fun on e85 and I miss this setup. This is an excellent street setup, fun, reliable, super snappy, etc.
The 2.9 didnt hit as hard on pump but on e85 was an animal and since my cobra is now 90% track it was the direction I was going. I hated running the pump fuel tune with the 2.9 as it was lazy down low. It did however pull hard on the top end.

With either setup, you will eventually need to upgrade your t56 and IRS.

This is why I ask which fuel you will be running.
Godspeed
 

Users who are viewing this thread



Top