1999 3.0L to 2.3/2.5T (Long)

[JFortner5]

I can't really find anything about this and I've been trying for a couple days.

My goal is to have a 2.3T Ranger making 250ish rwhp. I want a fun, reliable daily driver. Requirements are really only to keep A/C and get the same 22mpg I am now.

My 3.0L is still running and I'm still driving it every day. It has 167k on it. It does have the timing cover coolant leak, and I just noticed that my oil pan gasket is leaking. Once I realized the engine had to be lifted up I figured why not just take it out to fix the oil pan and make it easier to do the timing cover.

I have always said though if I take this 3.0 out I don't want to put it back. I wanted a 4 cyl truck when I bought this one but couldn't find any I liked so so I bought mine. Some might ask why not get rid of the truck and buy a 4 cylinder; I just bought tires, I've already done a few other mods, and I just know my truck.

The thought of a 2.3T has always intrigued me since I had my first Ranger in 2000. My thought is to try and find a 2.5L engine and freshen it up and install the turbo pistons. Then I could just get it in and running so I could drive to work. Ideally a donor truck would be nice, but not sure if I'll find one.

Here is my list so far:

Lima engine- I know the 2.5 will work but what about a 2.3 from an OBDII truck?

Engine harness

Transmission

Radiator

Engine mounts

My truck is an XLT so coil spring suspension. This doesn't seem like isn't would be too hard to get the engine in and running. That is my goal at first and then adding the turbo and all that goes with it later.

Does this sound feasible and if there are any links to a similar build I'd love to know it. All I could find were 2.3 to 2.3T swaps.

Any sources for decent used engines?

Thanks,
Joey

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[RonD]

Look at the Turbo section here:
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/index-engine-fuel.shtml

These are about swapping stock turbo Lima engines from other Ford models into a Ranger, these would be OBD I

I think 2001 was the last year of the Lima 2v SOHC engine, in 2002 the Rangers had the 4v DOHC Duratec engine.
1996 and up would be OBD II but................when you add the turbo I am not sure the MAF sensor alone would compensate for the extra fuel needed, may need a different or modified/tuned EEC

 

[stmitch]

Do lots of reading over on turborangerforums. They do swaps like this pretty regularly.

 

[JFortner5]

I did I couldn't really find much about coming from a 3.0.

I posted this in the conversion section because to start I am interested in just swapping from a 3.0 to a 2.3. I'm not worried about the turbo part yet.

Also I want to keep OBDII, you get a bigger MAF, injectors, and tuning to compensate for boost but that's a whole other thread.
Basically I just need to get the 3.0 out and a 4 cylinder in and running.

I don't want a turbocoupe engine and computer.

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[stmitch]

I gotcha. I thought you were doing everything at once. Going from 3.0 to a Lima is basically the same as any engine swap that starts with the 3.0. Everything that touches the engine has to be switched (engine, trans, engine harness, PCM, exhaust, etc). PATS will make things a bit more involved, but it's not unbeatable.

Considering everything that has to be swapped, a donor truck is probably the best bet. If it were me, instead of buying a donor truck, and then switching out the entire power train, and most of the electrical system, I'd just buy a decent truck with the Lima to start. It would be much less work, and WAY fewer headaches. It's not tough to find decent Lima powered trucks.

 

[JFortner5]

That probably is the best route to take. I'm gonna keep a look out for one, the only problem is I don't have the cash lying around to buy another without selling mine first. Maybe I can find a trade.

I do know the 4 cylinder trucks do not have PATS so luckily that's not an issue. You're right though I'm gonna see if I can find a wrecked one or a clean one to possibly trade.

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