My Little Blue Ranger

ltbenji · Feb 23, 2014

Hey everyone. I've been semi active/observing on this forum for a couple years now and I've decided to finally start a work log...especially since I am starting on a big project for my truck.

My 88 Ranger the day I bought it

Washed and no wheel cap

Painted the wheels silver....made a big difference

About 9 months after I bought the truck the original 2.3 decided to start knocking so it came out and a 7k mile 89 2.3 went in as a replacement

Much thanks to everyone here who helped me with that swap

ltbenji · Feb 23, 2014

And that brings us up to date.
Well a few weeks ago I was browsing craigslist and found this truck...and bought it.

All because of this
(if you can't see it, it's a turbo.

The P/O had an extra E6 manifold and IHI turbo and threw it on.
Literally threw it on....nothing else changed. But it ran and got me hooked.

So I started researching a turbo build and decided it would be most cost efficient to purchase a turbo coupe or svo mustang motor and check it out and refresh gaskets and just put the turbo on it. Save myself the trouble of swapping pistons and stuff like that.
Which is why I bought this.

Thought it was an 88 SVO engine with 40k original miles.
I went to pick it up and got excited about the good deal I was getting and stopped paying attention to details...
First realized it was a regular 2.3 out of a mustang...so I though...well, it still only has 40k miles on it so it should be fine. A slight setback but I'll just put pistons in it and we'll be alright.
The transmission comes out...and was replaced in 07 according to the marks on the inside of the bell housing.
I do some more looking....the timing belt has obviously been replaced...

Then I pulled the valve cover and looked at and felt the cam and it has slight grooves in it which I would assume takes more than 40k miles.

So out of that trip and purchase...I got four parts I can use for sure.
(The engine is not one of them)

Confirmed upper and lower intake manifold, valve cover, and a second e6 exhaust manifold with a couple broken studs but I don't think any cracks.

ltbenji · Feb 23, 2014

So that's up to date.

My end goal is to have a turbo engine putting out 15psi. I know that requires the forged pistons and injectors at a minimum.

Right now I have:
An 88 Mustang motor with what I assume is 140k miles
An 89 Ranger motor, 8 plug, with @60k miles
An 91 Ranger motor, 8 plug, with 205k miles

What my thought is...

Use the 89 motor, since it has the fewest miles. I would think I should be able to just drop the pistons in and not have to get much if anything machined.
I know this motor has the 8 plug but I've converted a 4 plug to 8 and doing it again wouldn't be a problem.

ltbenji · Feb 23, 2014

And I know I could try to buy another turbo motor....but after my experience with this 88 I'd rather not.

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JoshT · Feb 23, 2014

What are your plans. Are you putting the motor to replace the one in your second gen or to install in the first gen?

Either way I'd start with the motor you currently have pulled. Get it built, drop it in its new home.

There are plenty of people that have opened up 150K mile motors and found crosshatching still on the cylinder walls. Even with that 203K mile motor you may not need more than a honing and new bearings.

IMO I'd keep that 89 60K mile motor intact for a spare.

Just my thoughts. Never built a 2.3L or a turbo motor, so take them for what they are worth to you.

ltbenji · Feb 23, 2014

Thanks for the advice Josh. Since posting this, I talked with a mechanic friend of mine.
And from his advice I am going to sell the 88, and pull and build the 91 right.

I know it will be a more expensive than finding and buying a turbo coupe motor but I will know its right.

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ltbenji · Feb 23, 2014

Tonight I went out and started the process of pulling the motor out. Got the top mount and air cleaner out and the manifold is loose. Have to borrow a grinder to cut the exhaust so I can pull it and the turbo out.

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jhammel85 · Feb 24, 2014

Thats a bummer on the motor but this all sounds like a solid plan for your truck! It's a clean 1st gen!

ltbenji · Feb 24, 2014

So tonight I got the turbo and E6 manifold out of the truck.

So far I haven't seen any cracks and the turbo shaft doesn't seem to have any play in it.

One question I have already come up with. The last picture is where the turbo connects to the down pipe. What is my down pipe solution? Just a piece of pipe? Or is there an actual down pipe I need to hunt down?

ltbenji · Mar 2, 2014

Well I finally got a warm, non busy, non working day, so I worked on pulling the engine from the 91 for a few hours.

Didn't accomplish much but got some done.

Starter and upper intake manifold came off.
The starter does look a little customized, but it works fine

Both driveshafts disconnected

And since the top two transmission bolts don't want to move, the radiator support is coming out so I can easily remove the engine and transmission together.

With snow and cold weather ahead looks like it will have to sit for another week or so.

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ltbenji · Mar 10, 2014

Found another day to work on the 91 for about an hour.

Got the radiator support out

Started to remove the wiring harness

And pulled the heater box

Slowly but surely

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ltbenji · Mar 11, 2014

Well thanks to some awesome friends I got the engine and transmission out tonight.

We had to pull the transfer case with them for a while since it wouldn't split.

Hopefully I can split the engine and transmission tomorrow and get the engine on my stand to start the disassembly.

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ltbenji · Mar 13, 2014

Yesterday I got the transmission and engine split apart and the engine on a stand.

The p/o said the transmission is a rebuilt unit with 14k miles. I'm not holding by breath until I pull the cover and look for myself.

The clutch, pressure plate, and slave cylinder all look pretty close to new. Good signs.

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ltbenji · Mar 14, 2014

Well today I got off work at 5 and worked till 9 on breaking the engine down.

Side note, I found and purchased a big VAM, turbocoupe throttle body, and oil pan on a mustang forum and they are on the way. The part gathering begins.

First thing I found out is engine is probably not the original to the 91 truck. The block has an 89 casting stamp on it. But it's not too important since it is going to be rebuilt anyway.

Tonight I got the engine almost completely torn down.
All that is left together is the rotating assembly and the head.
Crankshaft pulley mount needs to come off too.

I'll post more pics tomorrow.

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ltbenji · Mar 18, 2014

So the first of the needed turbo parts arrived today.
Oil pan, dipstick, and feed tube
Throttle body
and big VAM

My Little Blue Ranger

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