Are the 4-bangers any good

[89rangerboy]

I know that's a pretty open question.

But i was going to build a Ranger and was wondering if the 4-bangers are a good choice.

All im really going to do is use the truck as a daily driver (while i build my 89 Ranger for off-roader)

But if the 4 banger isn't the best then i can take the 2.9 out the 89 and put it in there.

 

[marriedmanw]

I have a 94 with a 2.3L 4 cylinder and it's not bad. The only times I wished for more power was hauling or towing. If you don't need alot of power for DD then the 4 cylinder should be sufficient. With mine I run the RPM up to 3000 before shifting, and I think it does better within that power band. The 2.3L is a very tight engine, and with 190K on the clock it's not burning or leaking oil. The other slight advantage would be fuel mileage.
-Michael

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

the 2.3 (pre 97) and 2.5 (same engine, stroked a bit) are great engines. anything that ran for almost 30 years cant be wrong! the aftermarket support for those motors is HUGE (bigger than any of the v6 markets)...anything you want you can get. they have nearly unlimited "mod-ability" and can put out some decent numbers n/a. get huff easy with a turbo coupe swap and make nearly 300 horse without even opening the motor.

 

[Captain Ledd]

Aside from lack of power in stock form, they're fantastically reliable and virtually bullet proof.

 

[Mutant Pony]

the 2.3 (pre 97) and 2.5 (same engine, stroked a bit) are great engines. anything that ran for almost 30 years cant be wrong! the aftermarket support for those motors is HUGE (bigger than any of the v6 markets)...anything you want you can get. they have nearly unlimited "mod-ability" and can put out some decent numbers n/a. get huff easy with a turbo coupe swap and make nearly 300 horse without even opening the motor.

What he said^.
Stock they are not very exciting to drive but, are capable of getting better mileage than a 2.9. And they do upgrade nicely.

 

[fastpakr]

I just bought a used '94 last week and love it. I'm still throwing a CEL for a couple of things that I'll investigate further when my Mitchell manual comes in later, but drove it almost 400 miles Monday at 27.5mpg average. There's something to be said for doing that well in a pickup truck, especially with a motorcycle sticking out above the cab.

 

[89rangerboy]

Alright cool.

Yeah i would be getting a 2 wheel drive little dinker make it my street rod

So i can go from my house in Tenino to Tacoma for tech school.

But its mostly freeway so im glad to see the numbers you got for MPG.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

the great thing about a turbo...if you stay out of the skinny pedal, you get stock or very close to stock 4 banger mileage....and when you open the taps and you have v-8 or very near v-8 power (hint hint, wink wink).

 

[89rangerboy]

Yeah, turbos are nice and they make that cool sound

And they are efficient too!

Which is good in these modern ages.