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More Powa-Babeh 2.9L


DavisRanger

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37
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36
Location
Auburn, Wa
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
228
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
4” body lift
Tire Size
31x10.50R15LT
So, I’ve done some work.

RV Camshaft
Bored +40
4 hole injectors
Cat delete
Headers
Small stroke (idk where the machinist found the crank, but he did.)

I’m also running Advanced Timing and driving on 92 octane, it runs like garbage on anything lower than 92.
Now, I’m assuming I’m needing to have my computer adjusted cause this thing is running rich. Not rich to the point of falling on its face, but rich enough to throw codes and lose a little bit of power when I get my foot in it.

I should also add that I’m running a 170 thermostat, I just think 192 (recommended) is too dang hot. Idk if that would effect it running rich though.

I thought about getting the Jet Chip for it to see if that helps? Been tossing around the Morana dual upper intake.. Also, been looking at a bigger throttle body, or custom intake setup. All I know is I need more air. I’m confident I’m sitting between 175hp-185hp, until codes start being thrown lol.

I’m just having a hard time trying to decide what to do. Any ideas would be appreciated, as long as it doesn’t have to do with a damn swap.

The engine just broke 2500 miles, so swaps are out of the question for now. I’ll also add, I’m trying to break that “Mythical” 200hp mark.

To give you an idea of what’s going on here, I’m running 31x10.5R15 and she’ll break them loose through 2nd and chirp into third.

help me get loose through 3rd please (jk) and stop throwing CEL 😂😂.

But seriously, let’s talk.
 


PetroleumJunkie412

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Give 'yer balls a tug. Fight me.
 

Dirtman

Former Middleweight Moss Fighting Champion
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41N 75W
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2009
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Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
It's up there.
Total Drop
It's down there.
Tire Size
Round.
My credo
I poop in the furnace.
Engines is goes vroom.
 

fastpakr

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Dirtman

Former Middleweight Moss Fighting Champion
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Engine Type
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Transmission
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2WD
Total Lift
It's up there.
Total Drop
It's down there.
Tire Size
Round.
My credo
I poop in the furnace.
Ideally. I have several vroomless engines.
For only $49.99 I'll record myself making vroom vroom noises on tape. You can then set a boom box on the engine and play the tape. Problem solved.
 

fastpakr

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285/75-16
If those noises will make my Ranger go again, I'm in.
 

PetroleumJunkie412

Official TRS EV Taunter
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Location
Dirtman's Basement
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ranger
Engine Size
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Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
Give 'yer balls a tug. Fight me.
So, I’ve done some work.

RV Camshaft
Bored +40
4 hole injectors
Cat delete
Headers
Small stroke (idk where the machinist found the crank, but he did.)

I’m also running Advanced Timing and driving on 92 octane, it runs like garbage on anything lower than 92.
Now, I’m assuming I’m needing to have my computer adjusted cause this thing is running rich. Not rich to the point of falling on its face, but rich enough to throw codes and lose a little bit of power when I get my foot in it.

I should also add that I’m running a 170 thermostat, I just think 192 (recommended) is too dang hot. Idk if that would effect it running rich though.

I thought about getting the Jet Chip for it to see if that helps? Been tossing around the Morana dual upper intake.. Also, been looking at a bigger throttle body, or custom intake setup. All I know is I need more air. I’m confident I’m sitting between 175hp-185hp, until codes start being thrown lol.

I’m just having a hard time trying to decide what to do. Any ideas would be appreciated, as long as it doesn’t have to do with a damn swap.

The engine just broke 2500 miles, so swaps are out of the question for now. I’ll also add, I’m trying to break that “Mythical” 200hp mark.

To give you an idea of what’s going on here, I’m running 31x10.5R15 and she’ll break them loose through 2nd and chirp into third.

help me get loose through 3rd please (jk) and stop throwing CEL 😂😂.

But seriously, let’s talk.
At this point, your engine is so far off from factory parameters that its a miracle that it runs.

Furthermore, the stock tuning is completely incorrect. The EEC-IV Speed Density computer is incapable of re-learning volumetric efficiency. Your volumetric efficiency has changed greatly. Continuing to run it like this will lead to damage - period.

A jet chip is resistors and diodes. They are NOT A TUNER.

YOU NEED A TUNER.

A quarterhorse, SCT, etc. are fawking garbage. They are inadequate as a tuner, period. Fight me. I will win.

If you don't believe me, go to a dragstrip. Those actually winning on EFI are using standalones, not chips. A chip is old tech and several magnitudes more expensive than a standalone.

There is a factory manifold that works. Contact Jeff Herston and Merkur Midwest. blugg@msn.com. Tell him you need a complete Merkur upper. they flow 13-35% better than the junk Ranger intake depending on RPMs. My VE maps show this. Yes, the Merkur one is better than Morana's.


I would be willing to bet that with appropriate tuning, you've already broken the 200hp mark.

If you do decide to go with Megasquirt/microsquirt, PM me. I can remote tune your truck from PA. Tuning shops are $400/hr on average. I am free.
 
Last edited:

snoranger

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My credo
I didn't ask for your life story, just answer the question!
If you do decide to go with Megasquirt/microsquirt, PM me. I can remote tune your truck from PA. Tuning shops are $400/hr on average. I am free.
You get what you pay for.
 

PetroleumJunkie412

Official TRS EV Taunter
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4WD
My credo
Give 'yer balls a tug. Fight me.
tenor.png






Oh, yeah, I'm not promising dialing in anything but running and stable. The rest is up to you.
 

adsm08

Senior Master Grease Monkey
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4.0
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4WD
Tire Size
31X10.50X15
Cat delete gained you nothing and made driving the truck on the road a crime.

Just saying.
 

PetroleumJunkie412

Official TRS EV Taunter
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113
Location
Dirtman's Basement
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ranger
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Manual
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4WD
My credo
Give 'yer balls a tug. Fight me.
⬆secret hippie


Amazon units are $50, and are basically a mesh strainer in your tailpipe. But, legal and CARB approved.

Besides, pollution sucks.

Even force fed, I dropped the money on a 3" cat to stay legal. If its a restriction, bigger cat it is.
 

sgtsandman

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2WD / 4WD
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Total Lift
Pre-2008 lift/Stock
Tire Size
31X10.5R15/265/65R17
Adsm08 beat me to it. If your truck is going to off road only, the cat delete is not an issue. However, if you drive it on to a public road, you are breaking federal law. Modern catalytic converters are not restrictive like the original ones were. So doing a delete gains you nothing.
 

DavisRanger

Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2019
Messages
37
Reaction score
29
Points
18
Age
36
Location
Auburn, Wa
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
228
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
4” body lift
Tire Size
31x10.50R15LT
Cat delete gained you nothing and made driving the truck on the road a crime.

Just saying.
Lmao, I’ll take my chances and my cat was clogged. Sounds better, I will say that. I’ll wind up replacing it when I run new exhaust.
 

DavisRanger

Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2019
Messages
37
Reaction score
29
Points
18
Age
36
Location
Auburn, Wa
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
228
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
4” body lift
Tire Size
31x10.50R15LT
At this point, your engine is so far off from factory parameters that its a miracle that it runs.

Furthermore, the stock tuning is completely incorrect. The EEC-IV Speed Density computer is incapable of re-learning volumetric efficiency. Your volumetric efficiency has changed greatly. Continuing to run it like this will lead to damage - period.

A jet chip is resistors and diodes. They are NOT A TUNER.

YOU NEED A TUNER.

A quarterhorse, SCT, etc. are fawking garbage. They are inadequate as a tuner, period. Fight me. I will win.

If you don't believe me, go to a dragstrip. Those actually winning on EFI are using standalones, not chips. A chip is old tech and several magnitudes more expensive than a standalone.

There is a factory manifold that works. Contact Jeff Herston and Merkur Midwest. blugg@msn.com. Tell him you need a complete Merkur upper. they flow 13-35% better than the junk Ranger intake depending on RPMs. My VE maps show this. Yes, the Merkur one is better than Morana's.


I would be willing to bet that with appropriate tuning, you've already broken the 200hp mark.

If you do decide to go with Megasquirt/microsquirt, PM me. I can remote tune your truck from PA. Tuning shops are $400/hr on average. I am free.
I was afraid you’d say that lol. I think we talked about this a while back. Wiring up an ECU is quite a daunting task. Since it’s my daily driver, I can’t afford to have it down for more than a weekend and with my luck... I’d do something wrong and I’d be shaking my head with hands in the air and wire all over the place.

However, I’ve come this far.. might as-well take a stab at it. Lol

Thanks for that email, btw. I’ve been looking all over for a Merkur upper. I had a feeling that would be the better option.
 

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