88 4x4 2.3 hard to come by?

[mnmattie]

are they hard to find???

 

[metalmacguyver]

Any year 4x4 4cyl ranger is very hard to find. They do exist though.

 

[mhughes165]

first gen 4x4 4cyl seems to be the hardest to find, the 3rd gen seems more common

 

[mnmattie]

ah well i was asking since i have an 88 2.3 4x4 XLT that needs a motor. thought about throwing a 4.0 in it but maybe i should throw a 2.3 and sell it?????

 

[mhughes165]

get a older turbocoupe setup, in a 1st gen itll just pretty much drop in aslong as u transfer all associated wiring, and u can prolly get one for not much mroe then another NA 2.3

 

[mnmattie]

i got a few 2.3 bare motors that i can build one that i might do.

 

[Big Red Ranger]

ya it was hard for me to find my 88 2.3 4x4 ranger

 

[mini_monster]

i have a 91 2.3 and i have two friends one with a 99 4.0 ranger and one with a 92 2.9 and i gotta say i wouldn't give up my 2.3 for any one of them.

u can build a 2.3 without a turbo and still get a streetable 250-300hp i'm in the middle of that seeing as how mine has 198k miles on it she a lil tired but the only thing that sucks is finding a tranny cause i don't think the stock mazda trans will like that much power

 

[1987 DANGER RANGER]

My 87 (the one in the avitar) was a factory 2.3 5sp ps pb and a/c 4x4

 

[CTswampyankee]

I sold the guy above my old 2nd gen 2.3 4x4. I now have a 2.9 an wish it was a 2.3. There rare but u can find them. Ive had a 88 an a 91 4x4 2.3s. There very fun an rearly break down.

 

[ejholmgren]

u can build a 2.3 without a turbo and still get a streetable 250-300hp i'm in the middle of that seeing as how mine has 198k miles on it she a lil tired but the only thing that sucks is finding a tranny cause i don't think the stock mazda trans will like that much power

Ermmm... maybe with a 200 shot of nitrous, and it might last a few seconds. Those 2.3's are ~90-100hp stock. Where is this magic 150-200hp coming from without a little forced induction?

 

[CTswampyankee]

Open your eyes!!!! There is 2 race tracks in my state that run 2.3s in the mini stocks. You can find all sorts of parts for the 2.3. You evan can swap in a Volvo DOHC head with some minor mods.

 

[ejholmgren]

Open your eyes!!!! There is 2 race tracks in my state that run 2.3s in the mini stocks. You can find all sorts of parts for the 2.3. You evan can swap in a Volvo DOHC head with some minor mods.

I suppose you could have the head ported/fitted for big valves, port the lower/upper intakes, massage the block and or head for the volvo swap, etc ...

I'm not trying to be an ass, but I'm guessing that most people don't want to dump a pile of cash on a 2.3L ranger and still have to run it at 7K rpm to make power.

 

[supertrucker67]

ya it was hard for me to find my 88 2.3 4x4 ranger

pinto on steriods lmas,no put a header on it and a weber carb and your good to go,,