I want to put a supercharger on my 97 Ranger 2.3

[thebigyellowtruck]

I want to put a supercharger on my 1997 ranger with a 2.3L engine in it. It a great truck, but i wish the power was there more. I'm debating on whether or not to drop in a small v8. maybe a 289 or 302. If its cheaper i would rather just put on a supercharger. I'm pretty sure it would be less work. So far i have only found 3 so called supercharger kits and they can only get up to 30 horse power. http://www.fordrangersupercharger.com/ . I would like to add more horsepower. does anyone else know of a good kit for my engine? Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[Mark_88]

Well, the Turbonator has been pretty much trashed by most everyone on here over the past few years...so I'd avoid that if possible...

There was a poster from BC that modified a 3.8 litre supercharger onto his 2.3 and last I heard it was working...think his name was Robert, but I can't remember the user name...

try searching the forums for supercharger...last time I saw a post from him was maybe a year ago...

Edit: Did the search for you because I was curious as to what happened to Robert...appears he was trying to sell the truck...didn't follow that up, but here is the link Supertruck Page http://www.members.shaw.ca/rabello

Edit II: And his user name on here was Anapaum

 

[thebigyellowtruck]

when i click the link it says that the page is not found. I looked up his name. it seems like the guy had alot of trouble with it. I found a super charger for a jeep that looks like with a few custom brackets would fit on a ranger. the only problem seems like tuning. it is a Vortech V-3 SCi-Trim Supercharger. I seen in installe done one of the 4 door jeep wranglers.
http://www.powerblocktv.com/video/?ep_num=XT2010-19&ep_show=XT

 

[BlackBII]

Here is one thread..

User name is anupaum

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30344

 

[Mark_88]

Here is one thread..

User name is anupaum

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30344

Ah, that's more like it...

Oh, the link I provided is actually Roberts' build page...it's in every one of his posts...just click the link at the bottom that says Super Truck...

 

[thebigyellowtruck]

thanks guys. for some reason the link that mark posted i still cant go to the page, but when i look at teh build thread i can click his link. thanks. looks like something to look in to.

 

[Bryan22]

Everyone had their doubt about this kid- even me- but i think he got it to run for a while.... then he proved everyone right and blew it up, but you can see what he was thinking. haha.
http://www.ranger-forums.com/showthread.php?t=54522&highlight=supercharger

 

[v8318cid]

From what I've read and seen, you can only do so much with the 2.3. If you choose to add a charger of whatever ilk, be prepared to spend $$$ to beef up the bottom end. The stock parts aren't really built to handle any sort of power bump. You'd probably need new rods, stronger pistons and crank, as well as altering the compression ratio. In the long run, probably better looking into the V8 option, in my opinion anyway.

 

[Rustywall]

Turbonator

Well, the Turbonator has been pretty much trashed by most everyone on here over the past few years...so I'd avoid that if possible...

yeah i put the turbonator in my 87 camaro 5.7 in the air cleaner and it honestly was 50 dollars wasted on a piece of steel that got thrown in the back of my ranger with a few undred more pound of scrap metal. I WOULD NOT reccomend anybody getting it. I recently blew a head gasket in my 2.3 and am considering going with the turbo 2.3 out of the thunderbird. That just seems way more logical than being cheap and buying useless knicknacks


87 camaro 5.7 turbo350 3.73posi
93 ranger 2.3 5 speed stock

 

[Bryan22]

From what I've read and seen, you can only do so much with the 2.3. If you choose to add a charger of whatever ilk, be prepared to spend $$$ to beef up the bottom end. The stock parts aren't really built to handle any sort of power bump. You'd probably need new rods, stronger pistons and crank, as well as altering the compression ratio. In the long run, probably better looking into the V8 option, in my opinion anyway.

The bottom ends on these motors are really really solid. The stock crank and rods (assuming they are forged, don't remember what year they changed them to cast) Are good for somewhere in the neighborhood of 400hp. Pistons will need to be changed to run any kind of boost at all. As well as either running electronics from a turbocoupe/merkur/mustang turbo, or a stand alone engine management system on OBD1 vehicles, or a good program for an OBD2 vehicle (jess from turborangerforums.com can help with that) .