1986 Ranger 2.3 motor mods

[1991dangerranger]

I'm looking ata 1986 ranger with the 2.3 with EFI. does anyone know of some cheap mods i could do to get so extra HP out of it.

Thanks, dalton

 

[DandysRanger]

How fast do you want to go? Its just a question of how much you want to spend. Ford 2.3L Performance
Cheap mods are a decent exhaust and a K&N but you won't see much.
Just my opinion but these engines are pretty good stock, especially with the EFI. I have 223K on my bone-stock 85. Sure it leaves it's mark wherever I park it but it is pretty reliable.

 

[Ranger850]

waiting for it …

 

[RonD]

2.3l SOHC Lima engine, also called Pinto engine was first used in 1974 Ford Pinto

It was used in Ford vehicles until 1997 Ranger

It has a low power to weight ratio, weights alot and not alot of power, lol
But it was super reliable which was why it was used by Ford for so many years in so many vehicles

Mustangs had this engine for many years, 1975-1993
So Mustang forums are a good place to get ideas about changes that work and those that don't

You have a stock Cold Air Intake, and stock headers(mid-range) in any Fuel injected Ranger, 2.3l included

One mod that increases HP and MPG both, on ANY vehicle, is switching to an electric cooling fan and getting rid of the mechanical fan and fan clutch
Mechanical fan is always drawing power from engine so lowers HP and MPG all the time
E-fan only draws power(from alternator) when its on, and that should only be when you are driving slowly or stopped, when driving above says 30MPH the air flow thru radiator is more than any fan can provide so e-fan would shut off
Is it a big HP and MPG increase........no, but it ain't 0 either

You can get all the parts needed from wrecking yards

 

[ExploreNW]

If I had an '80s truck I'd pull the restrictions out of the intake and exhaust. Short of that, if you have an oxygen sensor reader you can do an EFI delete and get a carb dialed in perfectly. I'm not really a fan of Ford's EEC-III setups, they are rather weak - a watch has more compute power - though the EEC-IV is some sort of magic wizard box that can keep anything running with half of your sensors unplugged. Tuning that EFI will probably cost more than a carb which can be tuned with a screwdriver. Just my $.02