1990 2.3 Turbo Ranger 4x4 just finished, few questions still...

[AllenSB101]

Whats up everybody, just finished my turbo conversion here in Santa Barbara, CA and I am soooo stoked! Since my girlfriend shows no interest whatsoever in all my hard work and effort, I figured I'd come here and share with people who would appreciate the beast that my truck has become. So far I only have her set at 9-10 psi as indicated by my gauge, but after the motor breaks in (fresh rebuild, well 5 year old fresh rebuild so the guy said lol!! ) I'm thinking of 15-17. So if I can answer any questions to those thinking of the conversion feel free to ask, and for those pros out there who have tips that might save me from future headaches all advice is welcome. So far it runs super rich, as indicated by my new air/fuel gauge and how black the inside of my new tailpipe looks. Not quite sure why, but after running the codes (66 81,82,83 10,11) it looks like it might be something to do with my VAF meter. What else, no egr right now, distributor timed at 12 with pip or spout (disconnected cant remember which right now lol), no vacuum leaks as far as I can tell, and all new plugs, wires, cap, rotor, coil, dist, yada yada yada. Oh, its out of a 88 Turbocoupe, so LA3, volvo intercooler up front (pipes from STINGER, sweet!!). I have both size VAM, and it seems to run a little better with the small one, but is that due to compensation for it running rich to begin with? When I get on the throttle hard it falters right before boost, but if I roll into it easy it does ok. Oh well, I'm gonna measure voltage and resistance next I guess to the VAF meter, and then.......? Any ideas??

 

[kaytbugsdad]

Hey Allen, welcome to the club!!!! Code 66 is your vane air flow meter-signal low and code 81 is the boost control solenoid........ codes 82 and 83 are fan codes and no need to worry about those, unless you're using the fan controller from the T-bird for electric fans.... Did you use the ranger wire harness or the t-bird one? I just did my swap in February(87 turbo coupe motor) and no check engine light on (codes 82 and 83 show up in memory on my truck too), so yep, it's time to check the wiring going to and from the VAF meter, and also the boost control solenoid...... Good luck!!!!!

 

[AllenSB101]

So I had the air/fuel ratio gauge wired incorrectly, which was giving me a false rich reading. I also put back on the larger VAF meter that goes with the computer and injectors, and she runs fine now. Still hesitation if I floor it when it comes to boost, but stays right where it should as far as air/fuel ratio. I'll check the VAF in the next few days to make sure it have no flat spots and correct voltage/readings, but other than that she runs great!! 10 psi set with a RickGills valve? (boostvalve.com) so no boost control solenoid. So much fun, its hard to restrain while she breaks in.... she's only seen 4000rpm so far, and the turbo is a .60 a/r so I think its good to 6000rpm? Oh yeah, I used my stock ranger harness and just ran the extra required wires to the sensors and such. Everything sat for 5 years prior to my purchasing so an out of whack VAF meter isn't too far fetched. we'll soon see......

 

[skyy_4life]

Lets see some pics of this beast.

2.3 turbo 4x4's are very interesting to me.

 

[pineapplesoymilk]

i want to see some slideways action videos of it, i can hear it spoolin already haha

 

[AllenSB101]

so how do I post pics to the thread? I have them in my profile but can't seem to figure it out