1990 2.3 Turbo Ranger Build

[Turbroke]

After going nuts trying to find 3" flex hose, and building that ridiculous, shiny aluminum adapter; I remembered that my RV's sewer line is 3". I like this set-up much better even though it was a "crappy" idea.... (sorry, couldn't resist)

 

[Turbroke]

I think the TC's run in the 4000lb range, so a 3200lb Ranger should go pretty good. I think the TC's use a 7.5" axle too, but I think most of them had a limited slip. I think I remember reading that a 2.3T Ranger should run in the mid 14's in the 1/4, so that's reasonably quick.'

You're new to this Ranger, right? Once you have some miles on it and get used to how it shifts I bet it'll grow on you, my M5OD shifts smooth (except 2nd, that grinds now and then even with new synchro's) and can be shifted fast. If you think an M5 shifts like a truck, try driving an S-10 with a T5... Even the ZF5 in my F350 shifts better than they do

I have a feeling your exhaust tube intake is the cause for the WOT miss, these systems don't like air metering problems either way, anytime air gets in or out after the VAM they'll run kinda weird. I think my VAM has a dead spot in the highway cruise area of airflow because it will run just fine with more or less throttle. It's gonna be my excuse to upgrade to the LA3 computer I have and find a big VAM, but I gotta wait til I have time to do that, it runs just fine other than cruising at 55mph, 50 and down or 60 and up is fine, but it doesn't like 55...

I know what you're talking about with the S-10 shifting. Dump truck like shifting, and yes the Ranger is way better than those. I had about 4 of them over the years until I decided a Ranger was the way to go. I'm just going to have to go through it and rule out a clogged fuel pump and crappy, old gas. It runs really good until you hammer it; then it starts sputtering around 2700rpm, and it really don't like to run past 3000rpm without missing. It fails right in the sweet spot where everything lines up and it should just jump out. I have good, leak free connections from my VAM to turbo and turbo to intake. At least it's running; it's just not "screaming" yet. I'll get there. I wonder if my 2.25" straight pipe exhaust system is messing with anything? I'm going to put a turbo muffler in before I take it cross country. It sounds like a diesel farm tractor. lol I found my big VAM on ebay, there's a shop selling re-conditioned ones for around $118.00. Kinda pricey, but it arrived nice and clean with all the wear prone parts replaced with new. Probably could get one at NAPA for that kind of money though.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I'm running 2.25" straight pipe with a $40 Thrush muffler from Jegs, works good and was cheap and simple. It's not quiet, but it isn't bad either, sounds pretty good

There's probably just something catching up from all the sitting, these engines can get kinda moody...

So your tach works? It sounds like you did the same thing I did unless I moved a wire wrong, mine doesn't work... Maybe I made a wiring mistake when I first put it in , that would explain a lot...

 

[Turbroke]

Today I started re-checking my work and discovered that I had the ECT and knock sensor wiring mismatched. (Still a little sketchy on the knock sensor) A dumb mistake probably caused by inhaling way too much carb cleaner the day I did that. Anyhow, I put the wires on the correct sensors and just came back from my test drive. For the first time EVER with this truck I achieved the "holy mother of god; hold on to your lug nuts" acceleration I've been working so hard for. It feels like Christmas - only better!!! I am certain this truck would blow the doors off of my 88' Turbo Coupe and now feel certain that every dollar, every drop of sweat and every busted knuckle was totally worth it. Tonight I am in shade tree mechanic, redneck, heaven. It still has an occasional miss at WOT, but I can confidently attribute that to running out of cash before I bought new plugs and wires. (They're old, played out and were not very good to begin with) Next week I'll tune her up and try not to get too many speeding tickets. This is probably the end of this thread until spring comes and I start the body restoration. Thanks for all the help guys!

 

[Turbroke]

Spring is finally here, and I'm itching to start body work and paint. I really like the original color scheme, and think I'll stick with it. Also, have the engine running right, and have things more or less the way I want them under the hood for the time being. It's a bunch more fun to drive now! I'm planning to install a welded, stainless steel header and put an intercooler in the mix. The red lines in the photo are where I's like to run the piping. It wouldn't require turning the intake and there is plenty of room to add piping that way, but it would increase the overall length of the piping required. I'm not sure if that's an issue or not. Very pleased with the way this project has been going.

 

[Mazanger]

Lots of people run rear-mounted turbos and seem to be fine with the increased boost lag that comes with 10 feet of intercooler piping, I'd think you'll be fine. Though you will be running your intake pipe right post the header, increased intake temp would be my only concern. Good luck!

 

[Turbroke]

I'm very close to having all the bugs worked out of the engine swap. Deleted the charcoal canister because it was creating a vacuum leak and ordered a boost gauge, and an XSspeed, stainless steel header with stock turbo placement. The stock one has a small leak in cyl 4 from a corrosion pocket in the flange. (tick, tick, tick) It drives me crazy and I think my O2 sensor too. Other than that my little truck is running like it was never intended to! I am now facing the issue of the engine outperforming the truck's handling abilities. When that turbo spools up and kicks in; it feels like the engine wants to jump out of the hood and leave the rest of it behind; even with brand new shocks and rubber. (Nothing at all like the Turbo Coupe that inspired the project. Of course.) I would like to figure out how to get it handling a bit more responsively without lowering, or putting hard shocks on it. I like speed, but I don't want to sacrifice the little bit of comfort the stock suspension offers. I'm running the truck without boost control. The stock 9-15psi from the waste gate is plenty for my needs.

 

[Enemy]

Sweet to hear it's cranking out the power Turbroke! Nothing better than stabbing the throttle and it puling harder than ya expected!
I have been contemplating your same handling question this past week with what I am doing with the 88. Right now I am am concentrating on bettering the factory wore out suspension bushings and mounts on mine with polyurethane stuff from Energy suspension or of the likes. Just did the trans mount on the T5 I modded in on the factory cross-member and going to do the radius arm bushings (one side is completely shot on mine) and front swaybar before I set the motor. I really don't want to lower mine so on the rear I'm thinking something like the Caltracs like Death did on his with my spring perches flipped on the explorer 8.8 to keep the factory ride height. Will probably do urethane mounts on the rear explorer sway as well.. I like to feel the the vehicle Havent figured out a shock yet..
Hopefully it'll hook up, handle like new performance ride and not need a kidney belt to drive for a few hundred mile at a shot... At least thats what the voices in my head are telling me lol

 

[Turbroke]

Sweet to hear it's cranking out the power Turbroke! Nothing better than stabbing the throttle and it puling harder than ya expected!
I have been contemplating your same handling question this past week with what I am doing with the 88. Right now I am am concentrating on bettering the factory wore out suspension bushings and mounts on mine with polyurethane stuff from Energy suspension or of the likes. Just did the trans mount on the T5 I modded in on the factory cross-member and going to do the radius arm bushings (one side is completely shot on mine) and front swaybar before I set the motor. I really don't want to lower mine so on the rear I'm thinking something like the Caltracs like Death did on his with my spring perches flipped on the explorer 8.8 to keep the factory ride height. Will probably do urethane mounts on the rear explorer sway as well.. I like to feel the the vehicle Havent figured out a shock yet..
Hopefully it'll hook up, handle like new performance ride and not need a kidney belt to drive for a few hundred mile at a shot... At least thats what the voices in my head are telling me lol

Sounds like you're coming along with the project. This is my first souped up mini-truck, but I've driven them forever. I predicted that the handling would disappoint, so I made sure everything was factory new tight underneath with new rubber, but it still feels a little unsure of itself under max boost/wot conditions. The truck just isn't engineered for hp, and the 2.3 is pretty light compared to a v8. A big benefit imo, but the v8 guys with stock suspensions trucks probably handle a little better. May add sway-bars, but I really don't want to do anything to make it ride harder. It's a daily driver, not a track truck and you can feel em' just fine without any help. With you on lowering it too. I drive trucks BECAUSE they sit a little higher. Where is your build thread Enemy? Did you start one? I'd like to see how it's coming along.

 

[Enemy]

Got my build thread here => http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=158952

It's coming along, slowly! Hopefully fire it in a few more weeks, got some rain here today so going to try and finish up the transmission clutch slave and master then on to the wiring. All the factory harness is garbage, all rotted at most of the connectors, and the harness I got from the wrecked 2.3 truck is ripped up pretty good, so fun times ahead!
Not a fan of wiring lol..

 

[Turbroke]

Replaced the stock exhaust manifold with an xspower, stainless steel header (stock turbo placement) and a new O2 sensor. The truck really came to life and is getting a solid 25 MPG now! Finally hit pay-dirt on his project. Just what I wanted, and hoped for; a Ranger with power AND economy. I still have to plumb the EGR to the downpipe (hope that works out ok), but it's everything I'd hoped it would be. I'm half inclined to leave the rust and dents as is. Everybody nearly falls over when they look under the hood and/or feel the G's! I feel like fixing it up real pretty will take away some of it's cool factor somehow. She's a good match for me... old, beaten and worn, but able to do more than she could when she was new. Ha!

 

[Enemy]

25mpg and boosted crazy fun!?!! That rocks man!
I have come across many threads of people asking for MPG info along with 300hp on these little 2.3's (and many other mills) and most reply with the "can't have your cake and eat it too" mindset. That just makes me want to find the right combo even more because hi-hp and economy will co-exist in the future no matter what, even with the old iron and that makes me sooooo happy. One of the very few tings I do like about technology flying at us at ludicrous speed lol
Happy ya found a great combo!

I like your thinking on leaving the rust, I have been pondering the same thoughts on my build. Especially when I plan on driving the crap out of it, and going for a totally sleeper look on the outside. Bring it on coal burner

 

[Turbroke]

25mpg and boosted crazy fun!?!! That rocks man!
I have come across many threads of people asking for MPG info along with 300hp on these little 2.3's (and many other mills) and most reply with the "can't have your cake and eat it too" mindset. That just makes me want to find the right combo even more because hi-hp and economy will co-exist in the future no matter what, even with the old iron and that makes me sooooo happy. One of the very few tings I do like about technology flying at us at ludicrous speed lol
Happy ya found a great combo!

I like your thinking on leaving the rust, I have been pondering the same thoughts on my build. Especially when I plan on driving the crap out of it, and going for a totally sleeper look on the outside. Bring it on coal burner

I hear that Enemy. The horsepower/economy thing is what caused this whole project to begin with. My first experience with that combo was with my first 94' BMW 328i, then I got an 88 Ford, Turbo Coupe that impressed me even more. It came with a spare turbo motor, and I had this ranger with a blown motor, so it was basically on. LOL Of course, the little truck don't handle like either of those cars which were both ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, but I like it better by far. I'm a truck guy; cars don't work for me. I need payload capability, and I have spinal injuries that make getting in and out of low, ground hugging vehicles a little tough and painful. Man, if I could make this truck handle like a BMW I would lose my license to speeding tickets in a month! Glad to see your project is coming along too. You really pulled out all the stops; It's gonna be a sick one!