1992 Ford Ranger needs a boost!

[Mforrest327]

Hi. Just joined the page and am in need of some advise. I have a '92 s/c s/b ranger with the 2.3 and 5-speed. Its a decent truck, but I average 18.8 mpg and the truck has zero power. My opions are to swap in a v8 or turbo it. Now dont be too harsh, but I am leaning towards a 5.7L vortec ONLY!!!!!!!!!! because they are alot cheaper then the 5.0's where I live and they produce more power. I would really prefer to just turbo it, but have no idea on how to do this, what I would need to do it or how to keep it smog legal since I live in California. Any advise would be great, thanks.

 

[RangerFabWorks]

good luck passing emissions in california.

in cali, you have to use an engine from the same year of your truck. and it will have t pass the strictest emissions testing.

but i support ya on the 5.7 gret engines man.

 

[1mean02hd]

Check out the turbo-4 section over on www.rangerpowersports.com . The turbo install on a 2.3L is pretty straightforward. Plus do research on SVO Mustangs and Thundernird Turbo Coupes, they were all 2.3L turbo from the factory.

 

[Mforrest327]

Thank you both for the replys and advise. I have already checked with the engin swap and to make it smogable, I have to use an motor (any motor I want) that is at least 1 or more years older then the vehicle its going into and it has to have ALL of the smog equipment that came factory for that engin including stock style exhaust up untill the last o2 sensor. I have talked to DMV and many, many smog shops for the info. Once done, I just make an appointment with DMV so a ref can inspect it to make sure everything is done in order, then go have her smogged.

 

[Mforrest327]

From all the videos I have found and watched, I think I may just go with the v8 swap. Here in the valley, I have not seen a single mini truck with a v8 in it. I have seen ALOT of turboed cars and trucks and figure I might as well go outside the bubble and be unique. Oh, and 1meano2hd I was wondering if you had any videos and/or photos of your ranger with the 5.0. Any insite would be great, thanks.

 

[mini274]

you can use your block on the turbo stuff all you have to do is put the turbo internals in so you can keep everything "factory" except the internals and of course the turbo... i almost drove my truck to cali when i was in wyoming them i kicked my self and said "you wont make it a mile in" but you can buy a chip for you ecm and be good but if you want do a V8 that would be good too

 

[Mforrest327]

Well I was thinking that with the cost to do either one, I will be spending quite a bit less for the v8. But keeping the 4 banger would be nice too with a turbo. Do you know how much power a turbo would make for that motor running like 8 psi or somthing?

 

[fordmike1]

My old 84 SVO mustang turbo 2.3l was rated at 170hp with 8#'s of boost. I did a crane cam and turned up the boost to 17#'s and holey damn it that thing screamed. I beat many 5.0's and a few camaros with it. The 86.5 SVO's were rated at 205hp with 8-10#'s of boost. Boosted 2.3's are a lot of fun...

 

[Mforrest327]

I see you have a 5.0 in your truck. How would they compare?

 

[Teddyzee]

Thank you both for the replys and advise. I have already checked with the engin swap and to make it smogable, I have to use an motor (any motor I want) that is at least 1 or more years older then the vehicle its going into and it has to have ALL of the smog equipment that came factory for that engin including stock style exhaust up untill the last o2 sensor. I have talked to DMV and many, many smog shops for the info. Once done, I just make an appointment with DMV so a ref can inspect it to make sure everything is done in order, then go have her smogged.

I think you meant to say newer.

 

[1mean02hd]

www.cardomain.com/id/1mean02hd .The entire build is there. I also have a build thread over on RPS. Mine's carbureted while Teddy's is fuel injected. I'm starting on another one but fuel injected this time. If I could do my 94 over, it would probably be fuel injected.... might still end up that way.


Oh.. and P.S.- 2.3L turbo make HELLA power. 300+hp/ 400+lb. ft. is not an uncommon thing to hear with these engines with not alot of money.

 

[Mforrest327]

Yes, I sure did mean newer. Thanks for catching that. I like that '97. Looks and sounds awsome. 1mean02hd's truck looks wicked. I have always been a fan on a mat finish. Now, if i do decide with the turbo, what all would I have to do to my current motor to be able to produce that much power and KEEP my rods and pistons inside the block?

 

[red85]

The stock cast pistons will not last long with a turbo. You need to swap in turbo specific pistons from a TBird, Mustang or Merkur. These turbo pistons are forged and have a dish in the top for lower compression (8.5:1).

 

[Mforrest327]

would that be all the internals I would have to change? Or while im in there, should I beef up the rods and maybe some head porting? Or would just just pistons be enough?

 

[1mean02hd]

You could probably run a turbo with your stock internals on 8lbs. of boost and make good power with a good tune. Wouldn't go higher than that with stock internals. I know the factory 2.3L turbos have forged dished pistons, and I have heard they use Boss 302 connecting rods (don't quote me on that). But otherwise, the block is the same, save for some oil drains, and the cranks are the same.

I don't know how you get the idea that you would spend less money on a V8 swap than just slapping on a turbo with a tune. I have seen stock turbos and exhaust manifolds from a Turbo Coupe or even a Merkur for less than $200. Some bigger injectors and a bigger in-tank pump might be another $200 at the most (gotta do research and scrounging around). So for like lets say less than a $1000, you could have a turbo'd 2.3L Ranger with like 200+ hp that will get out of its own way and be fun to drive. I can't see a V8 swap costing that little even if you bought a wrecked donor car real cheap like I did. I bought a wrecked 88 GT for $300 and parted it out, so I had a motor and trans for basically nothing and I still have about $2000 in the V8 swap. That's with me doing ALL the work, including rebuilding the engine.