2.3 limited slip?

[lifeissomething]

So I'm currently in the process of buying a 2003 2.3... Manual transmission, completely base model, just like I 'em. Actually, it was a parts delivery vehicle for an autozone. It's really quite beautiful in a way which I'm sure you guys understand. (None of my art school friends get it, really.)

Anyway, the truck is essentially going to be split purpose. I would buy a 4X4 4.0 but I drive like maybe 1700+ miles a month, and with my plans to move to upstate NY it's actually going to get worse. So, I need the gas millage, but for all other purposes I need a truck that'll get around in the snow, logging roads, etc...

Yet I'm buying a 2wd truck. Funny. Yeah, well, I've been getting everywhere I need to go in a fwd subaru station wagon for a couple years now so I figure...

I'm going to buy a base ranger; I'm going to put some aggressive tires on it and if at all possible I'm going to put limited slip in the rear end.

I'd look up the axle code, but I'm still waiting for the truck, and I'm getting a little antsy. I can't find any aftermarket lsds with the term "2.3" in there with google.

So does this truck have 6-7/8? So would there be no aftermarket lsds for it? So do I have to convert to 7.5... (I'm kind of assuming I might as well anyway.) So with a 7.5.... what's the lsd recommendations you have for me. I'm thinking lock-right....

Money really isn't an issue except for the sake of keeping principle.

 

[colinrmitchell]

You would have the 7.5" axle.

I put a Lock-Rite in my 7.5". It was a VERY good upgrade. It drives pretty well on the street, too. Just gotta be careful around sharp curves, giving too much throttle will cause the inside tire to scrub. Other than that, it's almost fail-proof and will increase the performance of your vehicle thoroughly, especially in snow.

 

[Ferris Bueller]

Probably has 3.73 axle ratio. Look in 4x4 magazines for ads for different lockers. ARB air locker, Detroit Elocker, Cable locker are some. Not sure which ones are available for our 2.3 Rangers. Back in February I got 30.93 highway mpg in my 04. Thats with no topper or bedcover on it.

 

[lifeissomething]

Lsd is the only way to go in any vehicle. You have an entire driveline put back there. You might as well use both tires you have back there.

Probably has 3.73 axle ratio. Look in 4x4 magazines for ads for different lockers. ARB air locker, Detroit Elocker, Cable locker are some. Not sure which ones are available for our 2.3 Rangers. Back in February I got 30.93 highway mpg in my 04. Thats with no topper or bedcover on it.

Yeah. The truck is already chipped and has been since 400 miles. The guy who was driving the truck had to keep track of the gas he used as well as the mileage. So the truck comes with a little notebook filled with gas mileage math. It's getting about 28-29 average. That's really why I've agreed to buy the truck when it comes up for sale. The mileage it's apparently getting and it runs better/smoother than any other 4-banger ranger I've driven.

...and it doesn't have that weird tendency to keep revs when you put the clutch in like other newer ones I've driven have. That really pisses me off. I like to match the revs. Period. The only reason to slip a clutch is to either go slower than idle, or take off. At least in everyday driving, in a vehicle you drive regularly.

So, what do you guys think the difference in power and mileage would be if I went from 3.73 to say... 4.10?

 

[Captain Ledd]

if you do mostly city driving and more stop-and-go, the 4.10's will help with stock tires. OR I'd go with 4.10's if you get a slightly larger than stock tire and still do highway.

otherwise if your doing mostly highway the 3.73 with stock tires will go just fine.

if your going 30-31" tires and still do city driving then your looking at 4.56's (city) or the new 4.30(highway) ratio that recently came out. < might have to go to the 8.8 for those, the 4.30 especially.

You could always do the 8.8 swap to open up your choice of aftermarket differentials too.

The trick to the 4 bangers is to accelerate slowly, I started doing that and my mileage has shot up to just about 30 and at the least very high 20's, and in a few instances even higher. but I also drive slower than most on the highway.

I came across this site, they seem to list just about everything for the 7.5", though I have seen a few gear companies at least claim to make 4.56's for it.
http://www.drivetrain.com/ford7.5.html

 

[RShrimp]

Yeah. The truck is already chipped and has been since 400 miles.
...and it doesn't have that weird tendency to keep revs when you put the clutch in like other newer ones I've driven have. That really pisses me off. I like to match the revs. Period. The only reason to slip a clutch is to either go slower than idle, or take off. At least in everyday driving, in a vehicle you drive regularly.

You say the truck is chipped and it doesnt keep revs. HMMMMM!!!
I want that! I wonder if it is the chip that fixes the IAC circuit???

Please tell me more.

As far as a lockrite goes.
Couple things to consider. (I have had 2 of these in different vehicles a 96 Chevy with a 350 V8 and a Suzuki Samurai with a 1.3L 4 banger)

1. A locker in the snow is not always a good thing as it can cause you to loose control and "switch ends" more easily.
2. Lock rite is a true locker. It will be locked when driving on the dry road which will cost you gas mileage and increase tire wear.

My experience, The V8 auto loved it but the 4 banger 5spd got noticably slower and used more gas. The lock rite is also quite noisy and clunks and bangs quite a bit, especially with a manual tranny.

Now tell me more about the chip and the properly working IAC control (Idle Air Control)

 

[jax4bangin]

hell yea lets hear more bout that AIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

1. A locker in the snow is not always a good thing as it can cause you to loose control and "switch ends" more easily.

+1

a locker can be very hairy in the snow. i would go with a limited slip.

if your getting by with a FWD subby, you'll be surprised how capable a 2wd ranger with decent all-terrain tires and limited slip is. i think it'll be sufficient for the very light off-roading you have planned.

 

[Ozwynn]

get a 3.73 L/S axle from an explorer, problem solved. I drove my explorer around spokane for 2 winters and it only needed 4wd to get in and out of my driveway (9% grade) other than that i left it in 2wd.

 

[ckblum]

You don't need to get one out of an explorer, that just costs more (having to flip/perches) and your little truck will never need that strong of an axle unless you are planning on jumping through the desert. Find a 7.5 or 8.8 LS out of a Ranger and it should be plenty strong enough for 31's, they can also be found with 3.73 and 4.10 from the factory. It usually came with the towing packages.

I am basically doing the same thing but I have a 3.0L 2wd. Already taken it up some snowy roads and had to get friends to push me because one wheel started to spin. 4x1 sucks.

 

[Hahnsb2]

+1

a locker can be very hairy in the snow. i would go with a limited slip.

if your getting by with a FWD subby, you'll be surprised how capable a 2wd ranger with decent all-terrain tires and limited slip is. i think it'll be sufficient for the very light off-roading you have planned.

There is no difference in snow between a LS and a Locker, you're going to spin both tires with an LS in snow anyways.