2.3L ('83-'97) 2.3 turbo swap

[Jdhager]

I got a chance to buy a 1986 thunderbird with the 2.3t motor. With that said how easy is the swap in a 1988 ranger? Will I be able to retain my AC? The truck is a five speed. 2wheel drive.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Fairly straightforward swap, there's some wiring changes, like 10 to keep the stock Ranger harness (it will fit better), mostly have to add in the VAM and move some other wires around, there's a diagram for a turbo 2.3L and a '91 Ranger in the turbo swap section of the tech library link at the top of the page.

I would keep the Ranger transmission as it'll be easier to make work than the cable clutch if the T bird is 5 speed. Keeping AC might be doable but might involve getting a turbo header from Ebay or somewhere otherwise you'll have to do some grinding on the brackets and stuff...

 

[Jdhager]

Will the inter cooler fit from the tbird? Use the computer from the car too?

 

[MT_PLS]

See these threads from the tech archives:

Installing A Turbo 4-Cylinder Motor - The Ranger Station

This page is meant to give you an overview of the Ford 2.3 Turbo engine and what is needed to make it fit and work well in your Ford Ranger.

www.therangerstation.com

Turbocharger Install - The Ranger Station

This page tells you how to install a turbo from a Turbo Coupe, Merkur, or turbo Mustang on your early Ford Ranger 4-cylinder engine.

www.therangerstation.com

Ford 2.3L Turbo Swap Wiring Diagrams - The Ranger Station

Here are the wiring diagrams and pinout locations Forum member Sevensecondsuv submitted to help you guys doing turbo motor swaps.

www.therangerstation.com

 

[scotts90ranger]

One dumb question about the T bird, did it have A/C? If so, use those brackets, might have to use different hoses and might have to change pulleys or compressors since I think the switch to serpentine wasn't until '87...

If you use the stock turbo manifold and stuff yes it will work, how it lines up with the hood I have no idea, I have one but never installed it... a '86 wouldn't have an intercooler unless someone added an '87-88 unit on... if you're wondering on how it works without an intercooler it pings a lot under sustained boost at low altitudes and not that I condone such action but I just deal with it, the forged pistons have proven to me to be pretty resilient...

 

[bobbywalter]

this is a place i would absolutely use a holley terminator or pimp x and ms3. for boosted applications money well spent.