2.3L Lifted Highway Dog HELP!

[piperpilot1363]

Hey all,

I recently picked up 1986 2.3L Ranger with a 2 inch body lift on 29 inch tires. Shes is fine for cruising around up until you enter highway speeds (55mph+) where you effectively loose all power. You have to run it at 3000 rpm to maintain 65mph and need at least 3200 rpm to get up even moderate hills at speed. My vacuum gauge reads 5 In/Hg or less, and my mileage takes a huge hit (duh). I spend a lot of time on the highway with the petal floored, constantly down shifting, and the revs way higher than I like to see them.

My question is whether or not (and how?) to switch the gear ratios? I spent $1100 on the truck, no rust and allegedly 100,000 on it it. I don't want to spend a fortune but would like to get something that could cruise at 65mph and still have pick up at around 2500. How do you determine the proper ratio? How much can I expect to spend DIY? How difficult is it? Is it even worth it? I have to run it pretty hard, especially in Vermont and have a lot of trouble keeping up with traffic through the mountains....

Thanks

 

[Mark_88]

How many miles on the engine???

You might get a bit more top end throttle if you add some zip ties to it...but it isn't going to do much...just takes the slack out of the cable to give you better response and to get wide open throttle (WOT).

Short of that...welcome to the sturdy but underpowered 2.3 world...gears don't seem to be the problem...if it is otherwise fine touring about...check compression...and stay out of 5th gear...

 

[piperpilot1363]

Well the Odm rolled over, I was told 100,000 so it would be at 105,000.... but it could have 205,000 and I wouldn't be able to prove it....

My old 1996 2.3 did much much much better, granted it wasn't lifted, but broke down all the time (25+mpg, felt like a sports car when compared). The 86 "Mobile Chernobyl" gets 18-22 mpg, idles at 25 in/Hg, 1000 rpm, super reliable just can't move out of its own way most days. I'm just worried about wearing out the engine running it that hard with all the long distance driving I've been doing...

 

[JC 97]

Could be that the motor is tired.1986-1988 90 @ 4000rpm 134 @ 2000rpm ,It had a whole 90 horses when new.I bet it doesn't have that now and you have bigger tires and a lift.Not much in aerodynamics going for it.

 

[Mikel89us]

Just imagine how my truck does with 4" susp and 3" body lift with 30x9.50's and 373 gears (sock were 4.10s)

 

[n_bannerman]

Get used to running 3k on the flats and 3500+on climbs. Mine I push up to 5000ish when I need her to move and it gets it done. A friend of mine has told me not to worry on pushing 3-5k all day, these little motors can take it, his is mildly built and tuned and sees up to 6500 rpm when he's in a hurry. Oh ya I'm on 35's with 3.73 gears

 

[scotts90ranger]

First off you are probably going faster than you think, which also goes for your odometer... the bigger the tires, the bigger the circumference and if the speedometer hasn't been corrected the faster and further you are going over what it says.

With that out of the way, I'm guessing you have 235 75 15 tires as that's the normal 29" tall tire... With those tires you would want 3.73:1 gearing in your rear axle at the minimum, being older 4.10's would be better, you probably have 3.45:1 if I had to guess (or like mine came with 3.08:1), that won't really help the power department mostly just moves the shift points and brings back use of 5th gear (I ran 3.08's and 28" tires, 5th was useless).

As far as regearing yourself, the easiest way by far is to just swap rear axle housings as you can usually get a junk yard axle for around $100, gears themselves are usually around $200 then $500 or so labor to install them unless you know a guy, and after you install the axle you can sell the one you pulled out for about what you bought the replacement for (or more like I've done once or twice)

 

[skyy_4life]

although 90hp isnt much, id start off with some basics. does it have a check engine light on? does the engine light come on when you roll the key on? this will tell you if someone removed the bulb or not.
does it burn through any fluids that you have noticed?
a good start to get some power back that may be lost is a simple tune-up.
fuel filter, plugs, wires, cap/rotor. the basics.

 

[piperpilot1363]

No check engine light and it has the bulb. Has had plugs and wires done recently, oil is clean although air filter and fuel filters could need attention. According to my odm and gps I'm actually going slower... but who knows...

Do any of you cruise around in 4th @ 3500 rpm all day long?

 

[Mikel89us]

when im cruising in 4th at about 3200 my spedo says 50 i think... but im doing over 60

 

[n_bannerman]

With 3.73's and 33's, my speedo was dead on.