2008 4cyl mods

[atcnut7]

has anyone done any mods or is there any aftermarket parts for the 2.3 4cyl in my 2008 ranger? just want to get a little more pep out of it.

 

[ES894x4]

depends how much pep you want or rather how much money you have. the 23ns duratec in the ranger is a 2.3 block but the head is the 2.0 head(with out the vvt solenoid on the cam) unlike other 2.3 duratecs to promote better tq. cosworth has heavy support for the duratec and mzr motors. the aftermarket is decently supportive, outside the ranger community focus guys have pulled 200+ from built NA ranger motors.

http://www.cosworthusa.com/store/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=20

http://focus.c-f-m.com/engine_14.aspx

the stock intake system is the same as the 4.0 so its not really a weak link a drop in oiled filter or cai isnt going to do much on a stock motor(you can pull the box silencer out for much improved 4 cyl sound but no hp gain). likewise i dont think youd notice much from a cat back except improved sound. the only thing that will give you proven pep is to buy a tuner like an SCT and go to the dyno and have tune made for your truck thats proven. intake and exhaust in combo with a tune may yield a few more hp but not anything drastic.

 

[atcnut7]

thanks for the info i will look into the pages you sent and see what direction i want to go in. thanks again

 

[ES894x4]

No problem at all. I came from honda tuning and owned my tuck for 2 years thinking the motor couldnt be fully built and felt silly when i went to a focus forum and checked out the duratec section.

Things like the cosworth intake manifold and the cfm thorttle body are way wrong because of the front/rear set up of a truck, but anything internal is the same. The ranger 2.3 has a few strong points that no other duratec poses which makes them popular candidates for focus guys to swap. The crank is the only 2.3 or 2.0 duratec with a forged crank although its only safe by cosworth standards at 7500rpm, its the only 2.3 duratec with out a balance shaft, and also the only duratec to have metal timing chain guides(which cosworth sell as hi-po timing chain guides for focus.)

 

[brutus93]

New to this forum, but this is interesting! Has anybody made a sticky for a 2.3L Duratec ranger upgrade yet? I am interested in a bit more torque, it sounds like some people have figured it out. What head? What cams? What controls? Has anybody modded this motor yet? Love that my little truck has a forged crank )))))

 

[ES894x4]

I havent seen anyone go full na with a ranger duratec still in a ranger. The 2.3 focus head has larger ports then the ranger. crower, crane, and cosworth all offer cams stage1-3. The duratec section on focus forums like focaljet, foucusfanatics etc, are the place to be reading on these motors for solid tuning info, theyre more like honda-tech with alot of members hitting the dyno and proving what works and doesnt with lots of na and boost builds, compared to ranger sites where youll just be told swap a sweet 302 bro 4cyl are useless.