88 thunder bird build questions

[remington115]

so i was wondering is this is even possible. so hear it goes. i want to get a 88 thunder bird turbo motor and do a build. is it possible to bore and stoke this motor.should i just bore it or can i do both and not blow the motor. are there suppliers that make stoker kits. what cam duration and lift would be good. would you have to get the computer reflashed a tuned. flat top or low compression pistons? what about injectors and pump. want to run a t3 garret turbo and a intercooler and oil cooler.by the way want to put in a 96 ford ranger. i know lots of questions.i know just get a 5.0l is better but i like the sound of turbos and gas mileage. as for the rear end would an 8.8 be good or just go with the 9". as far as brake do i have to move to hydro brake boost or will vaccume still work. because i pretty sure i wont be boosting and braking at the same time. I know i know a lot of dumb question but im learning as i go. Is this possible or will the end results not be worth it

 

[Davis]

don't bore, don't stroke. the cylinder walls are thin as is, the biggest you could go is .060 over anyway which is like 4 cubic inches. no point.

stroking to 2.5 can be done with the crank from a newer 2.5 ranger, but on a turbo motor you don't need the extra 12 cubic inches. there are companies that offer stroker kits for this motor, but unless you want to fork out over 3 grand for another .4 liters, it's not worth it.

if you use the Turbocoupe engine management you don't need any reflashing. on a 96 however you probably have to keep the EEC-IV computer so yes you would need it tuned.

you want the TC low compression forged pistons. a stock ranger cam is just fine, but if you really need a cam bo-port.com has good cams.

Vacuum brakes still work fine because you don't brake while the engine is boosting, and there is a check valve.

you can't go wrong with a 255 lph fuel pump. the ranger uses the same pump as the mustang and every other ford vehicle. injectors depend on how much power you want to make, but at least 35 lb/hr is needed.

9" rear end is complete overkill. 8.8 is good, however, you probably will never break a 7.5 unless you drag race on slicks or off road like you hate your truck.

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

heres a good read if you havent seen it already
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Turbos.html

 

[remington115]

so you can swap a crank from a 2.5l but what about the rods. are the bearing still the same. would you use new bearings with an used crank or do you have to machine the crank. why can you use the thunder bird computer

 

[Davis]

the rods in the 2.5 are weak and the rods from the 2.3 won't work without custom pistons.

the journals on a used crank may need polishing, but no machining. the crank journals are however smaller than the crank journals on the 88? maybe 92? and older cranks, so if you use an older block you need bearing spacers. it just gets really hairy and expensive for that extra .2 liters, and IMHO not worth it in most cases. if you want the extra power, run another pound of boost.

you can run the turbocoupe computer because it was made for turbo motors. the ranger comp was not.

 

[remington115]

yea so just get a new tune, bigger injectors and fuel pump and run more boost