98 4.0 Turbo?

[F-22Raptor]

Hey, I have been considering buying a turbo for my 98 4.0 automatic ranger witha 144,000 on it. Is it a good idea with all the miles? the engine is in pretty good condition but I would like more power. What make/model turbo would be best for the least money? need some help, thanks let me know

 

[177CIOfPureLove]

There is no kit that you can just go out and buy to turbocharge your 4.0 man. Its a total custom thing, requiring a great deal of fabrication, and parts sourcing, as well as in depth knowledge of what turbo charging is and how to make it work with your set up. Once you do that, the two biggest things I can think of is finding a engine management system(megasquirt, reflashed/tuned ford ecu, ect) to run it, and a transmission that isn't going to grenade once you romp it. If you look however there was a super charger available until a few years ago, believe that Whipple made them. They stopped years and years ago and even used ones are still worth quite a pretty penny.

 

[Hahnsb2]

If you have to ask, you aren't serious (and neither are 99% of others that ask this stuff) and you haven't done nearly enough reading.

 

[F-22Raptor]

Nah im just getting into the performance stuff with engines, im going to school for auto/diesel and wanted to know a lil more about it. Thanks purelove helps out a great deal but would a supercharger potentially cause more problems to a old engine over a turbo even if i knew all the stuff about installing and building a turbo?

 

[177CIOfPureLove]

No offense, but if you know the difference between a super and a turbo charger, it seems clear to me that the super chargers do not produce the higher boost of a turbo charger, which to me on an older engine makes more sense..... At least SOMEONE KNOWLEDGEABLE had to design an engine management to reliably and economically run it with a super charger in order to sell it, its pretty easy/reliable/ect. Turbo, your on your own, and truthfully I dont see it happening for the vast majority of people who spin wrenches on there own stuff. Ford didn't design the management or the engine to run with boost.

 

[F-22Raptor]

Yea i can see what your sayin, thanks, i'm not sure what im going to do. I was just trying to see what was out there and if it could be done but it doesnt even look too practical for even some mechanics around hear let alone me so il try to figure something out.

 

[BillupsOMally]

Depends if you're looking to run a properly tuned set-up or not, there's forums on other sites where people document their backyard turbo project on the 4.0 OHV. They usually run 7lbs of boost without instantly grenading the motor, and no tuning done to the EMS. If you want a properly tuned set-up, it's basically outside the scope of most tinkerers. If it's your DD I'd vote no, but if it's your tinker-toy, I'd do it (and plan to).

 

[F-22Raptor]

It is my DD so it probably wouldnt be a great idea then, but i eventually plan on using my truck strictly sparingly for lack of a better word to do what ever i plan on doing; offroading, maybe racing someone, etc. and getting a 7.3 power strokeor something to drive around, so it may be a possible option in the future. So if i want one that is tuned up and not a backyard project, how would i go about getting or finding parts for one?