changing my 2.3 to a 2.2 diesel

[Wicked_Sludge]

none of the automatic transmissions offered in the rangers are worth a damn. they dont hold up behind stock engines...i certainly wouldnt trust one behind a boosted motor.

if it were me, i would probably adapt a c-4 to fit. it was offered behind most v-8 cars in its day and is still used in many race applications (it has enormous aftermarket support). your 2.3 bellhousing will bolt to the 2.3 turbo motor...its just a matter of seeing if the bellhousing will bolt to a c-4 (i would think it should) and getting the right flywheel/clutch combination.

 

[83bagged]

ok. well ive seen people on youtube use SOHC and DOHC. whats the most common? i know its not a huge diffence, but i think id want the dohc.

god i dont want another manual

 

[Bryan22]

the SOHC is the motor you've been talking about finding out of an old t-bird. The new 2.3 motor in 2001+ rangers is the DOHC motor, that'd be quite a bit more work to swap into your truck. although I've been thinking about trying to put the DOHC head off the volvo b234 motor on an old 2.3lima and turbo it. and that is do-able. if you look around i think there's a few threads about it.

 

[83bagged]

ight cool. well id guess they put out about the same specs, dohc probably a little more. but i did see the dohc volvo head on ebay for sale.

ill just try to find an old t-bird sohc 2.3 turbo i guess. i hope this motor isnt hard to find. is there an automatic transmission that will work with it though? i love that its an automatic...

thatd be perfect! now im not trying to race, i drive it but not everyday. and when i do drive it im not trying to haul ass! lol, but mainly because its just different. i mean a hopped up turbo'd 4 banger, thats sweet!

 

[83bagged]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/88-t...id=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65:1|39:1|240:1318

thats a 88 thunderbird turbo coupe transmission. i wonder how much longer that is than the old rangers? would it be easier to find a tbird with motor and tranny? or find a motor out of a tbird and then get an 02-up 4banger tranny?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

a DOHC motor will always make more HP than a SOHC motor. although it usually makes it at a higher RPM. compare an '01 SOHC 2.5 at 119HP to an '02 2.3 DOHC at 143HP.

you know, the focus guys have been turbocharging the DOHC 2.3 for a while now...yet another option to consider....

using any auto 95+ is a bad idea as they are all computer controlled...meaning youd have to swap in the wiring harness and PCM just to get it to work.

 

[83bagged]

well crap. and they dont offer any kind of tougher rebuilt or rebuild kits for my tranny either id imagine

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

no, aftermarket support for any RBV transmission is basically non-existant.

i think your best bet is a c-4 or the stock turbocoupe trans...

edit: actually, it looks like the turbocoupe uses an A4LD as well. i would probably steer clear of it in that case. the c-4 is bulletproof and should be easy enough to adapt to your needs (its related to the c-3 thats already in the truck, after all).

 

[83bagged]

ok well no wiring for that tranny thought right? (electronic?)

and now someone said on ranger power sports that i could do a duratec and the newer ones were an aluminum block? but they arent turbo are they?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

the only wiring on the C-4 is the reverse light switch. its about as old-school as it gets (production started in '64 )

and the duratec was the '02+ engine i was talking about. its an all-aluminum DOHC that makes 143hp. they arent boosted from the factory...but you could sure boost it yourself. they also used that engine in the focus' and theres a bunch of boosted duratec 2.3's foci running around.

 

[83bagged]

ok so now im confused. i thhink itd be easier to find an 02-+ ranger with a 2.3. than it would a turbo coupe. they are about the same motor just the new duratec has an aluminum block and it isnt boosted stock? but i can put a turbo on it? and a c4 would bolt up to it?

 

[83bagged]

ok, ive seen on here that they said change your pistons to forged, new fel pro head gasket,and better valves. and then you can turbo it with a turbo manifold and intake? well could i just pull my motor, clean it up, break it down and rebuild this one? its not my daily, and id lieka turbo, but i thought that the old (and my truck was bought in 8-82) couldnt handle the turbo? but then my computer wouldnt do right with the turbo would it?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

the 2.3 duratec and the 2.0/2.3 lima (your motor) are in no way related. the only thing they have in common is the displacement. the 2.0/2.3 used in the rangers is the same engine as the 2.3 used in the t-birds...but the turbo version already has forged pistons, yours doesnt. a c-4 wont bolt to any engine offered in a ranger without some work.

you can turbo any engine you want...the sky is literally the limit. you could boost your motor just like it is if you want...and you'd probably be ok if you kept the boost levels low.

if you want to get anything over 10PSI or so, you really should use forged pistons and a quality head gasket.

i just noticed though, shouldnt your truck be a 2.0...and shouldnt it be carbed?

 

[83bagged]

i just noticed though, shouldnt your truck be a 2.0...and shouldnt it be carbed?

hahah THATS WHAT WAS THINKIN when i bought it. i originally wanted it for parts, i have a 91 ext. cab, but the old lady said o it runs, and has 29,000 miles on it! so i gave her $1,000 and drove it home. but i checked the VIN and its "A" and it is carbed

look, i just took these for ya
sticker on core support

carbed, just real dirty

(dont mind the time on the pics. new batteries)

 

[83bagged]

o and the sticker in the door

and a pic of my truck