Chipping my ranger

[ranger rick]

Hey guys and gals i have been reading ur comments on here and think you would be very helpful to me.....

i have got a 1994 ford ranger XL... and would like to chip it....how would i do this? and where do i get a tuner?

 

[Will]

I recommend against this.

A gasoline motor that compresses the fuel/air mixture is restricted to how much air it can ingest, because too much air would make it run lean and the heat would blowtorch the edges off the exhaust valves. About the only thing the chip would effectivey do would be to move the shift points further out.

A diesel responds extremely well to chipping because they have a huge excess of oxygen available. You can tell the computer to fuel like mad because with the boost pressure modern diesels are making, there's lots of oxygen available for more power.

 

[ranger rick]

thank you for your help....is there any way i could come out ahead by putting on a turbo....?

 

[snake]

You may not notice a big power increase by chipping or progamming the engine for more power- but it won't screw anything up if you do. I've had mine chipped since it had 800 miles on it and not even an engine light to date. Still get ass kicking mileage (for a 4.slo).

I would recommend NOT using a chip but the programmer for a few reasons- the chip is a pain in the ass to install and remove compared to hooking up to the OBDII port and reprogramming it. The programmer also doubles as a code reader so two tools for the price of one.

If you have an auto tranny you will feel more power since it normally tightens up tranny shifts- with a manual you may be disappointed.

 

[Will]

thank you for your help....is there any way i could come out ahead by putting on a turbo....?

I would guess a gasoline engine with a factory turbo was limited to 6psi to keep the motor safe from detonation. If you consider that 15psi would be doubling the size of the motor--not taking into account heat losses because it's going to be hot air, you could theoretically get enough air in there to double your torque and power at the same rpms. Maybe that 6psi would get you a 30% increase. 300ft# and 200hp about. I would be shocked to see a mileage increase. I know I would see a 30% decrease because I would use it.

It would be a complicated setup. You would have to fab a bunch of tubing to connect the exhaust to the turbo, then the turbo to the throttle body. Then all of the sensors have to be in a place they can function. And I don't know if the factory computer can deal with that large of a change. I think the 2.3 is more popular because you can steal the whole system from a turbocharged car.

 

[97RangerXLT]

Chipping the Ranger? I have always had good luck driving behind a gravel truck..

AJ

 

[snake]

You ain't wrong there. Rock haulin' bastards... they love to lane change right in front of you when you're doin' 70 and they're doin' 15.

 

[RangerRob]

You may not notice a big power increase by chipping or progamming the engine for more power- but it won't screw anything up if you do. I've had mine chipped since it had 800 miles on it and not even an engine light to date. Still get ass kicking mileage (for a 4.slo).

I would recommend NOT using a chip but the programmer for a few reasons- the chip is a pain in the ass to install and remove compared to hooking up to the OBDII port and reprogramming it. The programmer also doubles as a code reader so two tools for the price of one.

If you have an auto tranny you will feel more power since it normally tightens up tranny shifts- with a manual you may be disappointed.

Totally agree with the programmer here.. The stock tune is usually very safe... Meaning rich... You have plenty of room to advance timing a degree or two or more with those to pick up some power... But then you'll have to run higher octane fuel... The programmer can be used for many other things also... Gear changes, code reader, datalogging.... Or a device that your tune shop can upload a custom tune on when you get your turbo set-up

 

[Kona]

No tuner for the 94 !!!!! OBD1 (ECCIV) something like a Jet chip is about all you can do and it works better if you do a bunch of other stuff, google perfomance ranger 4.0l