Easiest Ranger for Turbo 2.3

[amxtra]

What year (s) would be the easiest for the wiring changes needed ?
Have the turbo coupe powertrain, just going shopping for a Ranger, so may as well look for the most painless.
Did see an article a while ago on what pinouts to change, but cant recall the year, or find the article anymore
Thanks

 

[turbo91xlt]

1st gen 2.3 efi ranger ('85-'88) is the easiest, but any up till '94 is still a very easy swap. '95+ went to obd2 so its not a simple wire repin and run an oem turbo 2.3...

 

[amxtra]

Found a good deal on a 97, how much harder is the wiring? Whats involved ?

 

[scotts90ranger]

There's a lot more work involved in that one like said, it's OBDII and more things are integrated instead of having everything separate. I'm agreeing with turbo91 in that '85 to '94 is much easier...

I've never really dealt with OBDII, but that opens up another can of worms.

 

[turbo91xlt]

majority of those turboing obd2 trucks build the original obd2 engine for boost & tune the stock ecu with a tuner. SCT is by far the most popular.

http://turborangerforums.com/showthread.php?t=6937

 

[amxtra]

Very good to know.
On the 97, I could use exhaust manifold etc from turbo coupe engine? even the engine itself if/when the original gernades ?
Biggest difference would be the cost of the tuner ?
Thanks !!

 

[turbo91xlt]

Very good to know.
On the 97, I could use exhaust manifold etc from turbo coupe engine?

Yes

even the engine itself if/when the original gernades ?

Pull the pistons & rods out of the turbocoupe engine and swap them into the '97 block. You'll then have an engine just as strong as a normal 2.3 turbo.

difference would be the cost of the tuner ?

yes

 

[amxtra]

Awesome guys, Thank you for the help