future ranger build.

[Boosten Ya]

HI I'm new here. I'm looking to build a 2.5 turbo ranger. So for simplicity I'm thinking of getting a 02-04 ranger with the 2.5L in it already with a 5speed and 4x4. Then build the motor and throw a turbo on it and run low boost till I upgrade the rest.

Looking to shoot for 400-500whp.

Question. How much power can the ranger transfercase, rear end, front end, and tranny can hold? Would it be worth just upgrading to an explorer 5.0 transfercase and stuff?

Thanks for looking and for any input.

 

[scotts90ranger]

They stopped using the 2.5L in mid 2001, and no 4x4 4 cylinder Rangers after 1997...

That said, if you are going custom you can do whatever you want... get a 4x4 Ranger with a blown tranny (or engine, whatever...), sell the engine that's in it, find a totalled 4 banger Ranger 4x2 and combine the two and sell the V6... You can combine a 3.0L 4x4 M5OD with a 4x2 4 cylinder M5OD and come up with a 4x4 4 cylinder M5OD...

The M5OD is a pretty stout transmission, I've put about 30K or so on mine with the turbo engine (not easy miles mind you, had 175K on it before the turbo engine), rebuilt it a few months ago because the synchro's were worn but everything inside looked just fine. It's comparable in strength to a T5.

The transfer cases are strong, not generally known as a weak link, the 5.0L T cases are a different bolt pattern

The 7.5" rear axle is fairly strong but the cross pin and spider gears are a weak link, easy swap to a 8.8" axle that has bigger spider gears, a Ranger 8.8 will have the same axle shafts as a 7.5 and the same diameter cross pin, an Explorer 8.8 is more work to install but has bigger axle shafts and bigger cross pin.

I don't know much about the SLA D35 front axle

 

[Boosten Ya]

Gotcha.....I have a lot more research to do still. This project is a ways out but seems to be reasonable and pretty straight foreword. I have a friend that works at Mazda and can get me a stupid deal on a mzr 2.5L.

I'd like to go newer only cause of the shift on the fly locker. I'm sure I can put one in, in older model but I hate wiring.

Thank you for your input as you helped greatly so far. Question. What years did ford put the 8.8 rear end in the ranger?

 

[scotts90ranger]

Only 4.0L Rangers came with 8.8's, and they are all 28 spline axles (other than the FX4 Level 2 trucks that had a 31 spline 8.8), an Explorer 8.8 would be better than either Ranger 8.8 as if you break a FX4 Level 2 axle shaft you will have a hard time finding one, explorers are everywhere...

 

[Boosten Ya]

Alright. Explorers are 31 spline correct?

 

[scotts90ranger]

Yep

The 31 spline 8.8 is comparable in strength to a big bearing 9"

 

[stmitch]

There were Several different 4 cylinder engines used in Rangers. The most common turbo swaps are based on the OHC Lima engines (2.3L and 2.5L) Ford produced factory turbo versions of the 2.3L Lima, so there are plenty of examples of engine builds from mild to wild.
All rangers equipped with 4 cylinders after mid 2001 had the DOHC duratec 2.3L engine. It's part of the MZR engine family, but has differences from the 2.5MZR, and has nothing in common with the Limas from previous Rangers. If you turbo a duratec (2.0, 2.3, or 2.5L) in a Ranger, there will be lots of custom fabbing, so be prepared for that. It is not a common swap, so there aren't many examples or people to ask for help.

You need to check out turborangerforum to get the low down on what would be needed to turbo either the 2.3L Lima engine and the duratec 2.3L.

 

[Boosten Ya]

Ok thank you. I'll have to check that fourm out. I'd rather use a duratec/mzr for dohc and ease of making power and the aftermarket support.

How easy does the ranger hook up on a stock suspension set up in 2wd with slicks? Wondering if it's worth doing a 4wd swap or buying a 4wd ranger. 4 link would be the shit but that would be later down the road.

 

[stmitch]

Turbo duratecs are awesome, but there really isnt much aftermarket support for the RWD versions of the MZR. The exhaust and intake manifolds arent' interchangeable with the FWD versions of the engines, so you can't just buy a turbo kit, or cosworth intake manifold somewhere and bolt it on to the engine like you could in your MS3. You pretty much have to build your own turbo header, and intake manifold if you want one. There are options for cams/springs and cylinder heads that would work on the Ranger engine though. If you do the duratec, you have to be ready to fab things on your own, and solve your own problems.

Like I said earlier, some Lima 2.3's came from the factory with a turbo in the mustang and tbirds. There is a huge aftermarket for those engines,and they only came in RWD form. There would be very little fab work, and tons of people to help you out if you ran into a problem. The drawbacks would be that you don't get to say you have DOHC, and the engines are heavier than the Dtec/MZR.

If this is going to be a drag vehicle, I wouldnt waste time/money trying to put 4WD in. The time you'd gain by having increased traction would probably be offset by the increased weight, and it would make the build much more complex and costly.

 

[Boosten Ya]

Not to argue with you but could I use a fwd duratec? Or are the mounts different?

This is mainly going to be a street truck and want to surprise people. Witch is why I want 4wd shift on the fly but I read that there is an automatic locker or something. I just don't want to get out to lock the hubs, I don't mind if I have to have a leaver to switch from 2wd to 4wd.

 

[Boosten Ya]

I'm on my phone but turborangerforums.com I don't think is working for me. Myfilestore.com comes up.

 

[stmitch]

You can use a FWD engine, but to mate it to the trans, you'll have to rotate it so that it faces "north/south" instead of "East/West". And you'd still run into the same issues as using the Ranger engine. It's not the FWD or RWD origin that causes problems, it's the orientation of the motor. The duratec aftermarket supports cars with transverse mounted engines like the Focus/MS3, not longitudinally mounted engines like the Ranger. The only vehicles with longitudinal duratec/MZR's are the Ranger, MX-5, and Caterham. You may be able to modify parts for an MX-5, but that car used the 2.0L Duratec instead of the 2.3L, and obviously, the engine bays are different, so fitment may be an issue. The Caterham parts might work, but again, be ready to customize.

In fact, the ranger engine is probably the better option, because it has a forged crank and doesn't have heavy balance shafts or VVT. It's basic, and robust.

Turborangerforum must be having some issues, but I found that if you search for the forum, and get the myfilewhatever junk, open another tab, and do your search again. It should open the forum in the second tab/window. Then you can close the first tab/window.

 

[Boosten Ya]

Ohhh alright. I see what you're saying. So how difficult is a lima motor to get big power out of it? I mean obviously it needs a forged bottom end and some head work but anything else? Is a megasquirt the best way to tune the truck?

 

[scotts90ranger]

Stock the Lima motor (stock turbo engine) has forged 8:1 pistons, they are rated at around 170hp from the factory, but that's limited to 9psi, if you hit the octane switch (if you wire it in, assuming stock computer) and unplug the boost controller and knock sensor you are up to around 16psi with the stock turbo which is supposed to be in the neighborhood of 200-225hp, If you start adding a bigger turbo and bigger injectors you can obviously get more power out of them, the stock bottom end is supposed to handle powers to around 350hp.

 

[stmitch]

I just want to clarify that Scott is not talking about the 2.3 ranger engine. He's referring to the 2.3t engines that came turbocharged from the factory. They came in mustang SVO and Thunderbird Turbocoupe models. They're a great start for a turbo build, and easily drop into older rangers.
I've seen over 500hp from the Limas. They're a bit more "low tech" than the duratec, and they weigh more, but there would be more info and help starting with a Lima than a duratec.


Either one would be cool. The duratec has a higher performance ceiling, and is lighter weight, but it will take work on your part to make it happen. I think I've only seen 3 turbo duratec a to date, so they're unique, but there won't be much help if you run into a problem.
The Limas are the tried and true turbo 4 in a ranger. So they're less unique, and not quite as high performance, but there are plenty of people who could give you advise too. The route you choose depends on your skill level, and what you want from the build.