Green Lily Recreation

[Ak907Girl]

So, the plan is to make my truck a BAMF BEAST!

Step one: Re-build engine, seeing as how there's 315K miles.

Step one question: I would like to put a header, What is a good brand to order from, or should I just build one myself?

The only other time I installed a custom header was on a 94 Acura Integra. Man the was a pain in my @$$, it didn't wannt fit!

Step two: TURBO!?!?! I like speed... can't help it. (earned the title of "Fastest Woman on Ice" Snowmachine Radar Race. 87.5 on a quarter mile *low octane.)

Step two Question:....where can I find/order turbos? (Remember I'm in Alaska and most places wont ship up here cause they're retardos.

Step three: LIFT!!! (no, not a lame @$$ body lift, I mean LIFT!)

Step three question: How much of a lift? I can't do much of a lift because I'm 5 inches above midget hieght. (stop laughing.)

Step four: Rims, I got ugly lame 14" rims. I majorly dislike them. I would like to put some fatty tires on my truck after I lift it.

Step four Question: If I wanna lift, and get fatties, what size rim should I be getting? currently I can't go to too many different Rim or tire size since the tires would end up brushing the wheel well. BUT depending on the lift.... what are my options? (I am no good with rim:tire ratios... so explain in detail.)

Step five:SPRAY PAINT! Sand the body down (possibly finding BAHA fenders, and new bed. Lima found a few holes in the bed... time for a new one.) I already know EXACTLY how I wanna paint my truck. and That I will keep a surprise.

Engine from side view.

Me in engine.

Photo credit: Lima Bean

 

[Gotta_gofast]

I wouldn't worry about a header if you plan on a turbo 2.3L as you'll be removing the header anyway. Its easiest to find a turbocoupe, SVO mustang, Merkur XR4Ti, ect... complete vehicle. This gives you access to all the small parts you need and allows you to view the complete engine as it sits (which gives you good ideas if you've never done this before). Just bolting a turbo onto a Ranger 2.3L won't do much but melt your pistons. The technical library has a few articles pertaining to 2.3L turbo swaps. A buddy has one and it runs surprisingly well for a 4 cyl.

 

[mp3deviant721]

Get a salvage yard manifold off a 95-97 2.3l. Those are pretty much like a header and flow better than a manifold. You can't have mine though.

But if you want to turbo do some reading here:

http://www.turborangerforums.com/

That'll help you out.

As for a lift, depends on what you need your truck to do. But however, since you are short like me, I'd say a 4" lift and 31's will do great. Unless you want to put nerf bars on it just to be able to get in, that's what I'd suggest. If you go 6" lift, that'll give you room for 33's but then your talking major regearing of the axle as you know that the 2.3 does not have a lot of power to spare to begin with. I guess it all depends on your budget and what you want the truck to do.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Click on the pic above.
I copied that from a thread I've been following here;
http://www.offroadfabnet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9533&highlight=samson

Good luck on your truck,

Richard

 

[mp3deviant721]

That is a cool step setup.

 

[Ak907Girl]

Well I know that puttin a turbo on the truck, i'd have to do all kinds of thing to make it work, primarely pistons.

I think I'll have to drive all the way out to Eagle River or Wasilla to find scraps. (no good junk yard in Anchorage. Fairbanks is where all the good parts are, but that's 400 miles north of me.)

Mp3, do you have a picture you can post of your lift? I was thinking that even a 3 inch lift would be too much... I'm 5'1.

I still want my truck to be street legal but also be able to go mudding and bust through some silty river beds.

I was also thinking of bolting a bench seat in the bed of my truck and putting half a rag top over the bed, and make a legal bench seat in the bed. the only thing I don't like about my truck is the standard cab.

What's good on this site?
http://www.andysautosport.com/

 

[mp3deviant721]

I don't have a lift on mine but a buddy of mine use to have an Edge with a 3" lift and 32's and that was plenty tall for me. And I'm about 5'2". But the Edges sit at a 4wd height so I would consider a 4wd about 2-3" taller than a 2wd so about 4-5" of lift and 31's would be slightly shorter than my buddy's old truck. That's how I figure 4" of lift and 31's would work great. Not only that the 4 banger can handle 31's better and it would be a good height for me to be able to climb up into. Not only that I need to kind of stay within the allowed amount of lift I can add in Wisconsin, so it works out perfect. This is what I'm planning for my new truck, hopefully this summer. And if I need it higher, I will plan on getting aluminum coil spacers which I've been wanting to try on my older truck along with some lift shackles. I dunno, sometimes I go on ranting, if I confused you, ask questions. I'll answer them.

One of my buddies ordered from Andy's Auto Sport once, as I recall he did not have too much trouble with them. I think you will be fine. What kind of accessories are you looking for anyhow?

 

[Ak907Girl]

I want lights and I deffinately need new bumpers. My driver's side taillight is currently... distroyed (I DIDN'T DO IT! bought it that way.)

I don't want to lift it as high as I can, I just don't want it to look wimpy. It's look stupid with the current tire size and height...

 

[Ozwynn]

for your baja fenders

http://www.mcneilracinginc.com/off-road-fiberglass/ford/ranger/

you really want speed????????? 351 or a 32 valve intec swap. sorry but a turbo'd 4 cyl just wont do it for you, might for somebody else, but I doubt a turbo'd 4 will get your goat.

 

[AlaskanRider]

Fairbanks is where all the good parts are

Haha, if only I knew where to find them. Ive pretty much had to start my own junkyard in the process of my engine conversion.

Good luck on your turbo swap, I considered it but somebody just gave me a wreck with a decent 4.0.

 

[Ak907Girl]

for your baja fenders

http://www.mcneilracinginc.com/off-road-fiberglass/ford/ranger/

you really want speed????????? 351 or a 32 valve intec swap. sorry but a turbo'd 4 cyl just wont do it for you, might for somebody else, but I doubt a turbo'd 4 will get your goat.

AHHH YEAH!! those are SIIICK!! Dude that white one piece is PERFECT!! just what I want. Ah man.... that one piece is gonna make me have dirty dreams!!! LOL!!! perfect!

 

[Nate W.]

Lift idea.

Here's a 2" Susepension lift, it's older than yours, but it will give you an idea.

I'm 5'5" and have no problems getting in.

 

[ronclark]

Here's a 2" Susepension lift, it's older than yours, but it will give you an idea.

I'm 5'5" and have no problems getting in.

Nice clean truck, i love seeing old well taken care of rigs

 

[ronclark]

So, the plan is to make my truck a BAMF BEAST!

Step one: Re-build engine, seeing as how there's 315K miles.

Step one question: I would like to put a header, What is a good brand to order from, or should I just build one myself?

The only other time I installed a custom header was on a 94 Acura Integra. Man the was a pain in my @$$, it didn't wannt fit!

Step two: TURBO!?!?! I like speed... can't help it. (earned the title of "Fastest Woman on Ice" Snowmachine Radar Race. 87.5 on a quarter mile *low octane.)

Step two Question:....where can I find/order turbos? (Remember I'm in Alaska and most places wont ship up here cause they're retardos.

Step three: LIFT!!! (no, not a lame @$$ body lift, I mean LIFT!)

Step three question: How much of a lift? I can't do much of a lift because I'm 5 inches above midget hieght. (stop laughing.)

Step four: Rims, I got ugly lame 14" rims. I majorly dislike them. I would like to put some fatty tires on my truck after I lift it.

Step four Question: If I wanna lift, and get fatties, what size rim should I be getting? currently I can't go to too many different Rim or tire size since the tires would end up brushing the wheel well. BUT depending on the lift.... what are my options? (I am no good with rim:tire ratios... so explain in detail.)

Step five:SPRAY PAINT! Sand the body down (possibly finding BAHA fenders, and new bed. Lima found a few holes in the bed... time for a new one.) I already know EXACTLY how I wanna paint my truck. and That I will keep a surprise.

Engine from side view.

Me in engine.

Photo credit: Lima Bean

You might want to look at this another option for a turbo
http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18291

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Me in engine.

Photo credit: Lima Bean

I could never figure out what the heck you were doing with a torch that close to your battery. Now that I have seen the fullsize pic I can tell that was a trebble light...

If you were to leave it as a 2wd looking street truck, a 2.3T would be a riot. Given your location and intentions a V8 would probably be easier but even then parts may be hard to come by.

Here's a 2" Susepension lift, it's older than yours, but it will give you an idea.

For the record a 4wd is two inches higher than a 2wd.

My 4x4 has 4" of lift, my 5'-2" mother has a fit whenever she rides in it so I would stay below 6" anyway. Being 6'-3" it is just about right for me although longer doors would make folding my legs as I ingress and egress a little easier...