Hi there, I'm a newb.

[brother rat]

I a total newb with Rangers, so these same questions have probably been asked. Thanks in advance for your patience.
I drove a 94 Ranger for several years, then my parents drove it until now, and they are thinking of getting rid of it, so I might get it back from them.
It's a 1994 2.3L auto, single cab, short bed, ~150,000 miles. It's in near perfect condition. Here are my questions:
The 2.3L auto combination is gutless. Will a 3.0 from the same year bolt to that trans? Or would the 3.0 with its auto trans go in?
Or the later 2.5 4cyl? How big of a problem would it be to put the OBDII engine in a OBDI truck?
I'm others have this truck with the same engine/trans, what have others done?
Also, this is in California so emissions regulations are important.
Unrelated to the engine question: I believe the truck has 14" wheels on 5 lug hubs. Do factory 15" wheels fits that pattern?

Thanks a lot for your help!

 

[-Nathan-]

The bellhousings are a part of the tranny, and as such are different for each motor. Why not just keep the engine/tranny you have if its working good, and swap out the rearend for some lower gears; i.e. check the tag on your diff and see what the gearing is. If it is say 3.73's, a set of 4.10's or 4.56's would really wake it up. That way can avoid the whole emissions dealio.

 

[adsm08]

You will be good with a set of ranger 15" rims. There is a list around somewhere of all the rims that fit.

 

[superds]

I think this is the list:
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/wheel_fitment.html

 

[brother rat]

Thanks for the responses. And for the idea about swapping the rear end gears. How would that swap affect highway mileage?

 

[-Nathan-]

Swapping out for a different rear end gear ratio may actually boost your mpg's depending on how hard your engine has been laboring before.

 

[marcuspur]

if its more power your looking for try to find a 2.3 turbo mustang and drop that motor in i beleve it will fit but id ask some of the ppl on here that know a little more than me about rangers or even a 4.0 but dont forget what they say if it ant broke dont fix it lol

 

[kimcrwbr1]

If you put bigger tires you will have less power so bigger tires and different will give the same as what you have so consider gear ratio after you put larger tires on and in california any upgrade you do has to be newer so obdI to obd II is legal but is it practical going back to if it works don`t fix it.

 

[Army]

I run 16's on my lowered '96 shifter with no problems.

 

[Ranger Sport Honduras]

the newer rangers that have the 4 cil and auto trans came with 15" Rims and 225/70 tires. along with 4.10 gears.

setig up yours with that combo would give u a better result

 

[adsm08]

I would like to point out that a 15" rim with a lower profile side wall can produce the same overall tire size that he currently has.

 

[brother rat]

Thanks for the responses. I will probably swap gears. Maybe wheels/tires but I would keep close to the factory diameter. I would like to find a chart with rear gear ratio/tire diameter/speedo gear tooth count to be able to figure out what speedo gear I would need to look for to keep it accurate (and where to find said speedo gear). I know the formula is around here, but a chart is always helpful. And I know that it would be tough given the number of configurations available on the Rangers.