I had finally gotten me a Ranger!!!

[ColtonW]

Hey guys! I finally picked up my first truck and I am soo excited! It is a 1987 Ford Ranger with a 2.0L Inline 4. It is a 2x4 and a 5 spd. I was looking under the hood and I noticed how few things the motor had to turn (only the fan and the alt. & the pig pumps have already been removed) and I am looking to put as less stress on the motor as possible. I had noticed however, which I don't like, is how the exhaust gases are reused and are released into the air box. Here are my plans:

Trace the airfilter onto the bottom of the air box and cut down the extra. Do the same for the lid, but I'd use a nice piece of sheet metal I will make look nice so It will be a free breathing pod filter.

But that will leave the big "pipe" comming from the manifold and a bunch of other emissions crap. I was wondering if I would be able to use the manifold off the 2.3L if it doesn't have that same hose. Or would these work? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Also, all the other hoses that lead to the airbox, would the motor be fine if I have them all run to a remote location somewere either than the air box in the engine compartment? I am trying to get the entire engine compartment as need and tidy as possible incase anywere WHERE to happy, it would be very easy to diagnose.

I am also going to add a COMP Extreme Energy towing cam to it because the previous owner (mechanic) said it'll need one soon and I do alot of towing, weither it is a single dirt bike in the back or an entire trailer loaded with bikes going to West Virginia.

And to go with the whole "as less stress on the motor as possible" concept, I am also going to add an electric fan and remove the clutch fan that it already on it so it is yet one more thing the tiny engine has to turn.

So, what do you guys think?

Thanks!
Colton W.

 

[ColtonW]

Also, I have an exhaust leak, does anyone have any experience with these? http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-680016/ I hate the high-pitch "noise" the Ricers make with their cherry bombs on their 4 bangers! Sounds like CRAP! I like either quiet 4 bangers or this.. atleast the discription sounds good! hah Anyone have any input? (I am going to eliminate the cat)

 

[ColtonW]

anyone??

 

[97ranger xlt]

anyone??

welcome + congrats on your purchase.

not sure how much you can tow with the 4cyl. i have towed a boat/trailer weighing 2000 lbs off the bumper hitch w/out too much problem .. but only locally .. no highway.
as for eliminating the cat.. does your state have emissions for such a vintage truck? if so may not pass w/out cat..

 

[Mark_88]

You must be in Canada...the 2.0 was only released in Canada as a carbed engine...

Anyways, sounds like you may need to have the head rebuilt if the mechanic says you may need a new cam...there are several options, but my personal preference is to get a 89 Mustang head (with the roller cam and 4 plugs) and the shorty header from a 2.3 (93-97 Mazda B2300 or Ranger)...

As far as the cams go...you'd need to get more specifics on what cams will do what you want it for...I had a mild racing cam (moderately longer on the valve closings) and it did make a slight difference...but what I should have done was had a 2.3 stroked with forged pistons (it increases your options for turbo later if you want to go that route) and over bore...

I think it really depends on how much cash you want to blow on this truck...and believe me...it can go very fast...lol

OH, if you are in Canada your truck is an 87 and therefore is excempt from the Drive Clean cash grab...

 

[ColtonW]

I live in Ohio.. so your saying my truck at one time or another was an Canada? Cool! haha


And why do you say if my cam is worn I automatically need a new head?

 

[flaminranger]

the 2.0 came carbed in the U.S. in 88 as that is what mine is and it has lived in washington state all its life. But 87's might be different.
as far as the cam is, Mark probably is assuming that if the cam is worn out the head probably is as well.
do a leak down test and see. who knows it might be fine also look at the valve stems and see if they look worn if so have it checked by someone who knows what to look at.

 

[Mark_88]

I live in Ohio.. so your saying my truck at one time or another was an Canada? Cool! haha


And why do you say if my cam is worn I automatically need a new head?

Not necessarily, but if you have to put in a new cam you might want to consider a slight upgrade instead...try the test noted above to and if that shows you there isn't a problem with valves or rings, then replacing the cam is the cheapest route to take...

the 2.0 came carbed in the U.S. in 88 as that is what mine is and it has lived in washington state all its life. But 87's might be different.

Ah, I read in the sticky that 87 and 88 carbed Rangers were only available in Canada...but that may have been updated...or simply incorrect...

 

[ColtonW]

So you say if I need a new cam, I might as well pick up a Mustang head? And is there any particular reason why you had mentioned 89 and 89 alone?

What about this? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1987...Q5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories#ht_4810wt_1165

Would it bolt right up? Would there be significant power increase? I am looking to improve the overall torque, is this going to add power in the low, mid, or upper RPM range?

Thanks!
Colton W.

 

[Mark_88]

It will bolt right up...and the 89 simply because a) it's a roller cam (allows for higher revs without valve float) and b) it is before they moved to the 8 plug heads...

c) it's the one I have on mine and it matches my intake...but that doesn't apply to your setup...yet

You can use a wide variety of parts, but matching the intake makes a difference since the 2.0 had round ports (you would see that if you removed the intake manifold)...there may even be later models because I haven't checked the sticky for a while and it is not information that I keep readily available in brain space...

Using the head you have now will work with your current intake/carb/exhaust and, again, if everything else is OK you may just need a cam...before you change or do anything, is the leak-down test...and depending on those results you can move forward if needed...

Upgrades are great when needed...and I needed it because the bottom end was shot and the head was cracked...so I just went with advice I found on here...mostly, and had the engine rebuilt...

Except for failing the e-test I am quite happy with the results...but mine still needs work, obviously.

 

[tyler's 87 ranger]

It will bolt right up...and the 89 simply because a) it's a roller cam (allows for higher revs without valve float) and b) it is before they moved to the 8 plug heads...

c) it's the one I have on mine and it matches my intake...but that doesn't apply to your setup...yet

You can use a wide variety of parts, but matching the intake makes a difference since the 2.0 had round ports (you would see that if you removed the intake manifold)...there may even be later models because I haven't checked the sticky for a while and it is not information that I keep readily available in brain space...

Using the head you have now will work with your current intake/carb/exhaust and, again, if everything else is OK you may just need a cam...before you change or do anything, is the leak-down test...and depending on those results you can move forward if needed...

Upgrades are great when needed...and I needed it because the bottom end was shot and the head was cracked...so I just went with advice I found on here...mostly, and had the engine rebuilt...

Except for failing the e-test I am quite happy with the results...but mine still needs work, obviously.

will the 89 stang head fit on a 87 ranger 2.0

 

[reggioisme]

all lima 2.3 heads bolt up to each other... but with being carb'd you need to stick to an older head for the intake to work because the ports change over the years from carb to efi...if you looking for a cam the best cam would be a 95-97 ranger roller on the cheap side, but you will have to swap out for roller rockers too...if you go to the comp cam you will have to stay flat tappet. if you do decide to do so make sure you start running zddp additive, but a roller cam will free up a few pennies...also with the header that you were looking at you can run the exhaust ports are all the same in any lima 2.3

hope that helps a little bit