I Need More Power!!

[modularmahem]

Hello everyone. I am brand new to the forum and a brand new 09 Ranger owner!! I love my new truck. Came out of a Nissan Xterra and am soooo glad I made the switch to a Ranger!

I have a lot of learning to do about the truck though. My new baby is only a week old. It has only 400 miles on it. So once I get it broken in, I want to start adding some power to it. It's just the little 2.3L four cylinder with a 5spd. tranny. Any ideas on how to increase some power that doesnt cost a ton of $$ and can be done by a shade-tree mechanic like myself??

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for any suggestions you may have.

 

[Ranger44]

The 2 biggest ways to increase the "power" of that 4cyl is forced induction and gear change.

Putting a turbo on or changing the axle raio to a lower ratio like 4.10's will help.

Don't waste your time with chips, K&N, TB sapcers, etc.

 

[Mark_88]

I don't think I've ever seen a 2.3 Duratech motor turbo'd...in fact, I haven't been reading up on them at all...I was hoping to see some aftermarket stuff for them since I was planning on buying one some day...

You might want to check out the Forced Induction forum or even the 4-bangers 2000 and newer forum...see if anyone has done anything for them...but they do have 140 some HP stock...that's about 40% more than the Lima engines...and with 4:10 gears and a manual tranny they should motor pretty good...

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

trade it in on a truck with a 4.0. it puts out 210HP from the factory.

seriously, didnt you notice the lack of power when you test drove it? if it didnt have enough power, why didnt you turn it down and get something with more juice? im not try to critizise...just seems odd.

that said, the 2.3 duratec has been boosted. check out the focus crowd...they do it from time to time.

 

[LearjetMinako]

Most Duratec 23 in the Ranger came with a 4.10 rear axle ratio. Theres not much that can be done. The 5speed tranny is the biggest option to go faster and have more fun. Chipping the PCM might help.

 

[Hahnsb2]

trade it in on a truck with a 4.0. it puts out 210HP from the factory.

seriously, didnt you notice the lack of power when you test drove it? if it didnt have enough power, why didnt you turn it down and get something with more juice? im not try to critizise...just seems odd.

Exactly what I was thinking.

 

[milje]

Most Duratec 23 in the Ranger came with a 4.10 rear axle ratio. Theres not much that can be done. The 5speed tranny is the biggest option to go faster and have more fun. Chipping the PCM might help.

I think only auto's have a 4.10 ratio, sticks have 3.73.



My 2.3 has plenty of power for me.

 

[marlow3000]

5.0

 

[snake]

Chipping the PCM is the cheapest way to add a little more power- but if you decide to go this route, buy a programmer- not the chip that you have to physically intall into the PCM. I had one and it was nothing but trouble. The programmer will allow you to makes changes easily, plus it doubles as a code reader. Additionally, if you need warranty work, you can set it back without physical evidence that it had been "tampered" with. With that said, do NOT fall for the gimmicks, such as a "chip" off e-bay for $20 or whatever. Those will not increase anything except make your wallet lighter. For real power gains drop the rear end ratio or find a blower or turbo- or engine swap. Kinda drastic, but the point is that the 4 banger was intended for economy- not performance- so there isn't much you can do for any significant gains. Even the programmer will only give you 10% or a bit more power and thats it. If the truck was an auto, it would tighten up the shifts which is cool, and take the speed governor off. Also nice but perhaps unneccesary. Changing the exhaust or a cold air intake "might" give you a slight boost, but not worth the money for what tiny bit of gain you may see.

Congrats on the new ride tho, and welcome to TRS

 

[Bob Ayers]

In addition to the common performance mods being a waste on a 4 cylinder, you will also void your Ford warranty!

+3, didn't you test drive this truck before you bought it?????

 

[OilPatch197]

Chipping the PCM is the cheapest way to add a little more power

Isn't that Illegal on a street truck?

 

[turbo cat]

legal and i agree also on only forced induction or gearing will net yoyu anything worthwhile. oh and many have turbocharged the 2.0/2.3Ls in the focuses adn rangers. You could probally get away with a remote mounted turbo kit. You might lose your powertrain/drivetrain warranty however

 

[feellnfroggy]

I think only auto's have a 4.10 ratio, sticks have 3.73.



My 2.3 has plenty of power for me.

Ford was funny about that. Most of the ford 2.3l autos came with shorter gears than manuals. My mustang v6 has 3.23 gears from the factory I think, but the auto has 2.73. Least as far as I know. Some peeps on here are quick to point out when you dont know much tho. As far as the rest who think he should have bough a 6. The 2.3 is strong enuff to do most needed things. Most of you hard core wheelers really need more but he came out of an xterra. He should be fine with the duratec. Small turbo, and yes a cold air intake IS needed to start with cause it frees up airflow. Ford restricts the intakes with their intakes. it doesnt have to be K&N but something with a straight tube even if its homemade. Thats my opinion, if it disagrees with some of yall, well it was bound to happen sometime.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

and yes a cold air intake IS needed to start with cause it frees up airflow.

the factory intake is already cold air.

 

[marlow3000]

My mustang v6 has 3.23 gears from the factory I think...

cough...3.27s...cough