2.0L ('83-'88) Ideas for my Ranger

[BigJay]

Hey all I’m new to the ranger station.
I had just bought this beauty this week and I’m learning quite a bit about it. I’ve always loved midsized trucks and now I finally have one. I’m looking for a summer project because it’s cold when I ride my bike in the winter. I didn’t do my research as well as I should have before I bought the truck but that’s ok because for its age it’s in real good condition. I thought it was a bigger engine and after reading more through I realized it’s not. So I had no idea the first gen rangers ran on carbs and were not fuel injected. If I wanted to get more performance out of the truck what would you suggest? Aftermarket air intake, new carb or rebuild it and new exhaust. Potentially a lift kit is what I’m thinking but is there much I can do to make a difference? Any Insight from experience I would greatly appreciate thank you!

 

[scotts90ranger]

Oof, a 2.0L, yeah they're like 70hp or something low... Probably the best thing to do would be to find a 2.3L to plop in its place, would just need the short block to make it the easiest keeping the carb setup which has it's own head... I would stick '86-94 to keep it easy short block wise as they're all small journal blocks but otherwise very similar

 

[Blmpkn]

Personally, first thing id do is replace those wheels lol.

 

[Terrys87]

First gens eventually went fuel injected in 85 or 86. I have seen places that sell performance parts for the 4 banger, just depends on how much you want to spend. They can be made more powerful for the right amount of money. I would just get in tip top shape tune up wise and see what you have got. Being a used truck, it probably is dire need of a tune up.

 

[BigJay]

First gens eventually went fuel injected in 85 or 86. I have seen places that sell performance parts for the 4 banger, just depends on how much you want to spend. They can be made more powerful for the right amount of money. I would just get in tip top shape tune up wise and see what you have got. Being a used truck, it probably is dire need of a tune up.

I’m pretty sure mine has a carb I don’t think it’s fuel injected or is it? The first thing I plan on doing is a tune up which it needs for sure. I’m having problems finding the intake hose it’s completely dry rotted and I know that’s diminishing the performance. Also the brakes are spongy so I know I have to do the master brake cylinder. I’m just not sure if it’s manual or power brakes. Could you clarify though in what could possibly be done to that style of engine? Besides putting a bigger one in

 

[scotts90ranger]

All 2.0L's are carbureted, they were an option through '88 in the US and '89 in Canada, in '85 fuel injection was an option on the 2.3L but I believe standard by '86

 

[Terrys87]

Ford 2-valve 4-cyl Engines & Parts | 2.3L SOHC "Lima" Engines & Parts Esslinger Engineering | Esslinger racing

Boport Racing Heads | 2.3 ported head

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I was thinking 74 was the last year of the 2.0 and the 2.3 what took its place after that for several years. I could be wrong on that.

 

[scotts90ranger]

In the pintos they had some european engine that was a 2L, in the '80's they made a Lima that's basically a 2.3L with a smaller bore but same crank and such, I think the heads have smaller valves too... I think it might have been used in some of the other rear wheel drive small cars in the early '80's but I'm not sure