New to Prerunner scene

[jakerson]

Okay, so tomorrow I'm getting a 93 ranger long bed w/ a 2.3L. I tried hard to find a pre-98 v6 ranger but i couldnt get one for cheap, so i'll have to settle with the 4 banger.
Where do i start?
What can i do to be able to push 31's without a problem?
I'm 17 so obviously tight budget. HELP PLEASE!

 

[ckblum]

Gears man, gears. Maybe find an 8.8 or 7.5 even with 4.10s and a posi if your lucky. A 7.5 will be plenty strong for 31's and a 4 banger. I dunno what small mods you can do to squeeze more power out though, check the 4 banger forums.

 

[jakerson]

haha sounds expensive, a whole swap
well thanks

 

[cllake]

Its actually pretty cheap! Get a disk brake explorer rear end, you just have to grind of the perches, weld on new ones and extend brake lines.

 

[jakerson]

Really a drum-disc conversion is as easy as extended brake lines?

 

[odie1969]

Really a drum-disc conversion is as easy as extended brake lines?

and welding on new spring perches, there is also something for the parking brake but I don't know about that part.

 

[DangerRanger08]

hey man i was in the same position as you. i have a 4 banger to and its hard as hell to get any balls out of em. i put 4:11's with posi in it for about 500 off of ring and pinion. it still turns the 31's pretty well and the posi makes such a difference when you get in thos deep ruts. as for power they make turbo kits for em but are about 3 grand....not much you can do to 4 bangers.... a 6cyl swap is what im setting up for next and its fairley cheap.

 

[jakerson]

where are the turbo kits?

 

[MiniFord]

if you have the money for a turbo kit then you might as well do a engine swap. swap might be a money saver over turbo if you can find some deals and if you or someone you know knows how to do one

 

[Ranger97XL]

i recently went with my roommate to some dunes with his jeep and saw a few pre-runner rangers and I have decided to start towards building one. As for the the rear axle, I recently purchase a 8.8 4.10 LS with disks for 100, craigslist is a great place to look for deals. Now if only I could find a sweet deal on a aussie locker

 

[wizkid00104]

I got the Jet chip for 94 4 banger and it made a bigger difference than I thought.

If you want to get power though (without a turbo), look to the head and intake manifold. Get out the dremel and port and polish the heads. I was told that the 2.3's cylinder head could not be designed any more restrictive so anything you remove is an improvement. Look in the tech library on how to port and polish.

I just got a 28 spline 8.8 with a Trickflow Girdle, Ford Racing 4.10's, and an Eaton Posi for a little over $300. There is 15k on these parts, I had to replace the wheel bearings which had 100k + on them and that's it. That's $800 in new parts, you just gotta look around and jump on the opportunity when it comes around. Look on here too, there are often good deals from guys parting out trucks. Just keep your eyes open and watch craigslist, you;ll find what you need.

 

[TayCo 7s]

itll be a lil slow rolling out of the stop sign and stuff but my 02 ranger has a 2.3 duratec and pushes the 33´s and even cherps third gear

if you want the tires get them your gonna get them anyways right?
put them on..
i think it will be fine.