newb from Va Beach

[Bruce M]

Hello everyone. I'm new to TRS but not Rangers. I had an 87 ranger with a built 2.3L. Trust me I hate my self for selling it. I loved that truck like a girlfriend. Now I currently own a 96 Explorer 4X4 XLT. It is bone stock for now. I plan on rebuilding the motor soon since it has 211K miles on it. Im saving for a Comp cam, headmen headers, and BBK TB.

I would also love to buy a 88 or older ranger for a 5.0 swap. I have a 88 cougar 5.0 donor.

I have more plans than money.

 

[LIMA BEAN]

Welcome to TRS. Got any pics of the built 2.3 or specs? I am about to glue one together myself.

 

[Bruce M]

Welcome to TRS. Got any pics of the built 2.3 or specs? I am about to glue one together myself.

Thanks. The 2.3L was .040 over with KB pistons, ported oval port head miled .100 with 11.5-1 comp ratio, with 1.89 int., 1.59 EX SS valves, .480 lift 280 duration crane cam, and a Offy 4 barrel intake with a 450 CFM four barrel holley carb. It had a headmen header with 2.5" magnaflow exhaust. I had a full MSD ignition with a pro billet distributor, 6al, and 8.5mm wires. It had a stock tranny with a zoom clutch. It also had a FMS posi and 4.11 gears. I had it dynoed once at virginia speed. I think it put down about 170-180 rwhp. I'll see if I can load some pics.

 

[Bruce M]

My old Baby.

 

[LIMA BEAN]

Oh man sweet ride. Mine is .30 over with new pistons, rods, crank all done and balanced. I did all the porting myself and am doing the same with the MSD gear. Its an 88 efi so I havnt even looked into a cam yet. Also I didnt know headman made a header for the darn thing cool. Guess I better get this thing off the back burner soon.

 

[LIMA BEAN]

POS Accell coil.

 

[Bruce M]

Thanks. I miss her ALOT.
Ya it wasnt on there long. I ended up running a MSD blaster later. I had a pacesetter on it first. It was a piece of crap. One of the primary tubes broke so I got the headmen. The headmen made a big difference on the butt dyno too. Hooker makes one too and its tuned but it also cost about a hundred more bucks.

 

[Bruce M]

You might want to look into a late model ranger roller cam. I put one in my old 89 mustang and I picked up a couple hp and mpg.

 

[LIMA BEAN]

I scoped Crane and Comp. cams and I am not seeing what I think I want. Being its an Alaska 4x4 I want my torque way down low on the rpms and the dollars to hp ratio is ugly for a 2.3, Its just a temp motor for the build and hell I have a 302 and a 351 on stands. I need long range and reliability here and dont want to pump all that cash to the oil asshats.