Question about 2.3 turbo t bird engines

[scotts90ranger]

I got mine for $600 with 80K on it on craigslist, they're out there...

 

[feellnfroggy]

I didnt see any responses about the transmission, I might have missed it.

However the motor for an auto turbo4 will work with a 5 speed. But not the m50d. (I dont think) If you go the t-45 or t-5 route for the tranny you will need a 5spd flywheel. the automatic flywheel will not allow you to mount the 5 sd tranny.

Me personally I would invest in a tremec 6spd. This will mate up to a turbo 4 with a bell housing change I believe, and would be a much nicer drive.

 

[SykoRanger88]

so if i find a engine from a 5speed tbird it will bolt right up if its an auto i gotta get a different flywheel?

 

[scotts90ranger]

yeah, but you can use the flywheel from your current engine, no biggie, but if it's worn, get a remanufacturered or new unit from an auto parts store...

all 2.3's are the same, all trannies will bolt up to all engines, but the early ranger trannies won't hold up to the power for very long, the M5OD is an exception and works fine. my tranny had around 200K on it before I swapped in the turbo engine, went to play in the sand with some friends, gave him a ride and he said he'd never seen a tranny shifted that fast (it's worn in now), and he's a tranny and axle tech... sure it grinds a bit when I do that (I don't shift like that all the time) but with his help I can rebuild it for a few hundred bucks... (according to him it can be done in about a six pack of brew)

with an '88 you should have an M5OD so you shouldn't have to worry

 

[feellnfroggy]

My bad, I htought I read he had a 3.0......

 

[scotts90ranger]

that was another guy that's been asking questions, I've been answering Syko's questions on the 4 banger board too, so I knew...

 

[SykoRanger88]

ok thanks, yea i think in 88 they started using the better trannies, cool deal so i just gotta get that complete 2.3t use my flyweel on the engine if it was an auto then just bolt it in and go through some wiring, notch the heaterbox and i guess re route the exhaust piping,i just wanna buy the engine and drop it in and do just the minimun requirement of work to get it working then just slowly work on it after that, its my daily driver, is there any other sensors i need to add onto the 2.3t engine? because i know my ranger doesnt use a MAF or anything.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I'm still running on the stock ranger exhaust with the downpipe from the T bird (came with the engine), one chop on the stock exhaust and welded it in one piece. for the heater box I got a O2 sensor plug for the turbo outlet and a O2 bung and relocated it down on the side about a foot away, seems to be working fine other than my stupid mistake on where I put it (is like 1/8" from the frame), took the heater box out when the engine was out and put it back on later, I took a wedge off of the bottom corner that interferes, heated the plastic so it would bend, got it to the shape I wanted then drilled some holes for zip ties to hold it together for the next couple steps where I stuck that stick on protective covering stuff (it's shiny, should be able to find it in auto parts stores) then liberally applied JB weld to the inside to seal it up.

the sensors you have to add are the VAM (old school MAF) and boost controller, mine apparently doesn't have a knock sensor but it's safer to run one... it can be done in a weekend, but would take a lot more planning than I did... now that I've done it it would be a lot easier though.

 

[SykoRanger88]

is there a VAM and boost controller from the tbird you can use or do you gotta order those from somewhere?

 

[85DANGERanger]

a T-5 tranny from a mustang will not bolt to a 2.3. there was a special T-5 made for the turbo birds and only the turbo birds , so it could be hard to find one, but if you do, get it. its the best manual you can bolt to it.

 

[SykoRanger88]

yea but as far as i know my stock tranny 5 speed will mate with the 2.3t engine correct?

 

[85DANGERanger]

yes it will.

 

[Beanmachine7000]

a T-5 tranny from a mustang will not bolt to a 2.3. there was a special T-5 made for the turbo birds and only the turbo birds , so it could be hard to find one, but if you do, get it. its the best manual you can bolt to it.

I'd keep the M50D over a T-5 (World Class or not)... Being that shifter position is perfect for your truck, an M50D (IME) is stronger than a T-5, and you wouldn't have to do any modifications to make it work... Going through the effort of swapping in a T-5 isn't worth the benefits (slightly tighter/smoother shifts)

 

[85DANGERanger]

yeah, i forgot to mention that some modding is required to run the T-5.

 

[SykoRanger88]

yea if i used a t-5 i think my shifter would be like back about a foot or more, i cant imagine that being comfortable