simple 2.3 build?

[rhunter]

hey, i have a 96 mazi with 2.3 5 speed 2wd 3.42ratio 30" tires 15x9 alloys. The truck is almost gonna roll 500k. i have 2 spare 2.3 both from 96 rangers but i want to build one to replace the 500k one. This truck is a shop truck that needs to be dependable as a DD. however i would like to see @100 hp from it so i can pull a trailor easier. I might go with 3.73s but that would be after engine build. So, im thinking mild torquer cam, 10.1 comp, bigger valves, and maybe some slight port work, and tune. Is there a factory intakes/heads or throttle bodys that flow better that i might could get at a junk yard? This is a $500 truck so im not spending hundreds and hundreds on it and its not going to be raced, just a simple beater truck... let me know your thoughts! thanks

 

[stegomon]

4.56 gear would help a little

 

[Mikel89us]

A 96 should have 110 hp factory.

 

[rhunter]

110hp? lol where is it at cause i cant find it.... and 4.56 would be a bit to low for what i wanna do with it... maybe and thats a small chance i might do somthing like 4.10s

 

[RonD]

Good read here on the Lima engines:
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/4cylinders.html

Because you have a MAF system changing the CAM can give you better low end, also you can increase airflow with some simple changes to intake plenum, see above.
Headers can help with low end power, if designed for low end.
Electric fan conversion frees up some HP but also better for low speed driving while pulling a load, not that the Limas ever over heat, lol.

Yes gearing will make the biggest difference overall to get the power band you want.

 

[Mikel89us]

If you want to do 4.10's it might be cheaper and easier to find a stock rear end in a junkyard with them already in it. Same with a 3.73. New ring and pinnion will cost the same as a whole used rear end. Not including the cost to have the gears installed. Unless you have the tools and knowledge to do it yourself.

 

[Mikel89us]

With a maf system you could get better cams to work, but without much money put into the fuel system its not going to help. Plus a roller cam will cost you about $400. Just rebuild the motor, mill the head .100"-.125".

 

[scotts90ranger]

the biggest power increase would be from porting the head, my engine runs MUCH better after I did a mild port job, the ports are pretty rough... find yourself a 4.10 axle at a salvage yard, it needs it for the tires you are running, that's what your problem is...

 

[kirbo7106]

I have a 1996 Ranger with the 4 cylinder and the 5 speed. I have 15x8 inch rims and 235/75/15 tires. The tires are 29 inches tall. I picked up an 8.8 axle with 4.10s and a limited slip. I pull a small 5x10 trailer with it. It works real good together. Another bonus, the 8.8 had 10 inch drums instead of the 9 inch drums on the 7.5. Instead of rebuilding a 2.3, why not build a 2.5? I was going to rebuild my 2.3, but found a low mileage 2.5 for $600. You will probably get 5 or so horse power out of the deal.

 

[Kenneth S]

I have a 86 Ranger extended cab 2.3, 5 speed, with 3.73 gears with a 215/65/16 tire 26" tall as my DD, runs real good even when pulling my small trailer with 1300+ lbs of scrap metal in it. Just do a real good rebuild, a engine with 500K on it is probably down to 50-70 hp instead of the stock 110 hp

 

[rhunter]

well 500k is just a rounded number thats where the odometer stopped before i bought it 5 years ago so who knows whats really on it. Does a 2.3 mustang have a better flowing head/intake?.. Mikel89us- 0.100-0.125 with a .040 gasket wouldnt that be around 11.5cr? Scotts90ranger - as far as port work are you talking about true porting or just a match port and its seems to me that the lower intake could use some porting too!
And who does good tunes for these motors, cause im just not a programmer kinda guy

 

[rhunter]

Actual tire size is 265/75/r15 on 15x9 alloys.. the rims are light but the tires are some cheap elderados and they are kinda heavy for their size but they are about wore out so size and their heavy rotating mass will probably not be much longer.... i have 2 of the IHI Warner-Ishi turbos are they worth anything as far as perf or $?

 

[zekew64]

Just some info, but a '96 would only still have 100 HP. It was in 1998 that the 2.5L was introduced, not in 1996.

On a related note, you could remove the baffle from inside the intake tubing; this will make the air flow easier, and that translates into about 3-5 HP, depending on the condition of the engine.

 

[scotts90ranger]

well 500k is just a rounded number thats where the odometer stopped before i bought it 5 years ago so who knows whats really on it. Does a 2.3 mustang have a better flowing head/intake?.. Mikel89us- 0.100-0.125 with a .040 gasket wouldnt that be around 11.5cr? Scotts90ranger - as far as port work are you talking about true porting or just a match port and its seems to me that the lower intake could use some porting too!
And who does good tunes for these motors, cause im just not a programmer kinda guy

I'm just talking porting the head, not port matching (it would take a lot to do that, they don't match well), if you look at the runners they are very rough machined and don't look like they would flow very well, I just smoothed things out and it runs much better.

I started with this:


Ended with this:


I don't think I would worry about a tune, if you leave the O2 system working it will do the tuning for you after a while...

 

[Mikel89us]

It will tune to make up for some, but not a lot. You're looking at a gain of 10 hp tops without new injectors and a tune.