Turbo Ranger find

[MAranger]

So my buddy tows for a living, called me up last night "Hey there's a turbocharged ranger down at the tow lot!" I ran down there to check it out. The truck is a 90 std cab long bed it is a 2.3 turbo. Under the hood is what I guess to be a turbocoupe or mustang motor. It was equipped with an underhood intercooler above the exhaust man and turbo on the left side of the motor. This seems like a strong indicator that this was a factory motor. the setup seemed to be stock. Whats the story on these motors? How much boost do they run? What should I check to see if this thing is worth my time and money? Will it be reliable? We ran it on either for a minute or so, because the fuel pump wasn't coming on. I'm pretty sure I could grab it real cheap. The tow yard paid 25 DOLLARS for this truck. Somebody didn't know what it is obviously. Any input is appreciated guys.

 

[Davis]

Guaranteed it's not a factory turbo ranger. Did the valve cover have "ford fuel injection" written on it? If so, it's likely an SVO motor, if it just has ribs, it's probably a TC motor.

Low boost mode is 9 psi high boost mode is 15 psi.

Max HP is about 200.

If you maintain it and keep it stock, it's a very reliable motor.

If you can get it for cheap, do it.

 

[Jay FX4]

I ran down there to check it out.

I wish you would have said:
I ran down there WITH MY CAMERA to check it out.

 

[TireIron]

definitely go for it, you have someone that lives a few towns over from you that knows TONS about those motors... hehehe. It sounds like someone did a stock swap over seeing as they even kept the top mount intercooler with it. Even the body and frame are junk it would be a good setup to swap into something 94 and older and those style trucks are easy to find floating around craigslist all the time cheap. I could see a nice daily driver street 2wd ranger in an extended cab short bed 93 or 94 truck. When setup right it will last a long long time. My n/a 2.3 (same motor minus forged pistons...) just turned over 395K miles on the original engine with no engine work.

 

[MAranger]

Upon looking around online, it is definately a turbocoupe motor. The truck lookss solid, but I have a feeling brakes, bearings and such that like that will be shot. Too early to tell about the clutch. I like that its 4x4!

The wiring has a few oddities, a couple cut wires, a mystery switch, and a couple unused connectors.

The truck is gonna wind up the local junkyard. The same buddy who found this thing works at the yard and this could give me an opportunity to put a pump in it, run it, and make an offer.

Right now I could probably throw $250 at the owner of the tow place and tow it home. If I wait on it, the junkyard would probably want $500.

I want to buy it and drive it for the summer. Never had anything boosted, which makes me kinda apprehensive, but the fact that it is a stock system gives me some confidence. I wish I could tell how many miles are on the motor. I need to go back and get some pictures and some more details, thnks for your words guys, I'll let you know what else I come up with.

 

[AllanD]

grab it.

Whatever is wrong is likely fixable.

AD

 

[Insanejughead]

HOLY SH*T! I would yank that truck out of their hands before I ever left the lot!


Even if all hell is wrong with it, the motor is super easy to rebuild. I'm rebuilding my second TC motor to put back into the T-bird I pulled the first one out of.

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

Boosted Ranger =