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ShotnVA777
Well-Known Member
★So... I've decided to start my build thread for my truck! I will keep this as SHORT and sweet as possible... I tend to ramble. A lot. Lol!★
**ALSO, if you don't see ALL the photos yet, its because I haven't got em ALL on photobucket! I'm trying to kind of "time lapse" it, so it all makes sense.... Good luck to me! Ha!**
OK! So here we go! I purchased a 1997 Ranger XLT Single Cab with the 2.3L (8 Plug) and 5 speed about a year ago. About 4 months ago, I wrecked it into an Accord. I had big plans in motion, at the time, for a VERY EXPENSIVE N/A Build I was going to do with my tax returns. It was going to cost well over $2500 to reach any type of goal I had set for the truck!
That said, after the wreck I decided I was going to sell the Ranger and just start over with another 2.3L build... I started looking into turbo stuff and contacting ppl about motors and other turbo lima motor parts.
I ran into a guy while looking for a motor that was an ABSOLUTE freak of taking these 2.3T's out of Thunderbirds and putting them in everything from old Falcon Vans to his 87 Mustang LX (SUPER SLEEPER!) This guy KNOWS ALL THINGS about the Turboed Lima, its actually quite RIDICULOUS on how many freakin parts he has! LORD HAVE MERCY! Its INSANE! That said, without this guy, Chris, I wouldnt be where I am today on mg build. I'll leave it at that!!!
Well, after meeting Chris, I started talking to him about plans, what vehicle to get, etc. All while still trying to find a damn motor. Ge told me to KEEP the Ranger and just roll with it! I loved my Ranger, so I was ALL for it, it started getting stripped down and I already had Mustang seats installed. This was going to be one BADASS truck if i could find the PERFECT motor!
I eventually came across one!!!!! A COMPLETE ONE at THAT! The motor had been sitting for 20 years, but had been garage kept and turned over by hand occasionally. They wanted $500 firm, I walked away with it for $300 CASH MONEY!
I had Chris come by to look at it, as I was disassembling and so forth for the complete rebuild. He was AMAZED at how good the motor looked and how it hadn't been dogged (lots of carbon buildup) and that it had EVERYTHING I NEEDED except a wiring harness and ECU!
I got to work, as did He. I replaced every single gasket and replaceable part, EVERYTHING and had Chris do a valve job on it, along with a little porting and so forth. We did a turbo swap to the ITI Turbo and 88 Manifold. Straight trade. It was FRESHLY rebuilt and tthe Garrett that was ON THE MOTOR wasn't even spinning, come to find out, all he got was a HOUSING and a worse manifold out of it! Lol... But he could care less, as he has enough parts to build 79 Turboed Lines. I acquired A LOT of the parts I DID need from him and my NA motor I was buidling (1988 Mustang Motor NA).
So $300 for the motor, about $250 in new parts and $100 in used and I'm ALMOST READY to drop it into my Ranger!
I'll spare you ALL the details and just SHOW you what I've done with a MASSIVE picture upload and a few choice words. Its insane, the transformation this has taken, with Chris's guidance, over the past month!
This is a dream come true for me! ALWAYS wanted a sporty, turboed, TRUCK! DREAM STATUS, COMING TO LIFE!
Were running this motor JUST as it would be ran in an OBD1 car, VAM and ALL! LA3 ECU, 88 Turbo Coupe Setup 100%, in a 1997 Ranger! I WILL one day go up to OBD2 and a "Stinger" setup and so forth, as all the OBD2 wiring will stay in place JUST FOR THAT reason... Until then, its 250+HP at 20+lbs of boost, on the stock setup!!!
Enjoy the pictured story of my build and please subscribe, as this will be one BAD MOTHER F'R ONCE WE'RE DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!
DJM Flip Kit and 3" Drop Springs from Crown Suspension
First time I laid eyes on my motor and then me riding home with her! Giddy as a schoolgirl!!!!
Dropped it on my tailgate and started cleaning/disassembling and preparing it for the MASSIVE amounts of surgery she's about to receive.... Let the pics keep rolling!
NOW.... ONTO THE HEAD WORK (SOME OF IT!) AND SUCH!
OH! DID I MENTION NEW ITI TURBO?!?!?
WE ALSO INSTALLED A RANGER ROLLER CAM!!!!
SOME NEW PARTS!!!!!
ONTO SOME STYLING AND PROFILING!!! HAHA!!!
MADE MY OWN EGR BLOCK OFF PLATE.... EASY ENOUGH!!!
NEW FUEL RAIL AND BROWN TOPS NEEDED SOME NÉE PAINT AND REFRESHMENT!
NOW WE'RE REALLY STARTING TO LOOK SEXY!!!!
**ALSO, if you don't see ALL the photos yet, its because I haven't got em ALL on photobucket! I'm trying to kind of "time lapse" it, so it all makes sense.... Good luck to me! Ha!**
OK! So here we go! I purchased a 1997 Ranger XLT Single Cab with the 2.3L (8 Plug) and 5 speed about a year ago. About 4 months ago, I wrecked it into an Accord. I had big plans in motion, at the time, for a VERY EXPENSIVE N/A Build I was going to do with my tax returns. It was going to cost well over $2500 to reach any type of goal I had set for the truck!
That said, after the wreck I decided I was going to sell the Ranger and just start over with another 2.3L build... I started looking into turbo stuff and contacting ppl about motors and other turbo lima motor parts.
I ran into a guy while looking for a motor that was an ABSOLUTE freak of taking these 2.3T's out of Thunderbirds and putting them in everything from old Falcon Vans to his 87 Mustang LX (SUPER SLEEPER!) This guy KNOWS ALL THINGS about the Turboed Lima, its actually quite RIDICULOUS on how many freakin parts he has! LORD HAVE MERCY! Its INSANE! That said, without this guy, Chris, I wouldnt be where I am today on mg build. I'll leave it at that!!!
Well, after meeting Chris, I started talking to him about plans, what vehicle to get, etc. All while still trying to find a damn motor. Ge told me to KEEP the Ranger and just roll with it! I loved my Ranger, so I was ALL for it, it started getting stripped down and I already had Mustang seats installed. This was going to be one BADASS truck if i could find the PERFECT motor!
I eventually came across one!!!!! A COMPLETE ONE at THAT! The motor had been sitting for 20 years, but had been garage kept and turned over by hand occasionally. They wanted $500 firm, I walked away with it for $300 CASH MONEY!
I had Chris come by to look at it, as I was disassembling and so forth for the complete rebuild. He was AMAZED at how good the motor looked and how it hadn't been dogged (lots of carbon buildup) and that it had EVERYTHING I NEEDED except a wiring harness and ECU!
I got to work, as did He. I replaced every single gasket and replaceable part, EVERYTHING and had Chris do a valve job on it, along with a little porting and so forth. We did a turbo swap to the ITI Turbo and 88 Manifold. Straight trade. It was FRESHLY rebuilt and tthe Garrett that was ON THE MOTOR wasn't even spinning, come to find out, all he got was a HOUSING and a worse manifold out of it! Lol... But he could care less, as he has enough parts to build 79 Turboed Lines. I acquired A LOT of the parts I DID need from him and my NA motor I was buidling (1988 Mustang Motor NA).
So $300 for the motor, about $250 in new parts and $100 in used and I'm ALMOST READY to drop it into my Ranger!
I'll spare you ALL the details and just SHOW you what I've done with a MASSIVE picture upload and a few choice words. Its insane, the transformation this has taken, with Chris's guidance, over the past month!
This is a dream come true for me! ALWAYS wanted a sporty, turboed, TRUCK! DREAM STATUS, COMING TO LIFE!
Were running this motor JUST as it would be ran in an OBD1 car, VAM and ALL! LA3 ECU, 88 Turbo Coupe Setup 100%, in a 1997 Ranger! I WILL one day go up to OBD2 and a "Stinger" setup and so forth, as all the OBD2 wiring will stay in place JUST FOR THAT reason... Until then, its 250+HP at 20+lbs of boost, on the stock setup!!!
Enjoy the pictured story of my build and please subscribe, as this will be one BAD MOTHER F'R ONCE WE'RE DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!
DJM Flip Kit and 3" Drop Springs from Crown Suspension
First time I laid eyes on my motor and then me riding home with her! Giddy as a schoolgirl!!!!
Dropped it on my tailgate and started cleaning/disassembling and preparing it for the MASSIVE amounts of surgery she's about to receive.... Let the pics keep rolling!
NOW.... ONTO THE HEAD WORK (SOME OF IT!) AND SUCH!
OH! DID I MENTION NEW ITI TURBO?!?!?
WE ALSO INSTALLED A RANGER ROLLER CAM!!!!
SOME NEW PARTS!!!!!
ONTO SOME STYLING AND PROFILING!!! HAHA!!!
MADE MY OWN EGR BLOCK OFF PLATE.... EASY ENOUGH!!!
NEW FUEL RAIL AND BROWN TOPS NEEDED SOME NÉE PAINT AND REFRESHMENT!
NOW WE'RE REALLY STARTING TO LOOK SEXY!!!!
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