Whats years stand out with the 2.3's

[86bigred]

i picked up 83 for free on sunday.needs work but it runs.need tires and rear braks before i take it for a test drive.

 

[agish]

For what it's worth, if it really is 'dog slow' there's probably something not running right that you can fix. I'm impressed every day with how well the 2.3 can move the Ranger. I'm not saying it's fast by any stretch - it certainly isn't. But it's more than adequate for merging onto a crowded highway, etc.

fastpakr, where would one start to look. I have 94, 2.3L with 210k on it. It's dog slow also. I'd really like some help on getting it more driveable. It's had new wires and plugs, cat has been cleaned out, and it's been taken care of. I removed the baffle in the intake to give it more airflow, but not sure what to do next to help it out. My gas mileage is 20 hwy and town, and I have to down shift if the wind blows and I'm running over 60 in fifth gear. Any suggestions would be helpful. I'm searching the boards now.

TIA.

 

[Frank The Tank]

I have a 97 2.3........... over 200k miles been an awesome truck, one timing belt, a fan belt, set of spark plugs, changed the oil a couple times.

I love this truck, but backed by the sturdy 5spd, it is a crap-box for speed and passing. But I'm used to 500hp.

I love the 4.0, it gets 22 mpg instead of 26 (which is more like 24 now that she's broken in a bit more, if that's what you call 200k hard farm miles)

I don't think you can go wrong with any of them (except the junk auto trans)

Frank

 

[timpat92855]

Got my 97 3 years ago with 92xxx miles on it. It now has over 140xxx and is going strong. Even with 31s and 4.10 gears it still manages 21 highway. No problems besides purge valve back last year. Its not a speed demon but will manage to run 75.

 

[Cacher]

Great engine, mine is a 94 also and has 179K on it so far-just need another egr valve. Anybody have one for cheap?

 

[built 2.3]

i like the 84 carb 2.3 i love that truck it does everything i want it to do

 

[Rifleman]

Stupid move in my mind on fords part but hey they didnt take bail out so they must be doing something right.

They had companies who's names were still worth a hoot to sell, namely Jag, Aston Martin, and Landrover. They're on a cash burn every bit as bad as GM. But the only thing GM really had they could sell off was Hummer and they ruined the Hummer name with the creation of H2 and H3. Made it virtually worthless when they sold it.

Chrysler had nothing beyond their grand old hemi stuff and the neon. Can't really sell off what your company is built on and still have a company.

 

[dixie_boysles]

my 94 2.3 ranger was awesome!!! id go with those, PLUS no OBII to deal with, great running little engine!

 

[myold96]

what year stands out

i have a 1988 chev nova ys an 88 the last year they made them it has 400,000 miles on it no noise yet but it is starting to use oil and getting to be a pain to buy parts for but it gets 35mpg and it is front wheel drive no dents original glass and i finally did a tune up after having it passed down through the family to me it has kind of low compression so i'm thinking of rebuilding the motor i will have to change my thinking pattern from ranger to chev/toyota i still like my ranger better though i am 6'3" and barely fit in the nova.

 

[simpler=better]

210 on mine and she's awesome. Here's a weekend project I did, the best way to get it to warm up fast and keep from heating the floor. If I did it again I would add a stubby resonator or just use 2.25" piping.

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=145330

 

[zekew64]

Great engine, mine is a 94 also and has 179K on it so far-just need another egr valve. Anybody have one for cheap?

I've got an extra EGR valve. Even vacuum-tested it myself, so I know it works. Send me a PM, and I'll see what I can do. Do you have the 2.3?

 

[Road Angels]

engine

Ca. 2.3 efi was the first year of the eight plug engine, some say that up to 1988 had a higher nickel content block but weather thats true has not really been proven

 

[myold96]

my 96 has almost 300,000 miles with the only major thing being done is the tranny clutch problem the rest is just proper maintenance.