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So I think I'm putting this motor in my Tbird, due to financial difficulties I'm going to pull my turbo 2.3 and put my 331 in my 88 turbo coupe. I might stick the 2.3 in my ranger instead when money is better.
Pros:
Disc Brakes
8.8 3.73 rear
C4 with full manual reverse VB (and rebuilt with the "500 horse" kit from broader performance
Ratchet shifter
Crazy auto suspension crap
Can have it together and running like next week.
Cons:
She is fat (3400 lbs or so)
Bunch of electric crap under hood.
Ranger that will set for a bit
The 2.3L turbo engines are not to be made fun of. Yeah they are 4-bangers, but there are plenty of people putting down 350+hp out of those engines and doing it for a lot less weight than a V8. While that doesn't mean much for a Ranger enthusiast, it does mean a lot to someone that's looking for something unique in a performance car. I still prefer a V8 in a Ranger just because more displacement is easier to get torque from at off-idle conditions. And trucks often need more torque off-idle for doing utility hauling. It's particularly important for manual trans engines to get good off-idle torque or you wind up burning up a lot of clutches.
...Always Somethin'
89 Ranger Supercab, 331, ported GT40p heads w/1.6RRs, Crane Powermax 2020 cam, ported Explorer lower, FMS Explorer (GT40p) headers, aftermarket T5 'Z-Spec', 8.8" rear w/3.27s, Powertrax Locker, A9L w/Moates QuarterHorse, Innovate LC-1, James Duff traction bars, iDelta DC Fan controller
I have always liked the 88 Bird body style. Although I like the V8 Bird grill over the Turbo Coupe front end but thats just a matter of opinion. I say do what ever your funds allow, a toy to play with is a toy to play with. I wouldn't mind either one of them. Only thing I would not like is the C4 with 3:73 gears, no highway speed what so ever.
On another note though putting that turbo in a Ranger is no bolt in project. It is a job.
Dirt is for Farming....Asphalt is for Racing
85 Ranger 5.0, GTP Engine, Carbed, AOD, 7.5 3:45 rear gear(for now)
77 Mustang II 302, C4, 8" rearend 3:00 gears, 4 point roll bar
73 Mustang Convertible, Bone Stock, 48,000 original miles
91 F-250 5.8W(really needs a 460) 4X4
2000 Mustang 3.8 V6, Bone Stock
2011 Ford Fusion (Momma's hot rod)
I've got a harness out of another bird, and believe me, I know the 2.3 turbo like back of my hand, I got alot of money in the motor in there. Its probably about 300hp at 20 psi
Here is a short blurb on it,
Description
Chassis type: 1988 Turbocoupe
short block mods/compression ratio: Forged Diamond pistons and crower rods, .30 2.3, 8.5:1ish
head/port work: P&P N/A head with combustion chambers matched, Double valve springs
cam specs: Bo-Port 1.5
intake/throttle body: Heavily ported upper and lower, 65mm
intercooler: 31 x 12 x 3 with 3" ins and outs
exhaust manifold: ATR Header
turbo: IHI
wastegate: Internal
exhaust size: 2.5
engine management: La3 / 8ua (not sure which I have in currently)
Boost: 18psi
fuel: 92 octane
convertor: PTC 3000 stall
transmission: c4, every bearing, clutch, and steel is new. Full Manual Reverse Valve Body
Other Mods: 255 walbro, Kirban FPR, Hurst V-matic pro2, ARP head studs, removal of ac
The 2.3 is up for sell any way is more history on this, got tired of blowing Intercooler pipes, random leaks, just over all 20psi is hard on stuff and I hit my limit without going with some other EFI system.
but....
