inherited dads truck

[Dimis]

Hi this is my first post but ive been looking through the forum for a couple days

i just inherited my dads 2001 regular cab ranger xlt with 2.5L 4 banger
he passed away Nov of 08 and mom didnt want the truck any longer so its mine free and clear

heres the thing im not a huge fan of this pickup but seeing as how it was my dads i want to love it

thats where i hope you guys come into the formula

my daily driver is a Dodge SRT4 (the neon not caliber) so im used to way more power and a turbo

ive found a few options for the Ford Ranger everything from swapping in a 5.0 V8 to a simple turbo on the stock 2.5

now for my questions (please bare with me im sure its all been covered before)

what parts are needed to turbo my stock 2.5? a link to a post would be welcomed cause during my search i didnt find anything diffinitave
im looking for a complete list on not just major componments so everything from fuel managment to exhaust and beyond

how much power can i expect without replacing pistons etc?
i dont want to do a complete motor build just want a little more power right now
ill do a motor build later down the road

how much boost can i put on the stock motor without a failure?


im sure ill have more questions but thats it for now

thanks in advance guys/gals

[AirBender]

01? thats a duratec right? you would be better off looking around the focus forums for this info as were primarily working with the lima 2.3 and 2.5... we'll help where we can though....

[Dimis]

honestly one of you guys would have to tell me lol
im a dodge guy so im completely out of my element

[jfive]

01 is a 2.5 lima isn't it.

[nagelandy55]

2.5 is a lima.

[Dimis]

woohoo so im in the right place **does happy dance**

[AirBender]

ok..... somebody help me get my head out of my but and tell me when the duratec started in the ranger..... for future reference.... thanks steve.

[speedaddict]

Ahh, yes did a lil research and here's the results.

1998-2001 ford ran the 2.5Lima
2002-and up ford went to the 2.3Duratech.
??-1997 was 2.3Lima

Hope that helped :thumbsup:

[Jesshwarren]

Build the 2.5L from the bottom up. :D

[BogusSVO]

I will say the general view will be is to pop the engine out and put some forged pistons in it, a 1035 felpro HG, big valves, ARP head studs.. and Talk to the guy above me for a tuner and bolt, your flavor of turbo on Garett or holeset and be done with it.

oh and a BOV and FMIC... set for 20psi or so and have a blast!

[AJ_Fritz]

if you can tune it perfect and dont ever get any detonation then the stocker should hold 10 psi. it rattles once, it will crack a piston. you throw in a set of forged pistons and rods you can rattle her all you want while you tune it. we cant stress enough how fragile the stock pistons are to detonation.

[rangergt]

ok..... somebody help me get my head out of my but and tell me when the duratec started in the ranger..... for future reference.... thanks steve.

Speeds post is mostly correct but 2001 also had the duratec. They changed over mid year 2001 production. So 2001 2.5 is a lima and 2001 2.3 is a duratec.

[jfive]

To even further clear up the confusion, the first set of 2002 model rangers would be produced a little over half way through 2001, but to call them 2001.5 is kinda weird since its really a 2002 made in 2001. Maybe I am wrong, but I know that my dad bought a 2005 dodge cummins and its refered to as a 2004.5. It had the 300hp cummins as apposed to the earlier less horsepower one. Maybe Its different with ford.

[fordnut71]

hmmm you said the key word jfive ..... dodge

[AJ_Fritz]

i know when i see one thats what i do... heheh

[AirBender]

thanks guys, that helps clear that up for me.....

[speedaddict]

Thanks for catching me on that one RangerGT!! I missed it!! :hehe:

[94 lngbd]

also isnt the 2.3 duratec a 16 valve engine?

That would be the easiest visable sign to NOTE:

[94 lngbd]

So back to his question & im wondering the same even though mine is the 2.3,How much HP can the stock N/A 4 cyl hold up to? I also want to add turbo & was wondering if a small IHI turbo from an Isuzu Impulse will bolt up to the T3 header? I have a 86 Impulse that I will be parting out & figured being that im converting my 2wd to 4wd & would be wanting low end power that a smaller turbo might be the way to go.

[ri06667]

I think I read that stock setup will take about 6psi (without expert tuning), so add an intercooler to that and you're still probably going to run out of fuel before you hit the theoretical 160ish hp that would give you.

[jfive]

After regs motor blew up I think it would be good advice to not turbo a cast piston. If you don't have it tuned right from the beginning it could just blow up in your face. I would at least replace the pistons. It will be the best security for you in the long run.

[TURBO Ranger]

Agrees, it isnt worht the danger of destroying the block and head. You can get a set of used 2.3T rods and pistons for under $100. they never break, so they should be fine. Not sure how strong the 2.5 crank is, talk to jess on that one. While ur changing the pistons, put in a Fel Pro 1035 and head studs. With an 01, youll already have the big valve head i think. Buy a tuner from jess and go to it.

[speedaddict]

reggisme was running 18lbs.

Big difference compared to 10lbs.

I'm not disagreeing with ya'll. Forged pistons are cheap insurance.

[BogusSVO]

Agrees, it isnt worht the danger of destroying the block and head. You can get a set of used 2.3T rods and pistons for under $100. they never break, so they should be fine. Not sure how strong the 2.5 crank is, talk to jess on that one. While ur changing the pistons, put in a Fel Pro 1035 and head studs. With an 01, youll already have the big valve head i think. Buy a tuner from jess and go to it.

yes get some forged pistons, new or used whatever your budget affords...

I would not say a forged 2.3 "never"brakes... I have a few :) But it is rare to do

X2 on the felpro 1035 and arps ( or if your real cheap find an old set of the 12pt head bolts and torque to 110) Thats what I have done... but it is a risk....

[speedaddict]

torque to 110? wow :lol:

[BogusSVO]

torque to 110? wow :lol:

I lifted the head 4 times with the OE replacemet felpro gasket an the overhauled engine of about 2k miles( Boost spikes of 30.. oops :D ) local speed shop had a 1035 on the shelf, but no ARP instock,
I had to get the truck running again quick, so I slammed the 1035 on and over torqued the 12pt head bolts, been holding 22 psi ever since over 25k miles

[speedaddict]

Sweet. Hey if it works, why change a good thing!!

[AJ_Fritz]

over torquing is bad, it distorts the head, cylinder, not to mention stripping treads and breaking bolts. might be able to get away with it on a head but you do it any where else your asking for trouble.

ive pulled at least two 2.3 heads with broken head bolts. one had 2.