Turbo_Steve's 94 ranger project list.

[turbo_steve]

I bought the truck with plans of an all out drag machine with a turbo Lima under the hood. I was planning on gutting the truck down and going full race on everything. I went away to basic training because I joined the national guard and now that I am back I am going ahead with the build but changed my mind on how the truck is being built. I's going to be a street machine. Still looking for 400+ whp.


Phase one.

Paint & Body.

The truck came to me 66,000 miles young in september 2010.
It had a crease on the passenger front fender, some small surface rust on the rockers, but overall amazing shape for a 16 yr old truck.

The color was never my favorite it's ford Biright Calypso Green Metalic

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss352/esauto/2010-10-22135759.jpg?t=1299027387

Unfortunatly someone backed into the bed when it was parked at the mall 2 weeks ago.

I bought a new bed off an 02 for $100 bucks that was in great shape. Ordered up my roll pan. Got the dual fog lamp front valance for the front, new fender, F1 Style mirrors, Billet grille, new chrome for the front, New headlights and HID kit, new clear corners. Tasteful tail lamps and a subtle tailgate spoiler. Also ordered a soft toneau.

The truck is being painted in 2 weeks. Going to be a similar color but it's the teal metallic from a 93 cobra.

http://myweb.cableone.net/lfulmer393/DragRun-06_rev1.gif

Pics of the truck during the process are to follow.

Phase 2

Suspension & Fuel system

I picked up an explorer 8.8 3.73 locker with rear disc brakes today 55,000 miles on it only cost 200 bucks.

Going to install it with a weld in 4 link suspension. Weld the tubes and get an aluminum differential cover.

Front end is getting a set of 1" drop coils along with Djm 3" drop I beams. New shocks all the way arround.

Wheels " For now. I have a set of 99-00 mustang gt factory 17" 5 spoke wheels & tires that came off my turbo'd 2000 mustang gt. I am going to use them for a while till I end up buying some 18" chrome saleen wheels.

Brakes are going to be upgraded in the front and a new master cylinder to properly run the discs in the rear from the explorer rear end.


Fuel system

Ordered a 20 gallon aluminum sumped fuel cell to fit between the frame rails behind the rear end.

Ordered up a Holley Efi pump that puts out 80gph @45 psi good for about 550 hp with E85, YES I Said E85.

Working on a fuel rail and some small final details like making the factory fuel guage work with the new tank.

72 lb injectors should handle the extra demands of e85.

Phase 3

Engine and trans.

Trans. I am going to get a cobra spec t5 and a centerforce dual friction clutch. Using a 2.3 oem bellhousing for ease of install. Should be more than fine for a street machine.

Engine.

Svo / Turbocoupe rods + pistons w/total seal rings and arp rod bolts.

Head. Ranger dual plug head Big valves & upgraded springs, fully ported. Milled .040 to raise (YES I SAID RAISE) Compression.

Looking to have about 9.5:1 compression with this setup.

Cam is undecided but something with .420 - .450 lift is needed.

Turbo ordered today. New Gt3076R $1100.00 OUCH!!!!

Manifold may be custom or might go with a stinger center mount.


Intercooler is going to be air to air. I found a big air to air that will fit well and supports 600 hp.

Tuning will be done by me using a twecer Rt. I've tuned numerous turbo & supercharged eec IV fords using tweecer.

Low compression + turbo is something oem's do for safety incase someone puts regualr gas in and decides to beat the crap out of the car on a 100 degree day.

The lower compression you have, the more boost you need to make power. Running more boost is not a good thing. The higer the psi, the more heat you are generating.

The best way to make big power from a 4 cylinder is by the head flowing it's best with optimum cams and by having the compression somewhere in the 9.0 - 10.0:1 area.

With proper conservative tuning, you can make more safe power on high compression with far less boost than you would need on a low compression motor.

I could run the high comp motor on 15+ psi and make great power safely with a good tune on 93 octane, but since the local gas station now has e85 I decided to make the truck an e85 machine. I can now run more timing and more boost on the higher comp motor and make even more power.

Here is a good reading on the subject. (http://hondaswap.com/turbo-information/static-vs-effective-compression-29102/)

Should be in paint in 3 weeks and running with the built motor and all by the end of april.

[tcranger]

looks good man. but i would have upgraded pistons and rods since your pretty much going all out on everything else. just my $.02.

[AirBender]

fuel cell, ford uses a 0-70 ohm sender instead of the 0-90
pump, the holley is a rebranded walbro, you can pay the extra for the name if you like. a better choice would be a bosch 044, outflows the walbro and the a1000 and maintains pressure better.
injectors,,, i think youre gonna need at least 95s
trans, youll have to have the input shaft milled to 2.3 crank size or use a brass bushing, the bushing is not highly recommended.... they dont last....
the rods are not gona last long above 400 if you tend tobeat on it regularly. id consider upgrading..

sounds like it should be fun,,,, my e85 nasty is!!!!keep us posted on the build...

[turbo_steve]

Im sure the turbocoupe rods & pistons are going to live just fine for the power goals I have. Im a good tuner and the fuel system and other supporting mods will be there. I went back and forth trying to decide what I could live with/without for this build. Im already spending over $7000 right now for everything. I just want to get it up and going for the summer without having to go into debt to build it. Over next winter I may build up that 2.6 ive always wanted to.

[turbo_steve]

fuel cell, ford uses a 0-70 ohm sender instead of the 0-90
pump, the holley is a rebranded walbro, you can pay the extra for the name if you like. a better choice would be a bosch 044, outflows the walbro and the a1000 and maintains pressure better.
injectors,,, i think youre gonna need at least 95s
trans, youll have to have the input shaft milled to 2.3 crank size or use a brass bushing, the bushing is not highly recommended.... they dont last....
the rods are not gona last long above 400 if you tend tobeat on it regularly. id consider upgrading..

sounds like it should be fun,,,, my e85 nasty is!!!!keep us posted on the build...

Naw. Im putting the ford sender in the fuel cell. Ill take a look at the bosch pump, thanks. Im going to turn down the input shaft, already knew about that one. As for the rods / power goals, im not planning to have to spin the motor past 6500 and rpm will have a lot to do with longevity. If it breaks, then im out 300 bucks.

[AirBender]

If it breaks, then im out 300 bucks.

as long as what breaks doesnt take the head and turbo with it.... i hope the build goes as planned....

id like to see some of the guys on here start to make some power....

[turbo_steve]

Almost forgot to mention the interior mods.

Grey cloth racing buckets, explorer center console.

Audio

Front doors Polk audio 2 way speakers with remote tweeters

Rear speakers Jbl 2 way

Sub 1 x Kicker L5 solo baric square 12" sub in a (custom built by me) enclosure. Powered by a sony 800w mono amp.

Door and rear speakers powered by a sony 600w 4 channel amp.

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss352/esauto/box.jpg?t=1299035576


Hidden 800w amp to save space.

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss352/esauto/Box2.jpg?t=1299035576



Sony Single cd HD radio tuner in dash.

[turbo_steve]

The bed in tow.

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss352/esauto/bedintow.jpg?t=1299035576

[Skyy_4life]

how bad did they **** up the bed? i need a long bed horribly bad. everyone else in my family is body men, so if its not too bad we can fix it.

SHOW!!! I NEED!!!! lol

[turbo_steve]

How close are you to lakemoor, il? Its nit terrible but there was also some rust down low and the price for the bed was right.

[Skyy_4life]

well im in cleveland so idk how far? lol. theres a junk yard over by me that has a good one for like 200, which is a great price for it, but im just wondering if they are going to still have it by the time i get to it lol

[turbo_steve]

I traded someone for some mustang parts I had laying around today and got these 99-00 mustang gt wheels. The tires on them are about 70% left. Esentially free. No center caps though. I ordered a set of caps on ebay for 40 bucks. I got bored and mounted the wheels. Did my measuring & ordedered up some 22mm wheel spacers for the front so I can actually fit the center caps. I got some nifty shank style lug nuts so I didn't have to run a 1" bolt on spacer.

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss352/esauto/17s.jpg?t=1299283948


Also my fuel cell arrived

217 shipped with straps.

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss352/esauto/tank.jpg?t=1299283948

And My 38mm SYNAPSE synchronic wastegate arrived.

I also found an old motorsport a234 non roller cam online and bought it today (.422 lift). My local cylinder head guy says he can have it hardened and it will work with roller followers. I'm not sure yet but we shall see. Not a whole lot of cam options so I was willing to take a shot.

[AirBender]

there are more options for cams than you think.... this one is the engle hot pinto roller and goes for around 375

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa113/blacksheep1703/my%2075%20turbopinto/th_100_0804.jpg (http://s198.photobucket.com/albums/aa113/blacksheep1703/my%2075%20turbopinto/?action=view&current=100_0804.mp4)

[turbo_steve]

Nice pinto. Ever get it on a dyno???


Actually the cam I landed on will end up costing $110 bucks when modified. And it should actually suit the build really well. I'm not really looking to push the power band much higher anyway considering I don't want to spin the motor past 6500.

I've built so many turbo / s/c cars over the years and they always seem to do better with port work & big valves and keeping to a stock or a mild upgrade cam.

Sticking to where it counts like compression, head work & going with the right turbo are where the power will be made.

And tuning, tuning, tuning.

If anyone needs any obd1 / 2 ford tuning help & advice let me know.

[AirBender]

i got this cam used froma guy wantiing to run it on a n/a engiine and he didnt like it... 125 shipped......."D if you notice im running flat tops for bumped cr too, lots of head work, ported intakes, good ic and turbo... so i get what your talking about.. that vid was my old engine with 185k on it and it was somewhere near 350 whp on 15lbs...

the new one is north of that on 14 lbs..... will dyno very soon and get it to the track...

the cam is only 477 lift and is stock base circle drop in ......

[turbo_steve]

At the price you paid I probably would have jumped on it.

[Skyy_4life]

i need to find were these cam options are lol, i need one, but not looking to pay 400-500 for one

[jfive]

Just call schnieder cams. They can have one made custom to your engine for 375.00 Keep in mind, though that you may need things when you exceed the lift of that cam like airbender has. I would like to see some of the proven cam specs from turboford. One I am curious about is modern performance out of new jersey, that use to be really big into building these motors. He had a .505 lift roller turbo spec cam thats suppose to be great, but I don't know how to get ahold of the guy to get the specs. Nick Mannarino, is the name, if anyone knows who I am talking about.

[muddpawz]

Jfive, googled his name and he is all over the place. Located in West long branch, New Jersey.

[turbo_steve]

Truck gets dropped off a week from today for paint.

Getting it ready this week.

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss352/esauto/trucknobed.jpg?t=1299529539


http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss352/esauto/trucknewbed.jpg?t=1299529539

[turbo_steve]

Front bumper & valance smothed and primered.
http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss352/esauto/bumper.jpg?t=1299611263

Completely smoothed. Textured surface all gone.

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss352/esauto/valance.jpg?t=1299611263

Mounted up. Left the gap big because it's getting sprayed on the truck. Will bring the bumper gap tighter after paint.

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss352/esauto/Front1.jpg?t=1299614784

Roll pan should be in tomorrow. Looking forward to mounting it up and going to start some bondo work filling some small dings and other spots.

[turbo_steve]

Steel roll pan showed up.

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss352/esauto/panraw.jpg?t=1299802735

Degreased and scuffed up with 100 grit. Hit rough spots with 40 grit and a skim coat of bondo. Sanded flush with 180 grit. Cleaned pan. Epoxy painted back side so it wouldn't rust. Coated whole pan in self etching primer. 4 medium coats of filler primer on the top side. Waiting till tomorrow to wetsand with 400 grit and spray it with primer / sealer.

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss352/esauto/panprimer.jpg?t=1299802735

[tcranger]

looks like its coming right along very nice looking truck

[turbo_steve]

Thanks. It's getting better 1 day at a time although it's being delayed about a week before it goes in for paint.

Got the jamb for the bed primed and sprayed in the new color and got the roll pan mounted up. Hoping to get more done tomorrow.

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss352/esauto/pan.jpg?t=1299973976

[turbo_steve]

Got the truck all fixed. All the dings and little spots smoothed in. Did some light rust clean up and epoxy coated the door jambs and back side of the bed panels & rockers. Shot it with a nice thick coat of high build primer. Spent the last 3 evenings block sanding the truck. Dry blocked and then wet blocked. It's straighter than it left the factory now. Dropping it off tomorrow to get it sprayed.

I would be painting it myself but I'm just tired of painting cars. They seem to take way too much work to turn out the way I want them to. So I got the prep done myslef to save a bunch on labor.

[turbo_steve]

Dropped it off for paint today.

The local maaco my buddy manages. This maaco does amazing work. They have done lots of hot rods & classics.

In 1 week will be done. 93 cobra Teal metallic.

$1550 for paint / wetsand / buff. 5 year nation wide warranty on the finish.

They are pulling the glass and the bed off too.

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss352/esauto/left.jpg?t=1300896390

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss352/esauto/rear.jpg?t=1300896390

I pulled the headliner and door panels since they needed to come off anyway to paint the jambs / remove the back window.

I'm looking into wrapping the doors and am doing something custom with the headliner.

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss352/esauto/flameliner.jpg?t=1300921884

[turbo_steve]

TRuck is painted. They left off doing the door jambs by mistake. The jambs are getting done tomorrow so I hope to get it back thursday. Ill post some pics tonight.

[turbo_steve]

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss352/esauto/FreshRight.jpg?t=1301494158

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss352/esauto/freshrear2.jpg?t=1301494158

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss352/esauto/freshrear.jpg?t=1301494158

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss352/esauto/freshfrontl.jpg?t=1301494158

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss352/esauto/Freshfront.jpg?t=1301494158

[Lowranger96]

that looks awesome!

[AirBender]

nice!!!

[tcranger]

looks good your prep work payed off getting everything smooth

[Sandman]

sweet looking truck

[turbo_steve]

Thanks. I knew it would look good in this color but the guys at maaco did an amazing job. Final bill came in way under budget. The truck is way nicer than I even imagined it would be. But now the bad news. The engine build is delayed. I wound up dumping 3000 on a motorcycle. I saw it and fell in love. I need a month or two to re-build the bank account a little first. Im still going to do some more suspension & other junk soon.

[rangersplash2.3]

looks great bro.

[jfive]

Makes me want to paint my truck. Thanks for showing how you did this to a point. Need to do alot of work to mine. Looks like it was in a hail storm at one point.

[Skyy_4life]

looks amazing bro! now get that thing lowered to the ground and make those rims look even better! :) :yesnod:

[turbo_steve]

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss352/esauto/paintedfront.jpg?t=1302887311

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss352/esauto/Paintedleft.jpg?t=1302887311

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss352/esauto/paintedrear.jpg?t=1302887311

[tcranger]

very nice choice of color man!:cheers2:

[turbo_steve]

Needs tint + a drop badly. Hopeing to get it done this weekend. Been too busy with work and the new bike.

[D94R]

Needs more lower! Sweet looking color too, I'm digging this project.

[jfive]

is this the explorer mono leaf?

[Foolee]

Looks like a ranger fiber monoleaf to me. Ranger fiberglass monoleafs came on long beds, explorer mono leafs are steel and came on explorer sports. Apparently ranger fiber leafs also came on some ext cabs but have never see one said equipped.

[turbo_steve]

Looks like a ranger fiber monoleaf to me. Ranger fiberglass monoleafs came on long beds, explorer mono leafs are steel and came on explorer sports. Apparently ranger fiber leafs also came on some ext cabs but have never see one said equipped.

Yep. Factory fiber mono leafs. they are making flipping the rear axle a chalenge. I want to drop the truck for now till I can begin the 4 link.

[Foolee]

There is two rivits on either side of the axle perch. Drill them out, flip them and reinstall with grade 8 bolts. Then you can use a flip kit.

[turbo_steve]

I know how to flip the mounts. Just adding to the difficulty and inspiring more laziness on my part.

[Foolee]

Lmao Oic, well I'm the same way, my fiber leafs have been sitting. They are getting done shortly though.

[jfive]

So my 8.8 rear came with 3.27 gears and a steel mono leaf. Any one ever ues the steel mono leaf when doing a swap into a ranger.

[fordnut71]

i wouldnt use the mono leaf in the ranger. it should be the same length though. but chances are its worn out an sagging as most sport springs suffer.

[turbo_steve]

So I have decided to sell my expensive turbo to fund getting the engine / trans done faster. Plus I found a buyer who paid me what I bought it for. By the time I get the engine built up and trans swapped I should have saved enough for another turbo.

On the bright side I bought a new welder today. I sold my old setup last september so it was only a matter of time before I upgraded. Going to get a spool gun for it too so I can mig weld aluminum.

[turbo_steve]

Well I just scored an 80,000 mile complete 5 speed swap for $100 bucks so im going to run an m5od for now. I figure since ill have the pedals installed that its one step closer to a t5 swap. If / when I break the m5 ill upgrade.

I spent a few hours at the bone yard and aquired my treasure. I have been looking for a decent v8 t5 for a while but couldnt find anything under 500.00. Ive got my motorcycle up for sale to fund finishing my build.

[turbo_steve]

I figured it was time for an update on my project.

It's lowered. 3"/5"

I have a spare 94 intake manifold that I ported and polished the lower intake and cut off the throttle body flange on the upper and have a 5.0 mustang 70mm flange I will weld on and blend into the upper. I am making the throttlebody angle up a little bit for clearance over the vc. Overall should flow pretty good. Probably pretty close to a ported thunderbird lower.

Eventually I will build a complete sheet metal intake but for now this should help.

I just ordered up a master power t70 and will be building a spool valve for it.

I have a header flange on the way as well as some stainless sch 10 weld elbows. Going to build a nice 4into1 manifold. I am relocating the coils and keeping the a/c

I found a 97 5 speed truck in the junk yard and I raided a bunch of sensors, engine harness and pcm. I have decided to do an obd11 conversion to the truck.


I own a sniper setup with an unused commando lisence. I decided to convert the truck over and be done with it. I think the obdII in the end will have better driveability / performance. It's a simpler ignition setup and I am liking the obdII datalogging / under dash data connector. Although using a tweecer is not a bad option for this anyway.

I figured being different it cool.

I am going back to the yard tomorrow to snag the crank pulley, sensor and bracket.

I researched how to add the cam sensor and have a solution.

I need to modify a synchronizer from a 94 california ranger and use a cam sensor from a newer 3.0 taurus. Should be the best & eaziest way to run the cam sensor. Will have a complete obdII swap for $150.00

the wiring will suck to modify but I am not worried.

Now I will have an obdII truck that is emissions exempt cause its obdI(illinois)

[AirBender]

you can use a stock distributor and modify it to use as a cam sensor.... thats how mine is set up.....

[turbo_steve]

you can use a stock distributor and modify it to use as a cam sensor.... thats how mine is set up.....

I definetly thought about that one, but the problem is that might be a little too big and would keep me from being able to run a/c.

I have the cam sensor synchronizer from a 94. I just need to cut down the exciter to the same width as an 02+ taurus 3.0 vulcan and the cam sensor from the vulcan bolts right on to this. It's a 2 wire hall effect.

I got the crank sensor and bracket & the crank pulley from the donor truck too.

I have everything I need for the obdII swap. Just need to figure out the wiring.

[turbo_steve]

So I just scored a great deal on some parts. I picked up a complete longblock 2.3 from a 91 with all accessories with the m5od still bolted to it and the seller included the pedals and shifter and a brand new in the box center force dual friction clutch. Was out of a truck that had 110,000 miles and was rolled over. Was in the guys garage buried under junk since 2002. I helped him pull the engine and trans and pedals today and just got it all home.

Now I have a spare trans and a motor to start building off of.


$200 for it all.

[turbo_steve]

OBDII conversion parts

Custom modified 94 california cam sensor converted to 2 wire hall effect and reluctor wheel modified.

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss352/esauto/2011-10-06_183806.jpg?t=

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss352/esauto/2011-10-06_183658.jpg

And everything else

http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss352/esauto/2011-10-06_183856.jpg