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View Full Version : New to the forum. Here's my truck.

LSV8
10-13-2008, 03:46 AM
I just today found this forum, and I'm happy to see there is a forum just for 2.3T Rangers! Pretty cool. I'm also a member at TurboFord.net with the same name.

My name is Mike, I'm from Sylvania, Ohio (Toledo). I have a 1993 Ranger std. cab 2wd. Came stock with a 2.3 and an M5OD. Picked it up back in 2005 for a beater truck... no real plans for it, just couldn't pass up the great deal on a clean truck.

Something sparked the idea that I should make it a project vehicle. So I put way too much time and money into parts for the truck... just to let it sit for over 2 years. :) I moved out of Toledo, but the truck stayed. After moving back in August... I got back into the project and finally finished it about a week ago!

Here's some specs:
-1993 Ford Ranger standard cab 2WD.
-’88 Turbo Coupe 2.3L block and head
-Wiseco 8:1 pistons, .030 over
-Crower Sportsman 5.5” Rods
-2.5L Stroker Crank
-ARP Fasteners on internals
-Ranger roller cam w/ Racer Walsh followers
-Racer Walsh adjustable cam sprocket
-1.89” intake / 1.59” exhaust valves
-Racer Walsh valve springs, titanium retainers, and seals
-Ranger DIS setup w/ DP disabled. Running MSD coil pack
-Gutted and shaped intake w/ 90* rotated upper.
-Throttle body from 4.6L Crown Vic, IAC flange welded to upper in place of EGR
-Generic “Super T70” Turbo 60.5mm .70 A/R cold, .84 hot (very temporary)
-Center mount tube header
-TiAl 38mm wastegate
-TiAl 50mm bov
-Precision intercooler (tanks remade to fit application)
-Blow through MAF
-LA3 computer w/ TwEECer R/T (yet to be installed)
-Walbro 255 in tank
-Autometer Cobalt: Boost/Vac, Wideband A/F, Fuel pressure, Fuel level, Oil Pressure, Water temp, and Speedometer
-Custom built 5 row radiator w/ 17" elec fan
-’88 TC T5
-8.8" posi rear w/ 3.73s (plus 10” brakes and bigger sway bar - out of newer FX4)
-Full 3” SS Exhaust. SS Magnaflow muffler. All 3 pipe sections w/ Vbands.

Some Pictures:
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f183/mikepietras04/IMG_0453.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f183/mikepietras04/IMG_0460.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f183/mikepietras04/IMG_0456.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f183/mikepietras04/IMG_0476.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f183/mikepietras04/0930081830a.jpg

I plan this week on finishing up under the hood, installing my LA3 and tuning, and cleaning things up. I'll post pics of the whole truck when it's all done.

There's some good looking trucks on this forum! Happy to have found it.
fordnut71
10-13-2008, 09:43 AM
thats a sweet looking truck an some nice work done:drool5: :thumbsup:
AJ_Fritz
10-13-2008, 11:52 AM
i love it! beautiful!

one problem i see though. your wideband sensor is a little to close to the turbo. recommended that its atleast 13 inches down stream of turbine. farther the better.
LSV8
10-13-2008, 03:21 PM
i love it! beautiful!

one problem i see though. your wideband sensor is a little to close to the turbo. recommended that its atleast 13 inches down stream of turbine. farther the better.


Thank you :)

As for the wideband... I thought so too. However, right in the autometer manual it says "Turbocharged applications should have sensor installed 4-5" after turbo on the downpipe." Have you had bad luck with this placement with a Bosch LSU?

I have mine about 6" away. You can see in the picture I left some extra slack in that harness bundled up on the cowel just incase. At some point I might move it downstream to my mid pipe to see if it makes a difference.
Riddle_Rob
10-13-2008, 03:50 PM
O M G that is sexy.
Very nice work.
AJ_Fritz
10-13-2008, 04:53 PM
i haven't had any problems but i am not using the autometer gauge. i am running a PLX with the Bosch. it said in my manual at least 13". water is the worst cause of failure. it should be heated at all times when the engine is running. and far enough away from the turbo you don't burn it up and close enough that on start up condensation in the exhaust is minimal.

keep in touch with how the autometer gauge works. i am interest in them just haven't heard any reviews on them yet. i plan on putting mine about 10 inches from the turbine so i am skeptical too. i have to though because i am afriad i'll get an air leak with the 4" stainless flex pipe and get a bad reading.

http://rangersrevenge.com/cgi/imagehosting/49248f232af8f901.jpg
nagelandy55
10-13-2008, 05:24 PM
That is a very slick setup. Hope it runs good for ya.
Redneck86
10-13-2008, 05:39 PM
Looks good. Now I know what guages to go with lol! :thumbsup:
LSV8
10-13-2008, 06:35 PM
i haven't had any problems but i am not using the autometer gauge. i am running a PLX with the Bosch. it said in my manual at least 13". water is the worst cause of failure. it should be heated at all times when the engine is running. and far enough away from the turbo you don't burn it up and close enough that on start up condensation in the exhaust is minimal.

keep in touch with how the autometer gauge works. i am interest in them just haven't heard any reviews on them yet. i plan on putting mine about 10 inches from the turbine so i am skeptical too. i have to though because i am afriad i'll get an air leak with the 4" stainless flex pipe and get a bad reading.


The nice thing about the autometer controller is its start up method to avoid damage from condensation. It waits til it sees 13.8 volts to confirm the engine is running, then it begins a 20 second count down before turning on the heater circuit. Having it at a high point like I do should also keep it from any collection of condensation.

BTW very cool looking heat shield! I need to make on myself in the near future. Looks much nicer than a heat blanket!
LSV8
10-13-2008, 06:37 PM
Looks good. Now I know what guages to go with lol! :thumbsup:

For sure, I love these gauges. Had a set in my Lincoln as well.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f183/mikepietras04/04403004.jpg

They were a tight fit in that ranger dash, within millimeters of not fitting at all.
muddpawz
10-13-2008, 08:55 PM
still running your ac? good looking setup. had a chance to dyno it yet? any idea what its putting out with all your mods?
LSV8
10-14-2008, 12:15 AM
still running your ac? good looking setup. had a chance to dyno it yet? any idea what its putting out with all your mods?

No a/c. It didn't even have a/c from the factory. So being that it's not my daily driver, rolling down windows works for me.

No dyno yet. I still want to put in my LA3 and bigger injectors.
Jesshwarren
10-14-2008, 07:32 AM
WOW!! Nice work, glad to see you join here. Looks like you could make some big #'s with that beast.
D94R
10-15-2008, 06:59 PM
That thar is a pretty setup!
Ranger4banger97
10-15-2008, 07:09 PM
What a stunning piece of machinery, no joke at all...
Soul
10-16-2008, 10:02 AM
Your truck is awesome, everything is clean, great job and I hope you terrorize some ricers
LSV8
10-28-2008, 10:48 PM
Well... a word of warning to anyone that might have the same issue I did...

Since the truck has been running, I've had a bit of oil coating the underside of the hood, and around the engine bay. With the engine off, I noticed a small pool of oil collecting on the cam gear. So I figured it was most likely the cam, aux, or crank seal leaking, and riding up the timing belt.

Even though all of the seals were NEW when the motor was rebuilt... I figured since it had been sitting for about 14 months before it was finally turned over, maybe some rust formed on one of the shafts and damaged the seal when It was finally running.

Pulled the motor the other day, tore the front apart, checked my holes from my DIS conversion, replaced seals/gaskets (even the damn oil pan gasket)... even though they all looked fine. I even sealed the motor up and pressurized it from the dip stick tube, then sprayed soapy water to check for bubbles. Nothing.

Well... upon reassembling the motor, I realized that I'm STILL wiping oil from the damn cam gear. Then it finally hit me... the cam bolt is leaking.

Brand new RR cam, brand new bolt, brand new cam gear. I didn't even think to put some sort of thread sealer on when I built the motor.

So I put some peratex form-a-gasket #2 on the threads... the motor goes back in tomorrow. Hopefully no more leaks. It sure would have been nice if I did a little more detective work before I pulled the motor.

On the plus side... I know I can pull the entire motor and have it on an engine stand in under two hours. :=) Let's just hope it never comes to that again! :banghead:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oh yeah... and since I had the motor pulled I decided to take the time out to POR15 the frame rails. Looks much better!

I also ripped out the 15yr old worn out hydraulic motor mounts and replaced them with some brand new solid mounts. Definately can't wait to see how that helps! The engine was all over the damn place before. Felt like the engine was on water balloons. haha