2.3 Turbo Swap

[ml23t]

I have a 1990 Ford Ranger 2.3. It is an early '90 with a speed density system, no MAF. I have also recently acquired a 2.3 turbo engine from a 87 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe. I have the engine and an 8UA computer from the car, also just bought a turbo .62 A/R T3. I have a wire harness from an 88 or 89 N/A 2.3 Mustang because I am told that is a much simpler way to go than to use the Turbo Coupe harness with the electronic ride control etc... Now I am rebuilding the mechanical parts (the engine) and am wondering about the wires, connections to body harness in the Ranger and things like that. I have a vane air flow meter like the one from a T.C. but i'm not quite sure how compatible everything is and what to expect. I have done carbureted engine swap before and am a competent mechanic but this turbo Ford thing is a first for me. I have looked online and found some great resources, one of which is this site. I'm looking for any advice I can get. Thanks!

[fordnut71]

welcome to the forum.
prob be faster an easer to swap in a obd2 system with a lot more tuning albitys. so that would be a harness out of a 95+ 2.3l,2.5l ranger.

[ml23t]

I can get that easy enough, there is a junk yard near me with tons of those trucks. Could I just use a PCM from an N/A Ranger too? Any PCMs better than others I should look for? I was wondering about that myself but then thought against it because of the dual plug set up.

[Jesshwarren]

This is what you need :) http://rangersrevenge.com/cgi/showthread.php?p=3491#post3491

I can give you the motor harness along with this and you are all set to go.

http://rangersrevenge.com/cgi/imagehosting/148e2b62666f3a.jpg

[fordnut71]

see wasnt that easy

[D94R]

welcome to the forum.
prob be faster an easer to swap in a obd2 system with a lot more tuning albitys. so that would be a harness out of a 95+ 2.3l,2.5l ranger.

Aside from using Jess's adapter harness to do a completely stand alone engine harness, have you done this to confirm it is in fact easier?

Backdating an OBD-II harness to use a Turbo Computer is a Cluster Fuk in itself. I don't think updating an OBD-I Ranger with a OBD-II harness would be any easier. If the adapter harness were not available (which still really doesn't help if its for 95+, although Jess is offering to supply the engine harness) then integration into the existing body and engine harness would be a pain in the dick. Or creating your own adapter harness, kinda like Jess's, would also be a PITD.

The truly simplest and easiest thing to do is rewire his existing harness for the turbo computer.

[AJ_Fritz]

well now lets discuss this one a little more... matts probablely saying oh no right now lol.

pull the entire engine and ecu harness for a 95+ out of the salvage yard with the ECU. maybe $85

send the ecu to jess for a turbo tune $50

buys jess's stand alone harness (cant remember what that cost)

90mm maf and 60# injectors $200 or a little more

sounds like pretty viable option if your just going to go to a standalone for cheap. you get a crank triggered, dual plugged, twin tuned, mas aired, ass kicken ranger for just a little coin.

[ml23t]

OK, you say run a dual plug head. Is there a difference with a dual plug head and a turbo head chamber volume? I'm thinking to start this project just use the stock 8UA and stuff I already have and then if it sux or gets messes up I do like the looks of that OBD-II set up. I wonder how compatible the OBD-II harness is with the chassis harness. I believe there are 2 4 or 6 pin connectors that go between engine and chassis harnesses? Thanks for openin up my options guys.

[AJ_Fritz]

the heads have a different chamber volume. the DPH's have a better design but also have some major flaws. mainly the swirl intake runners. they really hurt flow at higher RPM. they can be corrected with porting and filler. the chambers are great though because you need to remove material anyways to increase volume so why not remove it where you want it. as opposed to the turbo head with its single plug and roomy chambers the still needs material removed to unshroud the valves but will lower compression even farther then is liked. also the angled uniform intake runners of the turbo he make it a PITD to get uniform flow and the already anemic lower intake hurts flow too.

honestly i think it would be easier running the LA? or 8ua stuff but then the conversion for DIS and dual plug makes things a little more complicated.

with the obd-2 stuff the computer controls everything. no external ignition modules to wire up or go bad. EDIS is in the ECM.

its all up to you what you want to do and where you want to go with it. if you get this part right there will be no other upgrades and you can spend where you want later.