A Newbs 88 Ranger 4x4 Turbo Project

[pearldrumbum]

So I'm 100% new to turbos but I've been doing a lot of research and I feel I'm up to this task. This is going to be done on a pretty tight budget and I'm hoping for pretty much all the power I can get for my buck.

The Truck: 88 ranger 4x4, 2.9L 5spd

The Engine and Plans:
Have an 83 TC bottom end, and an 88 Ranger 2.3 EFI head with new valve springs and valves and has been cleaned up but not machined on

I'm currently in the process of rebuilding the bottom end

My next plans are to
-gut the upper intake manifold and port/knife edge the lower
-p&p the head myself, then have a valve job done
-Ranger roller cam, followers, lifters
-Port an E6 manifold and rebuild and use the stock 83 turbo (for now)
-LA2 or LA3 with a large VAM
-Intercool
-Remove power steering and AC from the truck (I've never been a fan of power steering anyways)
-3" exhaust at least part way, if not all theway

So now is your part, anybody have any advice for me?
I currently have about 400 bucks in my "truck fund" and another 4-500 worth of random parts that I have up for sale (mostly old chevy stuff actually). How would you (more experienced people) spend this money for a daily driver "sleeper"?

Keep in mind, parts that I still need to find/buy:
-all the cam related parts, planning on buying new except for the followers($350ish)
-computer and VAM, from the junk yard or used from cl or ebay (hopefully less than $100)
-intercooler, hopefully from a volvo or saab or something from the JY
-a transmission that's up to the task ($200)
-exhaust
-a wire harness
-a fresh clutch ($150)

Hopefully that will be enough to get in teh truck and running. Then I can sell a 2.9, an FM 146, and 7.5" rear to get 3-400$ more to put back into it after it's in. (I have an 8.8" rear already, just needs to be put in)

Your input would be greatly appreciated. I've never owned a turbo anything before! I've rebuilt plenty of OLD engines (from the 30's-50's) with my dad, but I pretty much dont have any experience with FI engines.

A couple questions I have off the bat are: What should I do about a Blowoff/bypass valve? Can anybody help me out withe parts I need? And what are your suggestions? (Are there places you see where my money could be better spent, or should I change something in my plans?) How much power doyou think I'll be making with this set up? Plan on running 12-15 psi (at first, I'm sure I'll turn it up later when I have more $$). I know this depends on my porting job, but just assume it's mediocre, I've done it before, but only to freshen up engines with like 500k on them, never for the sole purpose of HP.

[AJ_Fritz]

i know this is basic but the hardest thing your going to be dealing with is finding either a 2.3 transmission and swapping out the tail shaft or finding a 2.3 4x4 transmission. once thats out of the way everything else should be pretty fun.

[Riddle_Rob]

I didn't think they made 2.3 4x4s :S

[pearldrumbum]

Yeah they did, I found one in the JY the other day but I didn't pull it cuz the weather was NASTAY! and i didnt feel laying in a mud puddle to get it out. I also have a blown M5od with a v6 bellhousing, so I might just find a 2wd m50d and swap my tail shaft and tail housing onto that. Those seem to be much easier to find.

In other news:
Today I purhased a big vam, an LA2 computer, and 35# injectors for $150 shipped. I coulda done much better at a junk yard, but I've only ever seen one TC at a junk yard and it was an earlier model w/o the stuff I need, and it had already been stripped of anything useful anyways so i decided not to hold my breath

[Jesshwarren]

I didn't think they made 2.3 4x4s :S


Up till 97. You can find those tranys on www.car-part.com

[Riddle_Rob]

No way. I found a ranger that was a 95-97, advertised to be a 2.3 Ext cab but had 4x4 stickers on it for sale local CHEAP. I asked on RPS... thousands of users asking if they made a 2.3 4x4, all of the responses were NO.

[flyin]

They did make them earlier but demand must have been low. As far back as I remember (94 or so) the base engine with 4wd was a 3.0. Try looking at trucks from the late 80's

[pearldrumbum]

They've always made 2.3l 4x4s until 97 like Jess said, although they are less common after the first Gens. But they were never in extended cabs, only single cabs.

[Riddle_Rob]

Hmmm it was a while ago so it MAY have been a single cab. My memory is really really ****ty. Like, in about 2 mins I won't remember if I checked this forum in the last hour or not.

[Touring23]

Skipping past the tranny discussion, back to the OP...

I didn't see a fuel pump on the shopping list?
Turbo oil ( & water?) lines?
Budget for gauges: boost & oil pressure.
'83 is an early turbo, is it up to the task? Is it a .63/.60?
I wouldn't bother with porting...anything. Not right now. Use the time & money to focus on getting the lump up & running, then you can tend to those "Stage 2" chores later.
Don't pay more than, ohhhh, ~$125, for a cam & rollers.
You asked about a BOV; I don't think you can use one with a VAM? Anyone?

[Soul]

2 in the junk yard here :)

[pearldrumbum]

Skipping past the tranny discussion, back to the OP...

I didn't see a fuel pump on the shopping list?
Turbo oil ( & water?) lines?
Budget for gauges: boost & oil pressure.
'83 is an early turbo, is it up to the task? Is it a .63/.60?
I wouldn't bother with porting...anything. Not right now. Use the time & money to focus on getting the lump up & running, then you can tend to those "Stage 2" chores later.
Don't pay more than, ohhhh, ~$125, for a cam & rollers.
You asked about a BOV; I don't think you can use one with a VAM? Anyone?

Touring, thanks for the reply :) :thanks:

About the fuel pump, I'm planning on finding a walbro 255lph. Forgot to add it to the list up there, but it's on my word.doc list. The turbo has oil lines already, I was just gunna use those for now. It has no provisions for water cooling. as far as the size of the turbo, I'm not actually sure. It's whatever it came stock with. It seams to be in really good condition nearly zero play at all. A new turbo was going to come after its in the truck.
I'm doing the porting now, because after I put it in, I don't want to have to pull the motor back apart later, and It's free cuz im doing it myself and have all the tools.
About the cam price, the cheapest I've been able to find new is about $219, I'm a little worried about buying a used one, but I might. Any input on this?
BOV: I think i need to use a bypass valve, which if im not mistaken purges the air back into the intake after the vam but before the compressor. that way the engine doesnt loose any air that's been accounted for.

I'm also revising my plan a little bit... I think i'm going to keep the boost down below 10psi initially and run it without an intercooler at first. then when I can sell more parts off the truck I can put in a fmic and a new turbo and crank up the boost.

Any other advice? I'm ready for it, you wont make me feel stupid, I already know i'm stupid.

[Touring23]

Nah man, you're doing fine.

I think you're right about the BOV/BPV.

Wear on roller cams is negli.. negli... um, very little. Get a used cam and spend the rest on a lovely roast duck dinner. :yesnod:

Nothing else comes to mind...

[pearldrumbum]

That sounds like an AMAZING idea :cheers2:

[pearldrumbum]

Well just thought I would update what's going on with the build...

I tore down the 83 block and found a groove in one cylinder that could only be removed with boring, so i gave up on the block. I did find a 93 2.3 complete running engine for 100 bucks that only has about 70k on it, tore that one down and it looks beautiful! Still has cross-hatching in the cylinders!

So now I'm going to use that block, I'll be swapping the turbo pistons into it, and doing some mild p&P work on the head this week.

I also picked up a volvo FMIC.

I do have one question... using this 'cooler would be way easier if i could somehow rotate the intake, is this possible, or are there any other intakes that bolt to the '93 head? aftermarket or stock?

I have one of the earlier styles that are popular to gut out, but the lower doesnt match the bolt holes on the head, so i wont be able to use it...

[Oldmandan]

You could build a custom upper intake that bolts to the existing lower and faces wherever you want...

[pearldrumbum]

Thats an idea I've been leaning towards, I'm just not sure about my fab skills. I guess it takes practice to get good right?...

[Oldmandan]

Thats an idea I've been leaning towards, I'm just not sure about my fab skills. I guess it takes practice to get good right?...


Yup, anyone who's good at fabricating stuff, has turned out many huge turds to get there. Probably made fun of a little along the way too... You gotta start somewhere...

[pearldrumbum]

Haha, well i think i can cut and flip the stock upper 180 degrees, and that will help me out a lot. So I'm gunna head out and practice welding cast aluminum now... never done it before.

[4bangerranger]

Haha, well i think i can cut and flip the stock upper 180 degrees, and that will help me out a lot. So I'm gunna head out and practice welding cast aluminum now... never done it before.

You don't need a new fuel pump. The dual fuel pumps for the V6 will carry the motor. I am currently working on a 1987 4x4 2.3 Turbo swap and I have learned a lot so far. Mine was originally 2.9 v6 fm-146 5-spd. I am using an Fm145 out of an 85 4x4. My suggestion is tofind one of those. People say they wont stand up to the Turbo but I will be the judge of that. That tyranny will bolt up to your transfer case and you can use the v6 clutch and pressure plate if you need to. The Turbo and v6 pressure plates share the same bolt pattern. DO NOT ATTEMP TO USE A FACTORY CAR CLUTCH WITH A TRUCK TRANNY! THEY WONT ASSEMBLE. THE MOTOR MOUNTS ARE THE TRICKIEST PART IN MY OPINION.
GOOD LUCK!!:peelout: