Hey guys, I am new to the forum. I am sure this topic has been on here before but I thought I'd give it a go. I just bought a 2001 Ford Ranger XLT Regular Cab 2.3 with the 5-speed manual.

What can I do to add performance to the truck without doing any serious damage to it?
So far I have upgraded the spark plugs and wires and that is it.
Does a CAI/Short Ram make any difference? Does the airbox mod make any difference?
Will a Flowmaster or other muffler make a difference?
Will a changed axle ratio help?
What else can I do for power?
What makes the most difference?
Anyone use the JET performance module?

Any and all positive and constructive feedback will be appreciated.
thanks

-burn

 

gearing will make the most difference. otherwise its not worth changing much out on the 2.3

its known for mileage, not performance.

 

I can tell you what I have done to my 06 longbed, 5 speed 2.3L. I desnorkled the air box and installed a drop in K&N air filter. Welded a Magnaflow 2" inlet/outlet SS muffler into the stock location. Sounds pretty mellow to me at normal rpms and speeds. Then last I removed the clutch fan and installed a Perma-Cool 18" electric fan into the stock location. That allowed me to retain the factory electric fan for the AC. All together the truck does feel more peppy to me especially right off idle.

 

4.0 my friend.

 

Has anyone tried the performance module that Jet performance offers for the 2.3?

 

i wouldn't get a jet module. get a real tune with the xcal 2 from bamachips.

 

1)Air filter mods are worthless IMO
2)I have a flowmaster and I feel like it added some power.
3)Axle ratio will add more torque but burn more gas. Jsut get an expo axle if you wanna do this.. Its cheaper.
4) Not much else really. Turbo? lol you could also get a tuner for it
5) Axle ratio will be the biggest change.

 

I've the mods I've done on my '96 2.3L are, K&N cold air induction, Helix throttle body spacer, Ford Motorsport / Bosch 17lbs-hr 12 port fuel injectors. 3" Magna flow muffler, cat and pipe. from header all the way back. Swapped out the 3.73 open for 4.10 LS, Blue Oval speed calibrator, Helwig sway bars front and rear.

After these few items made a huge improvement as performance and fuel mileage........

 

The 96' is the Lima motor correct? If so will these same modifications make the same difference on my Duratec?

 

None of those parts will make any difference. If you want a performance from a 2.3, you should have chosen something with a 4g63t.

LMAO at this guy..

 

x2

 

Yeah Burn, they'll work on your Duratec, You've got got the better design as in the 2.3 for sure. I've got the timing belt, you've the chain. I've got the dual coil and plug head. Well you have better options to work with.

That's the upgrade that I'm going for is the '08-10 Duratec and give it a Cosworth work over. Also thinking of a turbo, still doing the homework on that one, it's debatable...

Oh Jp7, Yeah those parts do make a difference..........

 

Thanks for the info. I'm new to the Ford Ranger scene.
I've looked for performance parts for my 2.3 but haven't found many. PLEASE HELP!

-Ive read up on the Jet Performance Module....but haven't really been able to find anything. -I read an article on the Rangerstation that said it was good, but the guys on --- tell me its no good.
-I've heard that a Flowmaster 40 series exhaust system with a 2.5" pipe will add power, but then again I've also heard it wont.
-I've heard a CAI will help....and I've heard it won't.
-Esslinger Racing Engineering has a few parts for the Ranger....but no one knows anything about them or if the parts will help.
-What parts does Cosworth offer for the 2.3 duratec? I haven't been able to find anything.

Any and all help will be appreciated!

 

You know, there IS a reason they don't make performance parts for ranger engines.
In my years of working on cars and trucks. I've never seen a bigger improvement in trucks more than changing the gearing ratio. Which, as was stated in this thread, is more of a torque improvement.
I'd advise you not to waste your money on any kind of computer tune either, Most tunes are made for towing, or better economy. you do see some "performance" tunes which are questionable. At best.

Sure, you can take Stedmans route, Throw an off brand "tornado" in your intake hose, put some injectors in (which, without proper fuel delivery system, is worthless IMO) and make the truck breathe by doing a full exhaust kit on it.

Take my advice, Drive the truck for what it is. A truck. if you want to go fast, remember that you have to be more aerodynamic than an elephant to do so.

 

this right here is what sickens me. ugh once again toss a turbo on it and youll be alright! do you have the 2.3 lima in the early 2001 or the 2.3L duratec. if you have the duratec youll be sitting fancy. get a turbo manifold from a ford focus run a 60-1 and push 250whp easily. if you have the 2.3L lima grab a intake manifold from a mustang svo and boost it up a little. i dont know how much you can throw to a stock 2.3L but it will help. go to turborangerforums.com and they will hook you up. not sure why yall havent looked into the 2.5L duratec that pushes 170hp then go from there. i guess ill have to do it one of these days

 

Boy this getting hot for no reason what so ever!! This is a Ford Ranger site isn't it?? A bunch of 2.3 haters out there, I find it quit funny. Ford is Ford no matter what make, model or engine size. Gimme a break!!

OK, What I'm testifying to are the mods that I have performed to my '96 Ranger 2.3 Lima read carefully. When I installed the K&N cold air induction I got rid of the "air muffler" that was incorporated in the stock application. I noticed a quite smoother acceleration and a slight gain as in horsepower, not the 25-35 as advertised. But I accomplished what I wanted to do , get rid of the "air muffler"

StxDanger, I installed a Helix "Throttle Body Spacer" not that stupid "Tornado" which would be the same if not worst than the stock air muffler. That wasn't a real big improvement, but it was noticeably better. As for the exhaust I went to the 3" Magna Flow Cat and muffler and pipe because the stock system needed to be replaced and again a noticeable improvement.

Now as for the installation of the 4.10 / limited slip, that was necessary due to the fact I drive the mountain highways and passes here in Northern Calif. and I got tired of having to down shift down to 3rd gear just for a 30% grade. Now I shift down to 4th gear and maintain 55 -65 mph no problem. And besides that, it was fun to do!! Oh I'll give you something else to whine about, I swapped out the the stock diff. cover for a a girder,(sp), because it applys pressure to the bearing caps and it looks good as well. And as for the fuel injectors, they operate great with with the fuel pressure I've got, they're just 17lbs. What I'm after is "Highwayablity" (Yeah I know it's not a real word, but it sounds cool!!), not to produce a massive amount of horsepower. Now is that clear??

Now Burn, You've got the best as far as the 2.3s go, timing chain instead of the belt, the 16 valve / dual cam head, with the individual spark plug coils. And that's why I'm going to upgrade to the Duratec. Plus it'll be a great platform for a turbo after the rebuild. For a turbo you'll need to go to forged pistons for sure. I'm going the full Cosworth route for the rebuild......

 

Had to do some mister mom stuff, Yeah Burn, as far as I know about chips, you fill out a list of ether being complete stock or note down what mods you've done including gear ratio and tire size what ever. Then you get it installed in the ECU and off you go I guess. But if you do any mods after the installation, you have to remove the chip and send it off to be rewritten or what ever they do with it. Then you're waiting the two week turn around time then reinstall the chip.

I do believe there are now chips may have a tuner, not sure. The only thing along this line that I have done, would be installing the Blue Oval Speed speed calibrator after I did the ring and pinion swap. Basically, input the information and set the dip switches.......

 

e fan mod for sure

 

Helix:


Tornado:


They do the exact same thing. You decide.

 

the tornado and throttle body spacers do not work... it does not sovle turbulence in the intake manifold plenum. now what will work is a throttle body spacer I'm makin which will be used for nitrous :)

 

I went with the Helix, and I'm happy with it. Oh yeah might as well post the Airaid throttle body spacer also, sounds like a bad vacume leak.....

From what I understand the Duratec intake plenum is suppose to have some kind of turbulence inducing ridges cast into it? I haven't had a chance to look at one yet. And it's all plastic and has a valve or gate that fails on occasion??

 

siockranger 3.0, You mentioned the turbo header off a Ford Focus?? Have you seen or just heard about? The reason I'm asking is an engine up-grade for my '96 Ranger, '08-'10 Duratec 2.3 DOC. I have concerns as to room in the engine compartment. I don't want to butcher my AC box if I can get away with it.....

 

usually the turbo manifolds for the Inline 4 motors sit pretty close to the motor either a top mount or they have a manifold sitting over the turbo.
you should have room for everything i would imagine. I haven't personally seen it but i don't see why not. im sure you would have to do a custom downpipe and exhaust system. run a wast gate right after the turbo and a diverter valve or blow off valve either on the compressor side of the turbo or on the throttle body side (after the intercooler) or you could even get the manifold from this company which uses a log style manifold instead of a tubular manifold
http://www.fswerks.com/turbocharger.htm
the 2.0L duratec and 2.3 duratex are the same and will get you around 230whp or so at what looks like 11psi on 91 octane. kick it up to 93 octane and you can squeeze out more. I mean its insane how little people think you can modify the duratec line of motors. If im not mistaken its also on a completely stock duratec. which means if you open up the flow a bit you'll get better results

P.S the only time i would worry about messing with the a/c box is if your trying to squeeze a duratec v6 in there since the heads are wider. it has the same angle as the v6's used in the rangers its just the width of the cylinder head that gets in the way. i was eyeballing it one time cause i had the chance to get a 2.5L v6 svt motor from a car but i didnt have the tools to accomplish it

 

Hey sickranger3.0, Thanks alot for the intel. I've been looking at the tubular version turbo header for the focus, but this log style seems to fit the bill a lil better. Left word with the FSWerks and we'll see if we even get an reply. Again thanks, Lates Bother..........

 

good!!!! hopefully they can just sell you the log manifold. its not as efficient as a tubular but it should be alright for now. with the rangers you just kinda have to get what you can take. but makin a downpipe and intake path should be cake.