Hey Yall,

I'm getting ready to buy a 2001-2004 Ranger with a 2.3 Duratec engine and I was just wondering if I can put a turbo on it. I'm 99% sure you can, but I don't want to assume anything.
I heard Ford put a turbo on the Ford Focus ST. Is this true?
If I can't put a turbo on the Duratec would anyone recommend getting a 2.5 over a 2.3?

 

I'm going to bump this thread because I really need to know about this engine.

 

I'd recommend 2.5 over the Lima

 

You're better off getting a 2001.5 and under with the 2.3 or 2.5 lima to put a turbo on. Its tons easier and stronger than the 2.3 duratec in the 2001.5 and up Rangers. Head over to turborangerforums.com for tons of info.




2.5 is a lima.

 

It sounds to me like I would be better off getting a early 2001 Ranger with a 2.5 Lima or a 2.3 and putting a turbo on it. So, What year did Ford start putting the Lima engine in the Ranger?

 

since they came out until 2001. Easiest swap would be pre-94, and you can just bolt in a turbocoupe engine, otherwise, 95-2001 you would have to swap internals to let the obd-II work.

 

Hey Dangerranger,

It sounds like you're a ASE certified technician and I'm a just a shade tree mechanic ... lol
What is OBD-II work?
I would love to have the easy job of getting a 1994 Ranger and putting a 2.3 Turbo Coupe engine in, but I like the looks of the 2006 + Ranger and I'm really starting to like the 2.3 D.O.H.C. the more I do reseach on it.
I might get a Duratec and just do some upgrades to increase the HP instead of putting a turbo on it.
It makes me so mad that there's a company out there that has turbo charging kits for the Ford Focus with the Duratec but not the Ranger.

 

first off Id like to throw my opinion out there before facts and say turbo "kits" are always a waste and piecing together your system is always cheaper and better since you end up with what you want instead of settling for what you dont

obd-II is the computer os that manages your motor. started at obd-0 then went to obd-1 and now its at obd-2. obd-0 being the easyiest to tune with the least amount of engine sensors and interference, and obd-2 being a beazy to tune having a finger in everything so to speak.

if you want to boost set prioritys. the first being what is the target hp? this is what sets the tone of the build. not how much boost you want to run. having a goal for the power you want to make will make everything easier for decisions in the build up, do you need forged rods or can you get by with out them, what size injectors, etc.

save up for the dyno ahead of time usually $80+ an hr, find a reputable tuning shop, talk to locals in the boosted honda scene, talk to the shop owners, make sure these guys know what teh fu¢k is up and know what you have going down. no matter how well you plan and build if the motor doesnt get properly tuned you'll have an expensive mess of parts and a nice driveway ornament

more likely then not your gonna need a custom turbo manifold built, and i cant say ive seen an aftermarket ecu that has the adjustability for going to boost, or a reprogrammer for that fact though i havent looked hard.

 

[QUOTE=BlackRanger04;1701482]
I heard Ford put a turbo on the Ford Focus ST. Is this true?
[QUOTE]

yes they did, but it has a volvo t5 engine it. same as i have in my S40. totally different cookie tho. this 2.5 is a 5 cylinder with a turbo and puts down 220hp. also its horizontally opposed with a trans axle.

 

Anybody heard of someone making more power using other focus parts? Found a guy selling a set of $700 cams for a 2.3 focus for $150 locally, still in the box. Probably sold em by now, but it got me thinkin

 

It depends on who makes the kits. This is not fully true.

obd2 is the easiest to tune. If you have the right software for your application (like I do) you can remap fuel and timing, change peripherial bits, and even rewrite xml. there are different "flavors" of obd2, it is not the "OS" - just a diagnostic methodology.

AEM, HKS Vcon, Motec.. there are many.


Oh, and by the way, I have a stock Evo IX turbo in great shape for sale if you want it for your truck. Easy 400whp capable.

 

Go to Esslinger.com you will be amazed at how many parts they have for the 2.3

 

haha owned, ive seen those aem stand alone units that are like $1,xxx and always thought wtf would you buy that like it was some ricer gimmick to go with their v2 intakes and dc headers. on honda you just buy a hondata which works with the stock ecu then tune, but now ive seen the diode light

 

On a stock car there is no need for that level of adjustability. Now on a car with more than twice the the output of stock (such as mine) there are tons of benefits. Infinite adjustability for fuel, ignition and pretty much every other variable. Stock ECU for a IX is good for about 700-800 hp on my car and I'm not at that limit just yet, although with a bigger turbo and my AEM I can put down nearly 800 with my build. I don't need that for the street, plus I don't want to have to switch my sensors and ecu every 2 years for emissions testing (AEM = No obd2) My personal test is seeing what I can do on the stock ECU, as I am learning more and more about reprogramming the actual language of how the ECU communicates with the car. AEM is necessary for a full track car.

 

n3wb. esslinger engineering is all for 2.3 lima engines.

 

Ive thought about turbos on my 4 banger but why when you can put in a v8 for around the same price? just find a crown vic buy it cheap and you have almost evrything you need for the swap.

 

Not really, turbo a 2.3 can be done for way cheap and get a ton more power out of it than a v8.

 

ya but a v8 swap has so much more potential for power

 

Tell that to the V8's, V10's and V12's I've destroyed...