So, I've been hearing yeahs and neahs from everyone I talk to about either motor I think about swapping in my Ranger. So, I figured why not ask here I was wondering what you guys thought would be the best choice. Now, it would be alot harder to find a turbo coupe motor than a 5.0 but I thought I could use existing mount locations and the stock trans till is started to mod it but I wonder considering that I will probably have to custom make every part of the exhaust and turbo setup. Well, what would you guys do, (and I'm not aiming for max power 450hp at the most.)?

 

What engine do you currently have in the truck now?

If you have a 2.3 already, then you don't need a 2.3T out of a Tbird to do the swap. You can build your existing motor to turbo specs.

What year is your truck?

You won't have to make a custom exhaust manifold for the turbo, Stinger (www.stinger-performance.com/) makes a great header and downpipe for the ranger.

Bob Lee (40bob.com) makes one hell of a header as well, and will customize it to your specs too. (within limits)

Don't expect 450HP out the gate with either engine swap though. You'll have bugs to work out of either swap, it's best to start with a swap as close to stock as possible to help avoid all possible problems and hickups. Then mod from there as you work things out one at a time.

 

Yeah that could work better I have a 94 single cab 2.3 with a 5-speed. I had heard arguements for and against both swaps. Oh, I didn't plan on that much horsepower out of the gate that was the max I would eventually bring it to. I went on a couple of mustang forums and a couple of the turbo coupe owners had said the engine is capable of that on stock internals with better gaskets and the like. I still have to determine however which is more cost effective as I would have to replace either tranny eventually, and I am not aiming for astronomical hp numbers.

 

You have an identical truck to my 94. A 2.3 5speed single cab. I am still using my ranger tranny and its holding fine. I'm making about 250 to the wheels and its takeing all the abuse. Jesshwarren on RPS was putting down over 300 to the wheels and he beat on that tranny HARD and he finally just broke some teeth off of third gear.

FWIW, the 2.3 is cheaper to do, and easier to make enough power to beat any comparable 5.0. Plus turbo's are more fun.

 

Yeah that is what I needed to know. I'm gonna go with the turbo coupe motor but first I'm picking up an new 94 identical to my other one, I'm buying it off my old autos teacher and I'm paying $500 for that my current one needs new cab mounts and has rust on the roof. My truck also would require a substantial amount of body work, so it's gonna be my daily driver. My problem for this motor is that I have to find an existing turbo coupe motor to raid for the internals, and that is proving to be very hard to do.

 

Join Turboford.net, someone there is usually selling a spare set of forged 2.3 pistons for relatively cheap. You'll also want to find a turbo head, or a 95 and newer dual plug head. The head on the 94 Dual Plug motors were turds.

 

try aerobirdmotorsports.com....they are a large reseller of tc parts and i just bought a set of pistons and rods off him for 100 shipped!!!