Hello everyone! First off I'm new, so I may be posting in the wrong spot or doing something wrong. If so please tell me lol. I know a little but I'm not super smart with vehicles, so please forgive me if I say something stupid.

My dad picked up a 92 Ranger a couple years back for pretty cheap. He ran the crap out of it. Its hauled things that most people would only think of using a full size truck to haul. (Boats, the whole bed/rear end of an F150, lots of scrap, etc). We looked through some of the papers in the glove box and discovered it had a Jasper crate engine installed in 2000, as well as a water pump, valve cover, and fuel pump. That explained a lot of the things it was capable of doing considering the odometer read 250,000 miles.

It got handed down to me recently for a first vehicle. I have fell in love with it but want to know a little more about it. I know the stock 2.3s of that year were 100hp and there is no way this thing is 100hp considering the things it has done. It can smoke the tires like no other lmao.

I've been told it could be a Duratec long block, rather than a Lima.To my knowledge, the Duratecs are a little more powerful than Limas (which would explain a lot), but the Duratecs weren't introduced to rangers until like 01 I thought. The motor was installed in 2000, and Jasper has basically no specs for this motor on their website and considering it was installed 17 years ago, things may be different. So, would Jasper replace the stock 2.3 with a Duratec even though they weren't even in Rangers until a year later? And how can I identify this motor easily? Any help would be appreciated. It runs great and everyone is so surprised by it.

 

Bump?

 

Hmmm...to install a Duratec in a '92 would require modifications and a bunch of re-wiring. It would not be a simple drop in plug-n-play. The Lima engine is very different from the newer Duratec.

Take a pic of the motor and post it here and we'll be able to tell you exactly what it is.
There's also this sticky at the top of the page: https://www.ranger-forums.com/2-3l-2...uratec-147303/

Here's a pic of my 2003 2.3L Duratec engine:

 

Welcome to the forum, didn't see this the first time


Yes, there were two different 2.3l engines used in Rangers
1983 to 1997 used the 2.3l SOHC 4cyl Lima engine
1998 to 2001 used a Stroked 2.3l Lima which was now a 2.5l
Mid-2001 Ford started installing the 2.3l DOHC Mazda L engine, Ford called it a Duratec

2.3l Lima used a timing belt so pretty easy to ID that
2.3l Duratec uses a timing chain

2.3l Lima also will have dual spark plugs after 1988, if you see two coil packs and 8 wires you got a Lima

And you WILL have a Lima engine, as you said Duratec swap simply couldn't be done in 2000, engine wasn't in production yet, Rangers were the first to get these in mid-2001.
And Jasper couldn't have a "rebuilt" 2.3l Duratec in 2000

2.3l Lima was a good reliable engine, first used in 1974 Pintos, so often called "the Pinto engine"
It was made at the Lima, Ohio engine plant so called Lima engine as well

These were used in many Ford cars, including Mustangs

You may have a 4.10 rear axle ratio which gives truck better towing ability and "tire spin ability", lol
Look at drivers door tag and go here: Ford 7.5 & 8.8 Inch Axle Tag & Door Codes

That will tell you what axle you have

here is some info on the Rangers 2.3l/2.5l engines: The Ford Ranger 4-Cylinder Motors - The Ranger Station

 

Interesting...I just checked the sticker and it reads 85, so its an open 3.55 read end. I appreciate the help a lot. It must be a Lima because it has 8 spark plugs. Didn't they use the extra 4 plugs for emissions? I remember my stepdad telling me he replaced the exhaust manifold with one off of a 2001 Ranger, so perhaps its a stroked 2.3 you were talking about. And his thing isn't a power house or anything but it has done some impressive things. Pulled a boat the length and width of my trailer Lmao! I remember once I dumped the clutch and it started spinning both rear tires on dry pavement according to my buddy one day when we were messing around so I thought it could be a limited slip, but I suppose not. One of my few complaints about it is how high reverse is geared. Gets a little sketchy because I don't have power steering as of now and it just takes off on you if you're not careful. I know I should have power steering but its really not a problem unless you're backing up or you're on a flat, and even then its not so bad, especially with the little 205x75x15 tires on it. Truthfully I enjoy not having power steering because everyone gets a kick out of it lol.

 

Here it is. Definitely different than yours. http://imgur.com/a/Lff4c. Couldn't get it to just post a picture so I had to send a link.

 

Exhaust manifolds and intake manifolds are the same between 2.3l and 2.5l Limas, only difference is the crank and connecting rods, for the longer stroke
They have the same block, head and pistons

3.55 ratio was for better MPG, popular ratio on 4cyl Rangers

Dual spark plugs get a little more power than single spark plug designs, I think Ford got about 10HP with that.
Definitely better emissions with better combustion but the Lima wasn't a big polluter to start with.

Just a heads up, only the exhaust side coil and spark plugs work when starting the engine.
Intake side will start working when engine RPMs are above 400

This is a voltage thing, when starter motor is on battery voltage drops below 10volts, so coils only get 10volts, having both working would mean weaker spark on both. so better to have 1 stronger spark than 2 weaker

So if you ever test for spark, test exhaust side

And the Limas did use a Timing belt, it needs to be changed every 80-100k miles
It won't hurt the engine if it does break, it is a non-interference engine, but it, of course, would stop running

 

Thanks for all the help. I am in need of new plugs and wires. Its got a pretty nasty miss as of right now. We already put news wires in it after the old ones burned in half lmao. Planning on getting double platinums probably. Also, I've read that there is something you can do where (if I'm not mistaken) you can somehow set all the plugs to fire during the power stroke instead of 4 during the power and 4 during the exhaust. Would this improve performance at all? It sounds reasonable but then again if you're saying that they fire on the exhaust side to start the engine up, it sounds like it could cause some issues. Are there any performance mods / parts worth getting? I've heard you can get a turbo for the Limas but that would require new pistons and other stuff, plus that's a bit out of my price range. We have a few other vehicles I can drive if I want more HP, but I really like this little truck and if there are any easy ways to pick up horsepower I'd like to try them out. Again, thank you for all the help.

 

The coil mod doesn't do anything, doesn't hurt anything either.

After starting BOTH spark plugs in each cylinder fire at the same time, once on power stroke and once on the exhaust stroke, there is no alternating, so changing wires around doesn't change anything.

Ford uses a Waste Spark System
Originally used on all gasoline engines, very 1st spark system in fact
Back when engines used magnetos, and like current lawn mower engines, the magneto on the crank had the "points" and generated the electricity for the spark.

Since it was on the crank shaft and it is a 4-stroke engine, that meant the magneto sparked the plug once on power stroke and once on exhaust stroke.
Spark on power stroke made engine run
Spark on exhaust stroke doesn't do anything good or bad, but makes the whole setup much much easier.

Distributors ran off the CAM, so single spark on power stroke could be done, no reason to have the exhaust stroke spark since it doesn't matter either way.

When Ford went to distributorless systems, and used a Crank position sensor(CKP), using Waste Spark was just the best and least expensive way to set that up.
Exhaust spark is not for better emissions, it just makes system easier to setup, and doesn't hurt anything.


Removing the belt driven radiator fan and replacing it with an electric cooling fan is a double bonus.
Better power and better MPG
And if you use junk yard parts it is very cheap

All FWD cars use e-fans, so junk yards are full of these fans and relays and whatever else you might need

Google: Ranger throttle cable mod

Good fix if cable has stretched

 

I may try out a new fan. I knew it would draw less power since its not mechanical but I figured you'd have to get something aftermarket. Its not that the little truck is a dog or anything, it does a great job, I just enjoy having as much power as I can. (And who doesn't? Lol) A guy who had this truck before me actually traded it back to the lady he got it from, which is where I picked it up, because he said it had NO power and was one of the slowest vehicles he's ever drove in his life. Well I think his issue is that he's an old man and doesn't ride the gears out long enough haha.

And please don't take me for an idiot kid, I've drove 7.3 Powerstrokes, rode in a couple VERY nice Duramaxes with 5 stag​​e computer tunes, injectors, fuel pumps, etc, we have a 3/4 ton Chevy 4 speed with 300 horse, drove another with a 355 out of a stock car, drove a paddle shift Pontiac GXP with an LS2(?), supercharged Buick Regal that we once smoked a 2013 Mustang 5.0 in, so I understand 100 or so horse isn't real power, but its definitely underestimated, and a quarter ton truck really doesn't need anything more than a 4 banger tbh.

I checked out the cable mod too and it looks neat, I remember we saw something similar to that on my buddies F250 he picked up a while back. I'm afraid I'll find some way to mess it up and have it idle too high or something lmao. I still may try it, its not like I have anything to lose.

I also need a new air filter so I may go K&N, but I heard while they get you better air flow, they also don't clean as well as a stock one.

 

Your current air filter setup has 200% air flow, so it can get 1/2 clogged before effecting performance.
It is also a Cold Air Intake(CAI), all fuel injected Rangers came with CAI, just FYI

Adding a 3rd party air filter is usually done for the "sound", you can hear the air being sucked in.
But if you can hear it it means there is turbulence so often not the best air flow, but it does sound cool

You can install a Vacuum gauge in the cab to see if your air flow is limiting power.
Driving at wide open throttle(WOT) on flat ground should show no more than 1.5" of vacuum, higher mean you could use larger throttle body(air inlet)
Vacuum will drop to 0 when throttle is opened but that doesn't tell you anything, you need sustained WOT under load to test if engines air flow is limiting power.

Vacuum gauge can tell you general engine condition, 18-21" at idle means compression is good
Also vacuum gauge can tell you when you are getting best fuel economy the higher the vacuum when driving the better the MPG will be, i.e. foot to the floor lowers vacuum and MPG, lol.