Hello
 

Hello everybody, my name is Matthew and I live in Indiana near Terre Haute. I am currently studying Automotive and Diesel Technology at Ivy Tech Community College. I'm thinking about buying a Ranger this coming spring and was wondering what to look for. I'm looking for a nice cruiser pickup that maybe I can use as a performance project. Is a 2WD 2.3 four cylinder with a 5 speed a good choice or should I go with a V6? Any opinions or advice would be greatly appreciated.

You might as well spend the extra $$$ and get one with a 4.0 V-6. The 2.3 is a great little engine, but there just isn't a lot of performance add-ons for it. It is, and was always ment to be an economy engine.
You can have custom work done to it, but unless you spend big $$$ on it, a stock 4.0 will out power it.
Depending on year, there are some intake options but give very small gains for money spent. A few cat-back exhausts are available, but again, small gains for $$$ spent.
Have a 2.3 in my Ranger, and as a cruiser it's just fine, and with the 4.10 rear axle gives adequate performance. But in the end it's just a 145 hp engine.
If your studying auto tech, get familiar with the old hot rodders quote...HorsePower costs money...how fast do you want to go?
Grumpaw

Welcome from Georgia. Best of luck in all you do.