What’s up rangers! Ha sorry that’s kind of funny to me lol so I recently purchased a 2000 ranger 5spd 4cyl and let me tell you, I LOVE IT! It is so clean and has sooo much potential. I eventually want to throw in there a nice motor new tranny and clutch and all that good stuff. I don’t really know much about engine work other then the regular maintenance and everyone I talk to about my plans say it can’t be done. But then again they aren’t ranger owners so what do they know right?! Any suggestions on what motors out of what vehicles would fit best and and run the best with my truck would really be appreciated. I’m all ears!!

 

Welcome to the forum

2000 Ranger 4cyl will have the 2.5l Lima engine, its was first used in 1974 Ford Pinto, as 2.3l version, and last used in 2001 Rangers
2.5l is a stroked 2.3l
Good reliable engine but 1970's technology even with dual spark plugs

The popular swap is the Ford V8 5.0l(302) engine and trans out of a 1996-2001 Explorer/Mountaineer
5.0l is a narrow OHV engine, only 19" wide, so its a snug fit but does fit and you can keep heater/AC box as is and steering shaft as well
5.0l is also old enough to have carb and distributor options
M5OD-R2 manual trans works with 5.0l in Ranger swap

Most newer Ford "V" engines have gone to OHC or DOHC which makes them wider, 25"-30", so more modifications are needed to make them fit

The 2.3l Lima came in turbo versions in the 1980's which can be adapted to 2.5l, so you keep the better MPG and get the power when needed, and you keep engine and trans as is so just engine bay work.

There are some Chevy LS1 swaps, its also a narrower engine, but modifications are needed

And there is the 4BT swap, 4cyl turbo diesel, expensive, but worth it if torque is your goal

 

Awesome information Ron thank you! That 302 motor can it be turboed? Or is that already a performance motor as is?

 

The 302 has been around since 1967 so there are lots of internal upgrades along with external

The size of the Ranger engine bay with a 302(5.0l) inside wouldn't allow easy turbo installation, its been done but under the cab and lots of tubing, lol.
Super charging would be the better way to add boost, less work and enough boost to satisfy "more power" desires

The difference between turbo and super charging are few but important

Turbo charging is cheaper for car makers to design and install since they are basically building from scratch they can move things around to get it all to fit
Trying to add turbo charging is a whole other thing UNLESS there was a factory option for that model vehicle with same engine, then its already built you just need to swap it in
Turbo has potential for higher boost, it uses a Wastegate to limit the boost so engine doesn't exploded, but that wastegate is adjustable so you can add more boost, up to the point engine explodes, lol
Turbo's also have "spool up", this means the added turbo power doesn't happen instantly, the turbo needs to spin up/spool up to a certain RPM to add enough boosted air pressure for you to feel it, this can be a bit un-nerving when flooring it around a corner, lol, you get the boost of power which can break tires loose, but you do get used to it


Super chargers have limited boost, you can adjust the boost using pulley size on the super charger
They are more expensive for car makers to add than turbos, so they are reserved for high performance models
Super chargers are self oiling
They have instant and predictable power curve, no surprises with sudden boost, lol
General problem with adding super chargers is hood clearance, this can be addressed with body lift or a hole in the hood, lol


Either system works better with an air cooler, an intercooler, any time you Compress any thing it heats it up, in this case the air gets very HOT, running it thru a cooler makes it work better

 

Super charging it was actually my first initial plan. I feel like the pull that a super charger gives and the sound and the set up would be perfect for a ranger. So if I were to super charge it what is the process like? Do you know what motor I would need to super charge or is a super charger already on a motor? How does all that work? Ron do you have any buddies that have suped their ranger that you maybe can get pics of?

 

Can you supercharge a 4cy?

 

4cyl engines just have the one exhaust pipe and usually more room in the engine bay to add a Turbo charger, so turbo charger would be more practical

V6 and V8 have dual exhaust systems and no room in engine bay, in Rangers at least, lol
So Super charging becomes more practical

Superchargers also require horsepower to operate(like any accessory on the fan belt), turbos do not, so 4cyl application is possible just not practical, V6 and V8 have enough horse power at low RPMs to turn the supercharger compressor easily

Loads of videos on the internet for supercharged engines of all descriptions and displacement
The Ranger engine bay limits the physical size of the engine you can use, i.e. the WIDTH, 302/5.0l is 19" wide and is a snug fit so that would probably be the choice for max. displacement

You would need to get laptop software to tune engine computer for boost

The 2.3l(4cyl) DOHC ecoboost is the only current "boosted" stock engine Ford has that could fit in a Ranger, it is turbo charged
The 2002-2011 Rangers came with the non-turboed version of this 2.3l block, so trans and mounts fit