Hey Guys,

I need a little help. I have a '96 Ranger with a 2.3L engine in it and as money allows I am slowly adding things to it to bring up the performance.

But lately I've decided that with the help of a friend of mine we're going to buy all new parts and build a new 2.3L ourselves to bigger and better performance than people have thought about out of a 2.3L.

Anyways, right now, the one problem we are running into is finding a new 2.3L block for Dual Over Head Cam. I've heard that the old T-Bird blocks might work but I've also heard that if I went that route that it may not bolt in the Ranger properly. Personally I think if the T-Bird block will work, and can find it new, I would use it just cause I've heard I can put a turbo charger or super charger on the T-Bird engines.

Any help anyone can give me is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

James

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 18-Feb-02 AT 10:35 AM (EST)]Hi Paul. Any t-bird 2.3L that you find will already be turbocharged. This is a very popular swap into Mustangs and Rangers. Check out http://www.turboford.com

 

I realize I can already get a 2.3L T-Bird with the turbocharger on it, but I'm not buying an engine. All I'm looking for is a brand new block. I'm building a 2.3L from stock. And I'm asking where I can get a new one that I can do a Dual Over Head Cam in. I know where to get the turbo charger and everything else but I am building it myself, not some manufacturer. Thanks again for the info though. Actually some good info at the site there.

James

>Hi Paul. Any t-bird 2.3L that you find will already be
>turbocharged. This is a very popular swap into Mustangs and
>Rangers. Check out http://www.turboford.com

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 18-Feb-02 AT 09:55 PM (EST)]Hi James, sorry about getting your name wrong.

Try www.racerwalsh.com. They had some brand new 2.3 blocks, but I don't know if they have sold them all yet. They also sell remfg bare blocks.

 

Hey, its all good. Actually I was thinking you were saying something like "Hi, Pual here" or something like that. Thanks for this site, I'll see what they got. Have a great day.

James

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 19-Feb-02 AT 12:47 PM (EST)]

 

>Hey Guys,
>
>I need a little help. I have a '96 Ranger with a 2.3L
>engine in it and as money allows I am slowly adding things
>to it to bring up the performance.
>
>But lately I've decided that with the help of a friend of
>mine we're going to buy all new parts and build a new 2.3L
>ourselves to bigger and better performance than people have
>thought about out of a 2.3L.

Okay, but what head are you going to pirate? Maybe
the Saab 16 valve?? Because the new 2.3 Twin cam ain't
the same block as the old 2.0/2.3/2.5L that you have
right now. As for bigger better, how fast do you want
to spend?? I know of a single turbo 2.5L thats making
over 700hp...but they have over $40K in it now. And it's
a SOHC.

>Anyways, right now, the one problem we are running into is
>finding a new 2.3L block for Dual Over Head Cam. I've heard
>that the old T-Bird blocks might work but I've also heard
>that if I went that route that it may not bolt in the Ranger
>properly. Personally I think if the T-Bird block will work,
>and can find it new, I would use it just cause I've heard I
>can put a turbo charger or super charger on the T-Bird
>engines.

There is more to it than that, like finding a complete
TC and robbing everything out of it. More specifically,
you really really need the ECU...If you don't do that,
you might as well take yourself out back, and shoot
yourself...

>Any help anyone can give me is greatly appreciated. Thanks
>in advance.

Sorry if this sounds a little negative, but just trying
to smack some sense into you...

Steve & the Rockette

 

Steve & The Rockette,

You're right there again. Well hopefully will figure it out shortly just what I'm going to do. Might just do like you're saying here. Thanks again for all the great information. Have a great day.

James

 

Esslinger Performance sells a high performance head for these engines. I don't remember if is SOHC or DOHC, though. What I do remember, is that it is expensive. Somewhere around $3000. That's more than my entire vehicle is worth.....

 

>Esslinger Performance sells a high performance head for
>these engines. I don't remember if is SOHC or DOHC, though.

It's a SOHC, aluminum, really good ports, good
chamber design, flows lots of air at mid and high
lifts, you'll prbably need a custom ground cam...

>What I do remember, is that it is expensive. Somewhere
>around $3000.

Yeah, that sounds about right, for a head
with the valves and springs installed...
but no cam or followers...

> That's more than my entire vehicle is
>worth.....

I feel your pain...

I do have a line on a 4 valve twin cam
for a Pinto 2L, all it needs is a set of
valves, as the belt broke, Doh...

Steve & the Rockette
'63 F100
'68 F100
'72 Capri 2L
'73 Capri 2.6L V6
'73 MG B GT 2.6L V6(Ford)
'98 Contour SVT 2.5L V6 (Mods)
'01 ZX2 (No Mods yet)

 

it's unfortunate that they completley redesigned the block and heads for the new 2.3 but it seems the best way to go, for us using the old lima blocks, is to still get the good old SVO or 87/88 TC engines

 

There are DOHC heads for the 2.3 but its a European only thing and everything is different save the block. The same for the 2.0 as well as the 1600 Kent engines, just find yourself a Ford Cortina GT, but these engines are not as powerfull as todays 2.3 Turbo by a long shot. And parts are outrageously expensive. Get yourself a turbo 2.3 and contact Tiny Avenger Motorsports for their cam and 2.5 Ranger crank, they are claiming 300hp!!macs