Here's my latest blog post:

Snow Testing the Ford Turbo Ranger | Ford Trucks

 

Nice story! Having an 88 turbo tbird, i bet it would be a blast have have that motor in a ranger.

 

Mark is there any chance the 2.3 Turbo Ranger ended up in Florida? Possibly somewhere in Pasco County? In the early 1990's I was part time in small one bay shop. Customer brings in an 85 to 86 Ranger 4x4 2.3 L needs the engine rebuilt Had a burned piston if I remember correctly. The head was already removed. I was the official parts washer...during assembly I remember thinking "what the hell kind exhaust manifold is this". If I remember correctly it was either black or gray, the turbo was no hack job it looked like it was the real deal. Could have come from a Tbird..... Would be odd if it was kin to something you guys put together. I was so impressed I took pictures....I'll see if I can find them. Take care.

 

The one we did was a 4x2. It was a long bed extended cab. It was in Michigan, but once he sold it who knows where it ended up?

 

Sounds like a fun time, testing someone else's vehicles without any worry about damage created.

Too bad there aren't any photos---or are there?

 

No, there are no photos. We did take some, but they belong to Ford. I don't have them.

 

could someone have swapped a motor in from a turbo mustang?

 

I think it's very possible. It was a screamer. Kind of a sleeper....really looked plain. I'm pretty sure it could have out run a full size truck with a stock small block.

 

The turbo Mustang and Thunderbird turbo used the exact same engines.