Need More Power out of my 2.3L

Hey all,
I just got this 90 Ranger and I was towing a small trailer this weekend. I noticed it lacks some hump overall. It moves pretty good on it's own but as soon as I load it up it seems tired. Is there a way to give it some more power with out putting a turbo in it ? It looks like all is doing well in the tune up area. I checked the spark plugs and all looks good. Maybe it needs a big bore kit?
Any tips would be helpful.
Thanks,
Tony

 

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The 2.3 is just not a powerful motor in general. It's the smallest size they use in the Ranger. You could look into puttin a chip in it www.bamachips.com. Another good & fairly cheap power add on is gettin an electric fan. Instead of using the power from the motor to run the fan it gets the power from the battery so that's just a little more power that ends up staying in the motor

 

best and cheapest power would be..
cold air
gut your catylatic converters ..oit cut them off
new plugs
new wires
new fuel filter
electric fan
chip it
underdrive pulley
swapping rear end to different geared rear end to pull better
but that is just about everything i can think of

 

Great Tips

I looked for a chip on the site Bamachips and didn't find one for the 90 Ranger. I will look at a electric fan and go with the chip install. The rear end option is to expensive but defenently a good option. I have noticed the tranny gearing is really high on the freeway. I have a question. Why does it have two sets of spart plugs? I have never seen this setup. Does it really help with power? The pulley up front has timing marks on it but there is no way of timing it because it doesn't have a distributor to move around. Thanks for the help.
Tony

 

IF IT HAS 8 SPARK PLUGS THAT ISN'T THE MOTOR FOR THAT TRUCK!! lol that motor is out of a 1993 to 1995 ranger it will give you bet gas milage and will give you a bit more power this is a really good motor to have in your truck i bought a 1991 ranger with 8 plugs and it didn't belong to that truck around here there worth anywhere from 300 to 500 bucks

 

Hahahaha. I was thinkin the same thing

 

lol apparently i wasn't the only person to by a b@st@$rd truck

 

Wow!!

That's good to hear. This motor is in good shape and runs smooth. I didn't know that Ford used a 8 plug 4 cyl motor in their Rangers. So in reality I am getting more power in this truck than a standard 4 cyl ? What was the displacement on the 1990 4cyl ranger originally? Another thing this truck has is a cruise control (that doesn't work) and a tack that some one installed. I noticed that it revs really low. When I removed the instrument cluster to replace the bulbs, I noticed that the tack came out of a 6 cyl. That means the tack is 1/3 lower rpm indicating on the tack. So if it's reving at 2000 rpm, it really is reving 2333 rpm. I think the guy didn't realize that the rpms are lower. Is there a factory tack made for a 4 cyl? If yes, I would be interested in finding out where I can find one.
Thanks
Tony

 

Ok,

I know I am off alittle on the years here, but here goes. I had a 95 w/8 plug 2.3L 5spd. The Mods to get more out of that truck were: Took the air silencer out, removed the air box and attached a conical K&N air filter, Super Chips chip, Flowmaster exhaust with turn out just before the rear tire. Now the best Mod was removing the stock 3:45 rear gears and installing 4:10's. This truck was getting 23-25 mpg around town (because of gearing) and because the chip removed the speed limiter, I was able to do a top speed of 121 (on GPS). That was scary for a small pick up with no weight in the back end. I absolutley loved that first Ranger. Of course there is no replacement for displacement. Go with a 5.0 if money allows.

 

the 90 had a 2.3L4plug the 95 also had a 2.3L but it was 8 plug the other four plugs dedinate late to burn all the unburn fuel and to make the truck pull a hair better.


and im pretty sure i have a tack for your truck if you want it.

 

Do Want Tach

Thanks Ham-Bone. It looks like some one went through a lot of trouble to get this newer motor in this 90 Ranger. I do want the tack if it's for a 4 banger. It would make a lot of sense to be able to see the actual rpm. Can you post a picture of it? And what year did it come out of? Regarding the dual ignition. Would the computer have to be replaced too? Why do I have a feeling that it still has the old computer in it. Let me know how much you want for the tach, and do you have paypal?
Later.
Tony

 

apparently it is alot of work i thought i was the only person to be lucky enought to have this problem but i ended up scraping my truck .. i have to check and make sure i do have one and if i do probably 25.00 US what ever that is CAD i only deal paypal lol. i will post pics friday cause i work tomorrow after school. the truck is a 92 so it should be a 92 tach but i could be a different year like the rest of the truck. you new the new computer to run the new motor so it will fire the second set of plugs

if you look at your motor its on the drivers side behind the power steering pump (or at least thats where mine is) the old computer might be in the truck but will not work anythign its just an ordiment now.

 

Tackometer

Ok Ham-Bone, $25 for the tack is a good price. I will pay for shipping from where you are and I can use paypal. ScottRogers is talking about an (air silencer). Can you guys tell me what this is and where it is? The K&N filter is a good idea as well. I do like the 4:10 rear end idea too. It's expensive but I will get a price at the wreckers this week end. I'm guessing that the ratio is on the little tag on the axle differential cover.

 

ya im not trying to make a living out of parts just some gas money or help with some mods i want to do to my new(to-me) F-150

 

I 've got a 89' ranger with the 2.3,dual plug set up,stock....decals on rad cover show it's the right engine....they r under powered though....would love to mod it up some....Mike

 

check into lordco or napa for the tac u will find one
and a cold air intake is a good way to get some hp for cheap

 

Dyno proof or it doesn't happen