k_day64

I am sick of seeing 5.0L mustangs driving the streets with flowmasters and a new intake thinking they are the SHIZZNITS!

I am starting a new project and I require some assistance. The goal pimp out an old school 4x4 Ford Ranger.

Here are the things I am looking to do.

1) Complete paint job
2) 4in lift accented by mud tires
3) Replace the gas engine with a diesel engine (THIS IS WHERE I AM IN THE DARK... PLEASE HELP!!!)

Here is what I need guidance with.

Where can I get a running diesel engine and transmission to match that would be a good fit for a Ranger?
Are there any sites out there that cover this strange topic?

~k_day64

WarWagon

Thats gonna be tough, just because of the sheer size of many diesels. I'm fairly certain that Rangers used to be available with a 2.2 diesel made by Mazda, so perhaps you could look into this?

k_day64

I want to put a modern diesel in. They are far more efficent and provide far greater torque

~k_day64

irseg

Yes, I saw an old 4-banger turbodiesel Ranger in a junkyard. I think they made something like 55hp though, probably not the best contender for being a Mustang killer.

If you want a quick unique Ranger that's reasonably fuel efficient and diesel isn't an absolute must, they were available with a 2.3 liter 4-banger. Ford made a turbocharged version of that engine for the Mustang SVO, Merkur XR4Ti, and Thunderbird Turbo Coupe. It put out around 190hp/240tq stock, and is VERY easy to reliably increase from there. A lot of people drop the turbo engine (it bolts right up to your existing mounts and tranny) and computer into a 4-cyl Ranger and end up with a nice sleeper. Check out www.turboford.org for more info.

Scorps

Drop a 302 in it with a turbo or supercharger



gas is always better for off road.

Confederate

http://www.mpt.org/motorweek/reviews/rt2212a.shtml
http://www.pickuptruck.com/html/stor...olt/page1.html

this may give a few you a few ideas on what a modified ranger is capable of

k_day64

Why do you think gas is better for off roading?

BooRadley

I, frankly, am not impressed. This 420 horsepower "lightning bolt"
had a quarter mile time of 14.1 seconds... that will run with the mustangs. That is adequate to trounce unmodified, automatic v8 and v6 mustangs, but a manual GT with preperation should be able to run that.

And the "Lightning Bolt" is a PROTOTYPE vehicle created by ENGINEERS WITH PROFESSIONAL FABRICATORS. And it is SUPERCHARGED.

Well, if you want to beat a mustang in a drag race, you don't want to run mud tires, as they are made for traction in MUD, not on PAVEMENT. And you'd want to scrap the 4x4 idea. 4x4 eats up power, and you aren't in a road race. It's going to be a drag race.... you need all the power you can get.

And you don't want to run a diesel engine. Unless you just have money and time to waste. You'd want to run a 351 or 460, with nitrous. You'd want to shoot for approximately 500 horsepower, if that ranger article is any indication of performance potential. You'll also need to weight down the rear, as trucks are notoriously light in back. And then you have to deal with the chassis/suspension mods to keep it from roasting tires.

This is serious cash and work. If your intention is building an off-roader, then build an off roader. But don't think you can take a modifed mustang in a drag race. Pick which one you want... a drag racer or an off roader. You can't have both.

JStrider

well not being him or knowing his logic... my guess would be EVERY gas station has regular gas... but not every station has diesel... so you just have to make sure the area your in has diesel fuel... or that your not gonna run out... other then that i have no idea why one would be better then the other...

but if you do this project you better get a digicam and take pictures of the whole process to show us!

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-=JStrider=-

~Clatto Verata Nicto

k_day64

Okay here goes...

I dont want to beat the bastard in a street race. Diesel engines have a very unique rumble and they are as loud ass piss when set up correctly.


Diesel is become more and more popular in the main stream automotive world so this may be a problem for about 5yrs or so but that is all. Keep in mind that Diesel engines are being put into high end Jaguars, Jeeps and many other manufacutres.

I have a nice digital camera and don't worry I will document the entire process.

PLEASE KEEP GIVING ME THOUGHTS, on how to make this little project more unique.

~k_day64

WarWagon

Well, for the most part, your biggest issue is going to be size and weight if you opt to go with a v8. Its difficult enough shoehorning a 5.0 into a ranger, yet alone something the size and weight of a powerstroke. I'd start by picking the motor you want, get its general dimensions, and then take a long look at your engine bay, firewall, and front suspension. Thats the only real way you're going to get an idea of what needs to be hacked out.

Personally, I'd love to see you pull something like this off. Fitting the motor and electronics is going to be the hard part. Using an existing ECU, wiring harness, etc should be relatively simple with a complete donor engine and harness.

merkerguitars

Yeah if your going for a modern diesel....it's gonna be a tight cram...and once you put it into a ranger...your gonna have to weld the hell out of the body to make it handle it.

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Look at my mustang please feel free to comment!

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saltfish

After owning a 4-cylinder 2WD Ranger years back, I must ask how anyone intends to put 200+ HP onto the road with said truck.

As light as those trucks are, serious suspension/drivetrain work would be necessary to keep that ultra-light rear end glued to the ground.

I have driven a 302ci fuel injected Ranger, and without any serious rear end/suspension work, the tires can be easily smoked while going 35+mph, it's a scary, scary thought.

-SF

Confederate

dude ease the fuck off, i was giving an example of putting a big engine in a ranger, letting him know things are possible. I could give a fuck about racing mustangs. a stock ranger can beat out a saleen mustang off road.
and where does he say he wants to race mustangs in this thing anyway? so back off and don't take my shit out of context.

k_day64

Please, dont get bent out of shape over my crazy ass idea.

I am currently looking for a 2.9 - 4.0L Diesel engine. I am not looking for a Power Stoke or anything HUGE because of the limitations on the frame and initail design of the Ranger. Cummins makes some nice engines and they have been very helpful thus far in my quest for eternal sanity. I am trying to find a Detroit Diesel engine though and that is proving to be difficult because they "don't sell running engines."

Detriot Diesel is where my uncle retired from after his cancer came out of remission. So that is the company I want to go with...

My biggest concern is the torque. the 2.9L V6 in my old ranger put out 140HP and not so much torque. (Ford is sending me the engineering specs for my target truck.) The cummins engine I was looking at put out 125HP but 215lb-ft torque. That is the engine that goes into the Hostess Bread Trucks. HUGE!!!

It may be a yr before I start this project because the logistics are so strange but brain storming is where it needs to start.

Any one know where one can buy crated running diesel engines. Jaguar has one but they are not talking to me

~k_day64

silent_jay

same question as above why?

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Peryn

I would go the other way around. Deisels tend to give you far more torque, and much lower in the rpm range. When doing anything off road, you dont want to hafta bring it up to 8 grand to get the torque you need, you want to get it right off of idle. This is where diesels, and their low redlines, excell.

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theguyondacouch

I know ford mad e diesel ranger for a while, you might start there. Also, check out the ranger station the folks in the forums are very knowledgable.

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"Lick my frozen metal ass!"

BooRadley

Back up yourself.

When someone says something like

It is a fair assumption that you are critisizing them for their lack of speed ability. I was giving honest and very realistic opinions about drag racing a ranger if that was your intention. Big fucking deal. I give honest opinions, because I've failed in projects before, and I've got friends who have spent tens of thousands of dollars on a car and are miserable about it.

Now I understand his intentions. He doesn't want to drag race a ranger. Cool. Then the project is realistic. I don't know anything about diesel engines and their dimensions, so I keep my mouth shut.

Ok. Reasonable enough. But the truck you posted a link to... was an on-road truck. That thing wouldn't do shit off road and you know it. That is a muscle truck, meant for dragging around. That was it's only purpose. I never said anything about off-road abilities. I gave my opinion on drag racing trucks, that is all. There is no hostility in it. I didn't say it was a stupid idea ANYWHERE.

silent_jay

well this went to hell in a hand basket

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Absence makes the heart grow fonder

k_day64

Yes it did.

Here is a status report.

Cummins - They have sent me diagrams of a 3.9L inline 4 cylinder engine capable of 125HP and 355lbs-ft of peak torque. This is a smaller version of the engine used in UPS trucks.

Detroit Diesel - They are sending me a packet on the engines they offer.

Ford - Is sending me some engineering schematic on 87-91 rangers.

~k_day64

Scorps

I just don't like diesel.

k_day64

Well that is fair enough. Sometimes it helps if put explinations with things... It helps to shed light onto topics such as this one.

DEI37

Dude, that sounds bad-ass. What you might want to try to get a hold of is the new VW 2.0 TDI 4-cylinder. If I remember right, it makes some 135hp @ 4000rpm, and 250 ft lb of torque @ 1800rpm in a Passat. Those numbers might be a little off, but I think they are close.

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Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised.

k_day64

I am sorry but I need AMERICAN POWER.

DEI37

OH, I hear ya. Just another option.

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Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised.

splck

Diesel is the way to go for a 4x4, it's all about torque.

Toyota makes great motors that would work great for your application...too bad you won't consider them

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nice line eh?

Boo

Why spend all the money to modify when you will never regain it? Modified vehicles rarely reclaim the huge dollars put into them.

Gas is better off road due to throttle response. High octane (sometimes with nitros) is preferred in the off road circuit and mudding community(or av gas). Rock crawlers (unless heavily modified) use regular pump gas. 4 wheeling is different all over the world and each situation requires a different machine. Desert racing needs snap your neck horsepower, mud either needs horsepower OR torque based on the vehicle. Rock crawling is a torquefest. Hill climbing is all horsepower.

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