Guys I need a little advice......

[fordnh3930]

Buddy of mine wants to sell is 95 ranger 5sp. 550 and the tranny needs to be rebuilt. Since Im 13 I think this could be a fun project(I work on small engines for my "lemonade stand") What do ya'll think?



Also, I saw aftermarket turbo kits. I am worried about the power of the 2.3(i beleive) and wonder if these are a good idea? If I leave everything completely stock except for the turbo will the truck sound to wierd/loud or make that PSHHHHHHHHHH sound when I let off the gas? Thanks guys!


Cole

 

[Lt CHEG]

Fixing up the Ranger may not be a bad idea, and may be a fun project. However, there is no way that I would spend the kind of money that it would take to put a turbo kit onto a truck that's already 15 years old and will be 18 years old by the time you can drive it on the road. Especially not a compact truck with only a 4 banger. If you must have something more powerful then you may be better off fixing up the Ranger and selling it for a profit to upgrade into something bigger.

 

[RPW]

First project would be a good son/father/friend activity. Keep it simple and don't go for the high dollar parts until you're ready. If you can take this truck to new or near new condition i.e. mechanical/body etc. then you will have a solid foundation to work from also by that time you can decide if you want to spend the money on the performance products. Please remember that the older the car the less forgiving it will be on additional power. You might find a piston rod through the block if not careful.

Good luck.

 

[TripleR]

Yes, it might be a fun project, but even if successful what do you have? A "high performance" Ranger probably isn't going to be much in demand and you are going to wind up with a lot of money tied up.

Also as mentioned, those engines will not take the power without strengthening the internal components.

Whatever you decide, it is good to see someone interested in this sort of thing. My brothers and their sons have spent a lot of time together working on project trucks and a couple of cars.

They are now involved in working on late 60's early 70's pickups and they sure look nice, but they are finding them hard to sell and expensive to feed. One just traded his 454 engine for a 350 because of the mileage and they don't have enough money to keep gas in them. They are, however learning a lot that will help them in life.

 

[ModMech]

Cole,

The 2.3L enigne used in the Ranger is also used in the Thunderbird Turbo Coupe and the Mustang SVO in turbocharged varients and with great success, so YES it is possible. Getting all the right parts to make it work well and be reliable is another matter. The best bet is to get a running engine from a recycler.

Rebuilding the trans is a good project, they are not complicated, but you NEED a service manual to do it correctly. There are certain measurements and adjustmens that must be made during assembly to ensure correct operation.

 

[fordnh3930]

thanks for the advice,


I was hoping to use this truck as a project to help teach the girl I like about cars.:confused2::drool:

 

[dodge man]

You like the girl, or the girl likes cars? :thumbsup: If she likes working on cars, she is a keeper. Like other have said, skip the turbo. That is a perfect first vehicle for you, its sloooow. If I had a fast vehicle when I was 16 I'd have been dead.

The "huffing" sound you hear when someone lets off the gas on a turbo motor is the waste gate venting off excess turbo pressure. When a turbo is at full throttle, its making a lot of boost. When you suddenly let off the gas pedal, all the pressure has to go somewhere, so it goes out the wastegate, hence the whoosh sound.

 

[jsygrovehpi]

The "huffing" sound you hear when someone lets off the gas on a turbo motor is the waste gate venting off excess turbo pressure. When a turbo is at full throttle, its making a lot of boost. When you suddenly let off the gas pedal, all the pressure has to go somewhere, so it goes out the wastegate, hence the whoosh sound.

You should mount a duck call on the waste gate...most hilarious thing ever! :laughing:

 

[dodge man]

Good idea, maybe Ford could call their new truck the "F250 Turbo Diesel Quacker".

 

[fordnh3930]

You like the girl, or the girl likes cars? :thumbsup: If she likes working on cars, she is a keeper. Like other have said, skip the turbo. That is a perfect first vehicle for you, its sloooow. If I had a fast vehicle when I was 16 I'd have been dead.

The "huffing" sound you hear when someone lets off the gas on a turbo motor is the waste gate venting off excess turbo pressure. When a turbo is at full throttle, its making a lot of boost. When you suddenly let off the gas pedal, all the pressure has to go somewhere, so it goes out the wastegate, hence the whoosh sound.

She is deffinentaly a keeper!