My turbo'd 5.0L'd 4/5 dropped 2000 Ranger

[ummduh]

I've always liked Rangers, but I've always lifted and wheeled them. My last Ranger was 93 on d60's, spooled, and 38" SX's. I used to spend a lot of time on the RRORC forums.

I haven't grown out of that, but I don't have anyone with land, and I'm tired of having to travel hours to wheel. So, I decided to build a street machine.

It started out with a Texas sourced 2000 SuperCab 2wd, which I somehow found locally with no effort. The 3.0L did seize up 5 minutes from the guy's house after buying it, but I bought it knowing the 3.0L was history as soon as I got it home. Got it for $600.
Next, I found a 2001 5.0L Explorer, again, $600. Yanked the engine, trans, rear end.

I got the 5.0L installed using Rickz plates. Then, I started mocking up the turbo, and that's where it stalled for 5 years. I didn't realize how much it was going to absolutely SUCK to deal with the hotside. About a year ago, I finally got the bug in me after years of looking at it in the garage that whole time, so I said F it, and just started doing things. Right or wrong, at least it was progress. After the initial hesitation, I ended up actually having fun making the headers. Yes, they're ugly, no, they're not perfect. Yes, they work great!

So the basic gist of the build is:

2001 Expo 5.0
-200k miles
-sn95 used cam
-Alex Springs beehive lifters for boost
-new timing set
-replaced the rear main and oil pan gaskets

2001 v6 Mustang 4R70W
-untouched. Even used the mustang's torque converter
-the trans from the expo is 4wd, and buying the mustang trans was cheaper than converting it. Now I have some spare parts I guess.

Fuel system is:
-aeromotive stealth 340lph pump in the stock module
-aeromotive #12345 10 micron post filter, for e85
-(dash)6 PTFE lines from the tank to the engine
-sn95 fuel rails
- 202? GT500 62# fuel injectors
-ethanol sensor
-10GA power wire to the module
-new upgrade for this year is a Kirban FPR


Turbo is a chinese job. Rev9 t72/68. T4 flange. If (when) I destroy it, they're $300. NBD. I hurt it within a couple days of having the truck running, so I say good call. Pro tip, if you see anyone say to run a restrictor with a journal bearing turbo, DON'T! After some consulting, I was told to put all the oil to it, and if it's not leaking, run it! So I did, it doesn't leak and it hasn't crashed yet. It's got a 3/16" feed now.

VSR blow off and wastegate.

Electronics are

Engine
-microsquirt (megasquirt, basically a condensed MS2)
-quadspark
-batch fire, wasted spark
-Ford EDIS coils
-Mac 3-port valve for boost control
-14Point7 Spartan3 lite wideband

Trans
-microsquirt again, linked to engine management via CAN.

Suspension
-DJM 4/5 drop
-shocks are... Gabriel something or other. Fronts are stock length and mount, the rears I just sized to fit the new mount locations

3.73 gear, which I am somewhat regretting currently. WAY too low, IMO, with a 25" tire. I've got to get the final tires size on before I finalize that though.

Tires in the pics are all some garbage I grabbed out of a pile that matched for now. 205 something or others. I plan on getting wheels/tires figured out this winter before driving season comes back.

I'm running this exclusively on pump E85, which is why I haven't put in an intercooler. And I kind of went e85 because I didn't want to put one in anyways.

Anyways, that was last year's setup. I identified a lot of issues, and I am spending this winter fixing as much as I can.

issues were:
-Ranger motor mounts do not like this at all, WAY too much engine movement
-ethanol sensor was flaking out randomly (haven't looked into it yet)
-fuel pressure sensor has been a giant headache. Completely un-calibrate-able for some reason. I'm not sure yet if it's another bad sensor (LowDollerMotorsports) or I suspect I have a VREF voltage issue.
-fuel injectors already in the high 80's DC, 39psi base fuel pressure (stock)
-persistent OSS/VSS signal spikes, pretty minor though
-driveline angles were GARBAGE. I broke the tailhousing off the trans once. I just didn't notice it in the mad dash to get it running.
-severely warped passenger side header flange
-column shifter is horrible
-huge oil leaks
-absolutely no traction until 3rd gear
-only 6psi

 

[ummduh]

So far this winter I have

-removed the stock motor mounts and made custom mounts (poly)
-cut off the spring perches and welded on new ones to fix pinion angle
-this weekend i am making the new trans mount (poly)
-spent a stupid amount of time researching wheels/tires
-spent way more time than expected researching shifters
-worked 90hr weeks for the entire month of December so I didn't do anything for that month
-bought a kirban FPR to bring fuel base pressure up to 58psi, to give the injectors some breathing room


Still learning engine management. I stayed on spring only last year, at 6psi. This year I plan on learning how to use the boost controller.

I'd also like to put the interior back together, and swap out "the worst freaking seats in history®" Dunno if they're just broken or if the newer ranger seats all suck this hard. There's a bar that goes across the bottom of the upper seat, which just digs straight into my hip. It's horrible. The seats in my 93 were great!

Long term goals are low 10's in the quarter. I know it'll be a lot of work and money to get there. Thats a very long term goal. Mostly I just want something I can drive and look forward to driving. My DD currently is a 2011 Fusion I've dubeed "the soul crusher". I hate that car with everything I can. Sometimes I think I'd rather walk. Long story why i have it.. But I do, and besides hating it I can't justify ditching it.

Pics to follow.

 

[ummduh]

Post for pics

Couple more things:

-ABS deleted
-Airbags deleted
-engine microsquirt in the airbag hole in the dash
-trans microsquirt under the cupholders

I very much need to yank this apart and clean. There's no body rust but there is a good amount of surface rust on the frame. I do intend of cleaning/coating it. All of the engine AL stuff needs serious attention as well (those came out of a northern IL vehicle).

Headers started out as the SBF "Patriot" turbo headers, forward and down I believe. it was the cheapest way to get SS header flanges with pre-welded stub outs. I really didn't want to hassle with that part. Otherwise the headers are all SS, 1 3/4" stepped to 2", the crossover is 2" as well. That steering shaft is a serious MOFO to work around. Is there a better/cleaner way to do it? Probably. This is the way I did it.

Yes, my welding sucks. Yes, that was done with a TIG. No, I can't say that I improved. If anything I got worse at the end. I don't have a TIG at home, so I had to take them to work. That was some of the problems, not being able to do this in steps and stuff. I spent 10hrs straight welding these up at work.

The only thing I didn't weld myself was the blow off valve base. Try as I might (on scrap!) i couldn't do it without blasting holes everywhere. I paid a guy $40 to weld that part on for me, lol.

 

[ummduh]

Getting to the trans mount. Done for the night, back at it tomorrow.

There's nowhere to buy steel locally. Didn't even think of it. So it's made out of whatever I have laying around. Obviously it's not done. I will cut down that c-channel, not going to leave it like that.

edit: everything on the chassis looks like garbage from when I broke the tailhousing. Everything is drenched in ATF. I was about 10 minutes from home (on the freeway) and drove it home that way. I don't know how it made it. The freeway offramp still bears the marks from my ATF lol.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Can you still drop the pan?

 

[2Krngr]

yo that is a bad ass build glad you decided to post it up finally

 

[ummduh]

Can you still drop the pan?

If I wanted to struggle with the bolts, yes. Otherwise not without dropping the crossmember.

All in all, not a huge hassle, as I can't get underneath it without it being in the air to begin with.

I am putting a drain plug in the pan still. I have to change the shift rod anyways, so the pan has to come off yet.

 

[ummduh]

yo that is a bad ass build glad you decided to post it up finally

Quite a bit of it is on theturboforums as well. Between that sight and Richard Holdner on YT, they were the push I needed to just get things done. Richard's "turbo's dont really care, just get the exhaust to the turbo!" was a big help, lol.

And after reading your build thread, thanks for the compliment!

 

[Blmpkn]

Yeap, restrictor pills are bad practice. Just need to make sure the drain is large enough and it's all good.

There's nothing wrong with the chingchong turbos either, especially for the price. Perhaps not the best choice for a daily driver... but for a racecar... they're fine.


Cool project though. I'm in the middle of one that's been.. like yours.. stalled out for a few years (ls swap 83 caprice wagon with boosts) Anxious and determined to finish it this year.

 

[ummduh]

And for when I blow this engine up, I have options. I have a virgin '69 351W block in the garage as well as a 460... I plan on pushing this stock block as far as it'll go then figure it out from there. An aftermarket block might be the best option then, but it'll depend heavily on my thought process whenever that happens.

No, I never even checked ring gap. Just gunna send it for as long as it'll keep taking it.

 

[ummduh]

Put the exhaust back together. Engine moved a lot with the new mounts.

If you make fun of my welding I'll... I don't know. I'm booger blasting with a flux core 140 Lincoln.

 

[ericbphoto]

Wow! What a project. When you get it prettied up, how about a picture for next year's TRS calendar. An action shot would be fun.

NOTICE - TRS Calendar 2024

OK, folks, we are now accepting photo submissions for next year's TRS Calendar (2024 cal year). I'm not going to impose a theme. Just send them in and we'll see what we get. If we get a bunch of photos, we'll vote on which 12 to use. If not, I'll use artistic license and put something together...

www.therangerstation.com

 

[ummduh]

Wow! What a project. When you get it prettied up, how about a picture for next year's TRS calendar. An action shot would be fun.

NOTICE - TRS Calendar 2024

OK, folks, we are now accepting photo submissions for next year's TRS Calendar (2024 cal year). I'm not going to impose a theme. Just send them in and we'll see what we get. If we get a bunch of photos, we'll vote on which 12 to use. If not, I'll use artistic license and put something together...

www.therangerstation.com

It's pretty hard to get action shots when I'm trying not to get caught

I'm 41 going on 17 again in this thing

 

[ummduh]

Wow! What a project. When you get it prettied up, how about a picture for next year's TRS calendar. An action shot would be fun.

NOTICE - TRS Calendar 2024

OK, folks, we are now accepting photo submissions for next year's TRS Calendar (2024 cal year). I'm not going to impose a theme. Just send them in and we'll see what we get. If we get a bunch of photos, we'll vote on which 12 to use. If not, I'll use artistic license and put something together...

www.therangerstation.com

Wait, when I get it prettied up? Lol, what are you saying?

 

[ericbphoto]

Wait, when I get it prettied up? Lol, what are you saying?

Oh, you know. Fenders and hood back on, most the parts in the right places, no bag of rags on top of the engine...

By all means, "prettied up" should be according to your definition.