GoFastBroncos.com

agreed. I was originally going to do the 2.3L turbo when I pulled the 2.3L out of my '89 ranger. I went 3.8L supercharged from a T-bird SC vs. the earlier TC's instead though after having trouble finding the 2.3L. I wished I went 5.0 pretty shortly after I did the swap. Don't get me wrong, the truck was QUICK, but like anything else I wanted MORE! My 3.8L SC had about the same HP as a stock 302, but more torque. Problem was, pushing for much more of either took for some pretty extensive work and a bigger chunk of change than getting more ponies out of a 302. It was about the same amount of work to put the 3.8L in as it would have been the 302, jut the 302 had more potential for expansion later. I guess it's the whole "no replacement for displacement" thing.
The 2.3L's are easier to get more power vs. their stock form than the 3.8L's from what I remember. But 302's are just bolt on's away as well!

It does all boils down to your goal for the truck though too. The 3.8L SC in the ranger got cool/unique points for sure, and the 2.3L-T would be the same. But a 5.0 is still cool in a small truck too!

I kind of miss this thing...

Yeah, I'm trying to make it as balance as possible as well. We will see what craigslist provides. Is there a build thread somewhere for your ranger?

Also, I'm gonna try in board radius arms and I just stumbled upon Autofab beam pivots that use stock arms and widen the wheelbase.

Track width not wheelbase doi

cs_drums wrote:Yeah, I'm trying to make it as balance as possible as well. We will see what craigslist provides. Is there a build thread somewhere for your ranger?

Ranger build was on dertrides eons ago. It left the stage you see above in about 2002 & went down to this. Funny thing is it started under the knife for a cage (needed it with the power plant!) & equal length beams. That snowballed to a 4-link and then a-arms up front, blah, blah, blah
Sadly it has never come back (like everything else I own - see my signature...)
Work was solid in '03 & '04, then backed WAY off in '05 & '06. Perked back up in '07 & '08 a bit but only got as far as below = lots of work done, but no where near done. '08 was the last time i touched it. I moved on to the crew and it got left in the dust. I wanted to build something a little less "race" and prep intensive so as to be more realistic & my buddy who taught me to fab & helped me build it was going to buy it. It's in his shop still on the frame jig, but he like me has a family & too much going on, so he hasn't touched it & it needs to go. It'll be listed as soon as I can sack up to the loss I will take, cut emotional ties & let go. Wife is pushing but I've been dragging my feet.

Oh yeah, 3.8L SC was sold about a year after it came apart, and a 302 went in it's place. Plant was to have a 351w in it when said & done.

Here's how the poor thing sits now
LOTS of hours & work into it, but it's a 2.5 seater. Shoulda started with an F-150 supercab or crew cab. Or better yet a centurian. Oh well, hind sight is always 20/20

love your bronco. One of my favorite builds. I pushed the wheelbase back on mine the same way you did yours. Did you have to notch the crossmember in front of the gas tank to clear the rear end at full compression? My fill plug is hitting it on mine and if I add the RuffStuff Specialties rear truss it will definitely hit even more.

Mine self clearanced the first trip. The truss on mine doesn't add anything to the back plate of the rear end so it's fine.

so pretty much a short course truck?

Yeah, but I'm really not gonna spend much on the suspension.

I decided to start investing money rather than start another build Dang maturity haha. I figure time to put in work now so I have free time later.

Talked to Steve at Power train dynamics. He is suggesting a MAF conversion before tuning it.

I'm on the fence. The PIMP ecu from Stinger performance would cost me less than the conversion to MAF. I wouldn't have to plump in a MAF. It's self tuning and also comes with tuning software.

Decisions decisions

MAF is nice because it has OEM reliability and is pretty good at self tuning, and almost every ford tuner can tune them effectively from experience with foxbody and up mustangs. You don't have to go aftermarket to make it MAF. For a long time ford speed density was considered to be impossible to tune until things like the pimp ecu came out, especially for boost. People in the 2.3 turbo crowd have had a lot of sucess with them so look there for info, although I don't think it is self tuning, you tune it yourself. Just depends on if your up to that.

Just read that pimp does have self tuning capabilities now. Get a wide band, injectors, and adjustable fuel regulator and go to work. Your set up should be pretty easy to tune.

Back in CA for my sisters wedding. Took the bronco out to Ocotillo Wells for a couple trips to test the radiator and cooler Haha. First trip was mild, my buddy drove out his 71' CJ-5. We went through Borrego to truck haven. That thing blows my mind with how capable it is in stock form with the simple military tires. I'm bummed I didn't get more pics.

Second day went out with my buddy w/ his Baja. We went all over the park, great time. Aside from the buggy throttle cable slipping and the shift linkage pin falling out no issues.

Nothing more rewarding than pulling the Bronco out after 5 months and making 2 consecutive round trips with not a single issue. Over 600mi, 200+ of them off road, I'm happy. Now to put it back in storage till the next visit home


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dang ol' bronco is glad to be outta the garage! better give us some nice action shots as soon as you get her back, brian!

Finally get my baby back!


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Sweet!

Tires and I just can't get along...


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race tires are a must for you....

Willie called it...... again!!


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