Well, I have my '88 Ranger running again, after setting in my driveway
for 4 months. During that time I was forced to drive my wife's '09
Mazda5 which also has a 2.3L engine.

The Mazda5 makes the Ranger look like a led sled! I need to get more
power out of the the Ranger's tired old engine! Has anyone here tried
a high performance computer chip? Are there any available for my old
truck? Do they really work?

Thanks!

It is doubtful you will find a chip for it, you can do a search online, I did that for an 86 2.9 and a 92 4.0 without any luck, but that is about the best I can think of.
As far as the performance difference between the Mazda and the Ranger, I would really be surprised if the Ranger would have performed liked the Mazda when it was new. The older Ford 2.3's weren't supposed to be hot rods.
You might check into a newer 2.3, so i read they are putting out about hte same HP as the old 2.9 V6 that was also offered in the 88 Rangers and much more refined. Try the 4 Cylinder Tech page and check out some of the stuff those guys are talking about.

Ray

__________________
White 2002 Ranger XLT Extended Cab 4.0 4x4 4.10 LS
5 spd,/BW1354e
K&N CAI 77-2529KP
Jet Chip
2 1/4" Exhaust
Explorer Dome Light
IN THE WORKS:
Sable Electric Fan


“If you do not know where you are going, every road will get you nowhere.”
—Henry Kissinger

A hot rod it certainly was not!

I tried once when it was new to get it up to 90 mph, but it would
not go over 85, even down hill. Later I read somewhere that Ford had
a speed limiter in it due to the Firestone tires. So they knew the
Firestones were not the best tires right from the beginning.

If I find a chip for it, I'll post it here or in the 4 cyl. tech forum.

Thanks.

There's a company called PerformanceChipsDirect.com that has a chip for all vehicle's although specific to each. They are 39.95 for my '99 4.0 Ranger so they should have one for your '88. Good Luck!