Hey all. New to the site, hope to get some good advice and direction with my ranger. Bought it almost a year and a half ago, two months left to pay it off. My ultimate goal, turn it into a 4wd Ranger. I know I know..."Why not just buy a 4wd??" Don't you think that crossed my mind before? How about when I was searching for a truck...answer...I couldn't afford a 4wd ranger, nor could I find one with a manual transmission. I refuse to drive an automatic trans. And I think it would be a kick ass project and good learning experience.

I'll be the first to say it, buying the engine, transmission, driveline and suspension will cost MORE than my truck after financing. I don't give a rats ass. I love my truck. I've done a lot of work on it myself...brakes, oilpan gasket, valve and head gasket, exhaust/intake gasket, tune up, oil every 4000 miles, turned the interior color from green to black. I used good vinyl paint, not your average spray paint..so it looks nice and will last. Installed my alarm myself, bought some projector headlights. The company, (For the lights), dotcom racing, they suck. DO NOT BUY THRU THEM!!! They were cheap ($100) for a reason I've discovered. So..lets start here..

Anyone got some suggestions for GOOD, RELIABLE sites/companies I can buy some foglights (hella??) from, anyone able to help me make my engine breathe better? Throttle body spacers? intake? Exhaust? I'm wanting to do all this as a learning experience and fun projects...and when I'm all done I'll love the truck even more. Then, in about two years, I'm going to start buying the parts for my 2wd to 4wd switch.

I've thought about buying a crappy 4wd ranger and doing a body drop, but two reasons I don't want to do that... 1) the engine, suspension and all around "new" truck could be more hassle and work and money than it's worth....2) I've put and will have put so much work into my truck I don't want to get rid of it. e-mail me, post to me, let me know what direction I should head in. Also, if you think my idea of the 4wd switch over is crazy, stupid, retarded, lame or a waste of time, I DON"T CARE! Don't contact me. I'm only interested in speaking with people who want to discuss this and enjoy an enthusiast not only for A truck or BRAND of truck, but HIS truck. later.

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JW Suter

Welcome to FRF

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2008 ford escape xlt 3.0 v6 4x4

94 xlt 5spd longbed,
Was a built 2.3 turbo currently no motor or trans
5.0 swap coming soon
6/5 drop with dream beams,8.8 373 posi,17x9 wheels,swp seats,8k hids, autometer guages, Wideband o2, shiftlight, illusive trans x-member, 01-04 4x4 front bumper
PNW Crew
AC

welcome to FRF, Jack!

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2001 Ranger Edge 4x4 (sold)
2006 F150 Lariat 4x4 (sold)
2007 Explorer XLT (Destroyed by Deer on highway)
2014 Explorer XLT (inherited from parents)

Welcome to FRF

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Welcome to FRF.

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Black 2006 Ford Ranger Sport 4X2 Supercab 2-door 3.0L V6
Current Mods:
-LED License plate lights, Interior Dome Lamp
-HID Headlights and Foglamps
-265/75/R16 BF Goodrich All-Terrain tires
-Chrome Step Bars

Join the 06'+ Ford Ranger Sports if you have an 06+ Sport model!

welcome to our place here hope you like it here.

welcome from the uk

welcome

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Sil- 06 Ranger 4x4
-cranked torsion bars
-32 tsl's

Holy S! That Ranger is badass! Is that model only available in the UK? I've never seen one like it. 4 door, short bed, I'm assuming 4x4? I like your truck man. Thanks for the welcome. =)

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JW Suter

sounds like you came in with the right attitude, same kind i had with my 87...."its my truck, i don't give a F*** what you think".....lol

welcome

be sure to get some pics posted

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1996 XLT 2.3T "White Lightning" 5/7 dropped, Turbo street toy
2006 FX4 Off Road, DD, work in progress
1985 XLT 2.8L 4x4 "The Black Pearl" (retired but still around)
1987 XL 2.3L 2wd R.I.P.

SnakeRanger,

nice truck. I really like the look. What engine do you have? As I said, I ahve the 2.3l 4cyl dual plug engine. I believe mazda built it, and ford mass produced it. I believe Mazda is owned by Ford as well, that's what I hear all over the place. It would make sence, since the Maz B2300 and 4500 are almost an identical body style. Anyways, if you do have the same engine, any tips on making it breathe better? Get more HP? And if you don't have the same engine as me, do you know anyone on this forum who does, OR, are you aware of the engine/driveline/tranny that would be easiest to switch to? Like I said in my introduction to this forum, i want to switch my truck to 4x4...mostly cause I've done so much work on it (Engine, interior, electrical...) I don't want to sell it, I just want to keep on keeping on with it. Let me know when you can. Thanks.

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JW Suter

theres not much you can do to the 2.3 in n/a form....unless you have a huge budget
you can turbo it for about $500 using JY parts for some easy HP

to make it breathe better....short of taking the head off and porting it you're sitting about as good as it gets with just a drop in filter.

exhaust is another option most people like....won't really see noticeable gains from it but it will give you better sound and maybe some power


and as for 4x4, it would be best just to find a donor truck and swap over components.
they made 2.3l 4x4s up until 97 so you may even be able to find one the same year.
be sure to get all the necessary components....axles, transfer case, transmission, drive shafts and it should practically bolt in place.

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1996 XLT 2.3T "White Lightning" 5/7 dropped, Turbo street toy
2006 FX4 Off Road, DD, work in progress
1985 XLT 2.8L 4x4 "The Black Pearl" (retired but still around)
1987 XL 2.3L 2wd R.I.P.