Bought Daughter a 2010 Ranger, She Paid it Off, Blew Engine, I Replaced Engine.......

[BKennedy]

Fusion engine is now a Ranger engine! Took less time than we thought because the transmission lined up first try. Still need to figure out all the wiring and bolt on a bunch of stuff, but its in!!

 

[BKennedy]

We pulled the old Ranger engine apart. The #2 piston races were cooked and scored, and the oil passage was clogged with metal mud. The #3 piston race had a gouge in it. Looked like a piece of metal got in there and chewed it up. All four pistons looked like they got real hot.

Anybody want a cooked and dismantled 2.3 Duratec? I'll throw in a Fusion intake, valve and timing covers and the oil pan.

 

[Stic-o]

I think it would be easier to do a 4.0 swap by now in this thing.

 

[Josh P]

I think it would be easier to do a 4.0 swap by now in this thing.

5.0 by sending it to 410, then register it in Kingman.

 

[BKennedy]

I think it would be easier to do a 4.0 swap by now in this thing.

5.0 by sending it to 410, then register it in Kingman.

It would have been just as easy to do a 2.5 swap and the PCM wouldn't have known the difference. I figured that out after I had already gotten too deep into the replacement engine to change direction. Same block, same parts swap, common Ranger swap, etc.

It was tempting to drag it up to 410Fortune's and have him stuff a 5.0 in there. The only reasons that didn't happen is this little truck needs to be a running commuter before Andrew's BMW dies, and will probably end up as a electricians work truck if Sarah and Andrew move to Arizona like they are planning. It's better suited for that life with the 2.3.

My neighbor has his own shop. He specializes in the ricer racer stuff, mostly Hondas and Toyotas. He is familiar with Duratecs becauee they are a American ricer racer type engine. He stopped by and said the Fusion looks to him more like a 2.5 that was mistakenly marked a 2.3 by the wrecking yard. He doesn't remember ever seeing a balance shaft in a 2.3 Fusion engine. He's not sure, and was only speculating from his limited knowledge. From what I can tell though, the Fusion didn't have the 2.5 until later than 2008.

 

[Josh P]

It would have been just as easy to do a 2.5 swap and the PCM wouldn't have known the difference. I figured that out after I had already gotten too deep into the replacement engine to change direction. Same block, same parts swap, common Ranger swap, etc.

It was tempting to drag it up to 410Fortune's and have him stuff a 5.0 in there. The only reasons that didn't happen is this little truck needs to be a running commuter before Andrew's BMW dies, and will probably end up as a electricians work truck if Sarah and Andrew move to Arizona like they are planning. It's better suited for that life with the 2.3.

I get it, one of those times it doesn't need a 5.0 but would be cool.

 

[BKennedy]

There's hardly anything cooler than a 5.0 Ranger.

 

[Josh P]

There's hardly anything cooler than a 5.0 Ranger.

I think the only thing that tops it is a 5.8 Ranger.

 

[410Fortune]

Nice work!!
Fingers crossed for smooth runner

It’s a Mazda engine of course the import dudes are all over the duratec Mazda speed baby
This same engine became the Ecoboost now they have plastic re enforced blocks and turbos… crazy tech

They kept making more and more power as the years went on. The later 2.5 versions literally make almost double the power and get double the milage of the old Lima 2.3 it’s crazy
All ranger engines are good engines
All of them!
Some are better than others lol

Having a rwd 4 banger ranger around is sure handy… especially when fuel is $4 a gallon +
Of course I only use them to go get parts for the v8 rangers lol
A turbo 4 banger is in my future one way or another. I have always wanted to Build an svo

 

[BKennedy]

I have been searching for the past hour and can't figure out what this sensor is for. It's on the back of the engine mounted to a small bracket. It seems to serve no purpose that I can see. It came off the Ranger engine, wasn't on the Fusion engine.

Plug

Thinking maybe it's a ground sensor?

Note to self; I need to remember to swap the cylinder head temp sensors because they have different part numbers.

 

[Turdle]

No t a sensor. It's a ignition noise suppressor for radio. One wire, direct ground

 

[BKennedy]

No t a sensor. It's a ignition noise suppressor for radio. One wire, direct ground

How do you know this?

 

[JoshT]

All ranger engines are good engines
All of them!
Some are better than others lol

I see your claim and counter with the 2.2L Perkins Diesel from the first gens maybe the 3.0Ls. If the Perkins is running it's probably ok, but it made less power and torque than the 2.0L Lima and near as I can tell parts are now obsolete. The 3.0L is only marginally better. Seems to me that the only good things about these engines is that they came with Ranger parts around them.

(Just ragging on the 3.0L, I've really got no problem with it)

It would have been just as easy to do a 2.5 swap and the PCM wouldn't have known the difference. I figured that out after I had already gotten too deep into the replacement engine to change direction. Same block, same parts swap, common Ranger swap, etc.

A turbo 4 banger is in my future one way or another.

I'm kind of the same boatr as Jamie. I've got a little 85 2wd sitting in the back yard that I bough planning to swap a 2.8L from my totaled 85 into. Since then I've decided it's going to stay 4 banger and probably get a turbo. I'm really torn between staying old school with a 2.3T Lima, or swapping in newer. I wish that swapping something like the 2.5 Duratec was common practice in the older TIB Rangers, then someone would probably make swap mounts for it. I'd use that as a basis for dropping in an Ecoboost.

With the resources at my disposal I don't really want to get into designing and fabricating engine mounts, so that's one of my heistations for going new school. That and there's just something about a 2.3T Lima in an old square body Ranger that tickles the right spots, especially if controlled with a modern EFI system. But the power, effeciency, reliability, and parts availability of new school are enticing. Kind of the same deal with my F-100, build an FE or Godzilla swap. FE with a throttlebody style EFI and 5 speed OD transmission would be sweet, but Godzilla's got the power, effeciency, and can buy parts anywhere.

How do you know this?

Maybe because it looks and is wired almost exactly like the noise supressor on every other Ford built since at least the early 90s? Even has the same connector.

 

[Turdle]

How do you know this?

Most fords use it.
My Mounty has one, F150 has 2, one per bank.

 

[BKennedy]

I've had several Fords and had never seen one before. I was referencing the things people seem to know about engines on this forum. I wasn't being sarcastic or questioning. Sorry if it looked that way

 

[410Fortune]

Merry Christmas!! Keep up the good work! And thanks for sharing your project so others (me) know what to expect

I would not hesitate to convert any older 4 cyl ranger to use this 2.3/ 2.5 and an aftermarket Mazda speed turbo kit could be adapted easily , diy Ecoboost that is made to fit

 

[BKennedy]

Merry Christmas!! Keep up the good work! And thanks for sharing your project so others (me) know what to expect

I would not hesitate to convert any older 4 cyl ranger to use this 2.3/ 2.5 and an aftermarket Mazda speed turbo kit could be adapted easily , diy Ecoboost that is made to fit

Maybe a turbo kit after the truck retires. It's currently on injured reserve. It will be nice to return it to active duty.

I've been searching cylinder head temp sensor part numbers. Some brands have the same number for Fusion and Ranger, some don't. Amazon shows most of them as being compatible with both engines, RA shows about half being compatible. It takes a special tool to replace it (thanks Ford) so I'll wait and see if it throws a code. That's the plan for the other sensors that I didn't cross reference.

I'm thinking after I get it running, I'll drive it around town for 100+ miles to make sure it's good, then change all the fluids and filters. That will give me peace of mind that I've done all I can to keep the Ranger alive.

I poured two quarts of oil over the top of the engine before I installed the valve cover. I'm giving it every chance I can think of.

 

[BKennedy]

Cylinder head sensor sure looks the same, but the plug pins are in the wrong places. Had to order a 6" long 19mm deep socket that should ne here tomorrow. I got some of the accessories on, but can't install the intake as the sensor is underneath it.

 

[BKennedy]

Everything except the intake and that sensor is back on the engine. Need to clean up some of the wiring with some zip ties. About half of the wire clips are broken.

I'm shooting for starting it on Saturday. I talked to my neighbor who has a shop this morning. He suggested pulling the plugs, then turning the crank. Said it should feel smooth with a little resistance at one spot, and definitely shouldn't have to force anything. He said it's real obvious when a interference engine isn't timed correctly. I did what he suggested and it turned smoothly. Feel better about lighting her up. He also suggested pulling the fuel pump and ignition relays before the first cranking of the starter. Turn it over for 15 seconds. He said it will get the oil flowing, and if I did something wrong that will let me know without destroying the engine. Good advice.

 

[JoshT]

6" long socket? Wow! I've never seen a coolant temp sensor that needed more than a standard deep well.