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Cape Town - Ford’s 3.2-litre five-cylinder diesel engine produces a respectable 147kW/470Nm.
The team at Steves Auto Clinic believes there's more to be gained from your Ford Ranger 3.2 TDCI in the form of its ‘Texas Walker’ conversion kit.
The upgrade is available for both the previous and current generation of 3.2 TDCI.
Changing driving dynamics
The conversion kit, which can be implemented in stages, holds the promise of vastly improved power and torque that, says SAC, "completely changes the driving dynamics of your Ford Ranger".
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Possibly the most important and part of the conversion is the fitment of a Dastek Unichip Plug and Play Performance chip. SAC says the chip has been comprehensively tested on the Ford TDCI engine and is "optimised for our unique South African driving conditions". The tuning specialist reports with the Unichip on board, "you can expect up to 15% more power and torque".
The next stage in the upgrade process adds extra cooling through the fitment of a custom made power cooler to the 3.2 TDCI Ranger. This intercooler is close to a double volume cooler, improving engine performance and reducing overall thermal temperature.
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Unleashing the power
The Unichip system with the Power Switch option offers five different driving settings; security mode renders the engine powerless and the vehicle unable to be driven, standard mode (no change in drive mapping); while a third setting offers a more relaxed power delivery for better fuel consumption, useful when driving in the city.
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The fourth setting is tuned for off-road work and towing, increasing the engine's peak power delivery at lower engine speeds. The final mode is a power option that unleashes all of the power available from your 3.2 TDCI, says SAC.
For enthusiasts who would like to increase engine performance and efficiency even further, SAC has developed a new 76mm performance exhaust system for the Ranger. This system, which has been developed specifically for the Ranger, ensures improved back pressure and a clear exhaust path to free valuable power.
Since these modifications are not factory approved or standard, Ford owners will lose their warranties if these aftermarket conversions are pursued.
