Using Redneck Science To Boost An LS-Swapped Ford Ranger

Everyone needs at least one good friend. The kind of friend you can share a good laugh with while in the back seat of a patrol car. Someone who just looks up at you after you hit them on top of the head with a pipe and doesn’t deck you. If you are one of the lucky few who can relate to having such a friend, you know what it’s like sharing a friendship with someone whose antics only fan the flames of your own crazy aspirations. Sharing such a friendship can lead you into adventures that no one would believe—unless they were documented.

In this video, the Kansas clan installs an eBay turbo system on their Ford Ranger. We may never know the value for "X", as the vehicle has to survive long enough to make it to the dyno!

Not many people can say they’ve ever had that type of friend. Perhaps that’s what makes Westen Champlin, a lovable, not-so-scientific enthusiast so popular. He (and his team) regularly take his 2.4-million subscribers along for the ride as he lives out whatever project they can dream up with limited research. Westen Champlin’s YouTube channel started out by documenting the various projects and rebuilds the group had undertaken. His channel has blown up in the past year or two since he started doing automotive “upgrades” that others only dream of once they’ve had enough liquid refreshments. Westen LIVES it, and thankfully, brings his viewers along for the ride.

While we are taking on our own Ford Ranger LS-swap, we have to admit that Westen “goes another direction” with the project in this video. Westen bypasses all the math and ergonomics and while chanting his mantra, “If something’s in the way, cut it OUT of the way!” heads right for the Sawzall.

It Only Has To Live For 10 Minutes!

The typical Westin video lasts for around 10-12 minutes. Unlike the usual automotive TV show where they somehow manage to completely rebuild an entire car in under 30 minutes (including commercials and choreographed drama) and it drives perfectly, you can bet Westen’s work will end up in a mushroom cloud before the camera stops recording. While some would look at this as defeat, Westen keeps his upbeat attitude on life and continues to push the envelope in ways never before considered.

If you're the type who has a meticulously organized toolbox full of tools for every situation, you may form a rash while watching Westen work. His antics may not always be productive, but they are entertaining!

Westen’s videos have recently moved into a sort of mad-scientist level as of late. In this video, Westen and friends install a $400 eBay turbo kit on their already LS-swapped Ford Ranger. Westen states as they set out on the celebratory shakedown drive, “We don’t know how much (boost) we’re gonna push to it, but we’re just gonna push as much as we can.”

Westen heads out on the truck’s maiden voyage with the new turbo installed.

Westen admits that many of his projects of late have ended with a non-earth-shattering kaboom, and confides that they are going to try and alter this course going forward. Sadly though, someone neglected to share that bit of information with the LS engine under the Ranger’s modified hood.

In any event, all of the rough and tumble fabrication work has been done and junkyard LS engines are quite plentiful. We’ll just have to wait until the next video comes out to see what engine replaces this one. No matter what it is, we’re sure it will be epic. And perhaps, this one may be built to handle some boost, so it may even last longer than 10-minutes!

About the author

Andy Bolig

Andy has been intrigued by mechanical things all of his life and enjoys tinkering with cars of all makes and ages. Finding value in style points, he can appreciate cars of all power and performance levels. Andy is an avid railfan and gets his “high” by flying radio-controlled model airplanes when time permits. He keeps his feet firmly grounded by working on his two street rods and his supercharged C4 Corvette. Whether planes, trains, motorcycles, or automobiles, Andy has immersed himself in a world driven by internal combustion.
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