I'm shopping for a Ranger. Which is the better (more power/less problematic/best potential) engine. The OHV or the SOHC and what year did they switch?

 

2001 was when 4.0l SOHC was added as stock engine in Rangers

4.0l OHV has 160HP(1990-2000)
4.0l SOHC has 207HP(2001-up)

Early SOHCs had timing chain issues which required engine to be pulled out to repair.

Early OHVs had head cracking issues if overheated

Neither had any real potential for upgrading vs cost

Dropping a V8 5.0l into a pre-2001 Ranger with any engine, would be money better spent vs add-ons to 4.0l OHV.
Basic 5.0l has 215HP, big improvement over 160HP on 4.0l OHV, but not much better stock than the 4.0l SOHC at 207HP.
5.0l has many more upgrades available than the 4.0l SOHC

 

I live in Communistfornia. No engine upgrades allowed so the V8 option is off the table. I don't need a race truck but even 207 HP is pretty lame.

 

207hp makes these trucks scoot, especially if you get a 5 speed. There are companies who make supercharger kits for these, but they're not smog legal. You can also get a tune from somewhere like SCT to free up a few extra ponies. A v8 swap can still legally be done on these trucks. If you want to drop in a 5.0 from an explorer, you're limited to a 2001 or older ranger (engine must be same year or newer as the truck it's going in to) or you can get a Chevy motor.

 

Well you can do it, you just need to follow the guide lines and have it approved(general overall mechanics) and tested(emissions) when you are done with the swap.
They don't make it easy.
The land of the Hotrods has changed since I lived there, lol.

Yes, stock Ranger's didn't have the target market for high performance.

 

If a modification is not CARB (California Air Resources Board) approved, it will be an automatic fail of the Visual SMOG test even if it passes emissions. To get the approval costs tens of thousands of dollars.

To get an engine swap approved the truck needs to get an inspection by a State Referee who will go over everything related to the motor, fuel, and emissions equipment. Very strict.

CARB is another way for this state to try and tax the hell out of us, and are making rules and regulations as they please with no oversight or repercussions from other state government bodies.