Any thoughts? It's a 35 minute drive to get to work and the mileage sucks with the bigger tires so I don't drive my truck any. I have a Saturn as a DD but when I go back home I don't trust driving it. Right now I just have a body lift and 32's with 4.10 gears. I still have my 3.73 rear end so I can put that back in. Just don't know what kind of rims to run if I do go stock. Any ideas?

 

Leave it. The few extra MPG's isn't worth compromising the look IMO. Get a tuner and try to get some better MPGs out of it.

 

Yeah if you own a ranger don't expect it to be a great dd as far as milage goes. Just keep the look.

 

i say keep it. i think it looks really good. did you keep track of your mileage before the switch? how far off is it?

 

I was getting 21 stock. I get 15 now which I was fine with but now I have to drive so far to get anywhere down here.

 

oh yeah that's definitely a drop. i guess I would sit down and do some calculations. if the gas savings comes out to be substantial, then i guess you gotta do what's best for you

 

I love the way it looks, believe me. I just am wanting to get my mileage back and reduce the wear and tear. It eats ball joints.

 

.Not true at all. I'm avg 26mpg with a 2.3 auto 4.10 gears right now. going back stock will make a BIG difference.

4cyl rangers can and do get good mpg stock or lowered. However the 3.0's and 4.0's will see minimal gains going from lifted to stock. I've owned all 3 engines included the old 2.3 and the new 2.3.

4.0 stock I got about 16-17 around town and lifted on 33's I got about 13-15mpg

3.0 stock I got 17-20mpg and lifted on 33's I got 15-17mpg.

With the older 2.3/2.5 you will likely avg around 20-24mpg, but with the new 2.3 duratec you can see as good as low to mid 30's stock. Lowest I have seen with my mazda was 22mpg avg on stock size tires.


To the OP if you want to go stock I say go stock and lower it. It would be a nice looking truck lowered and you can have more fun with it that way and probably be able to save for a 4x4 beater.

 

i average 19.5 on econ tune on 33s but I can imagine with a 4cyl its probably pretty sluggish and requires higher RPMs. If you set it to stock height, I agree with Mike. Lower it!

 

Saving up for newer F150 or stroker since the job is paying good :)

It will go to stock for the time being. Then maybe lower. I always told myself though I wouldn't have a lowered truck but if I get my F150 then it will be the DD. Any ideas on rims that would look good stock and then lowered if I go to it? Thinking something black. Tired of cleaning chrome.

 

I like staggered FR500s

yeah but if you want black...

 

These
17x9 Fr500 Mustang wheels w/ tires

 

What's not true about what I said? I gave my opinion. There's no true or false about it.

Imo, sell the unreliable dd car and use the money for gas money. The truck looks good the way it is.

At least lower it! Stock is boring lol

 

leave it alone

 

Well the dd was free and it gets 34 mpg. It fine back and forth to work but its to much on it to drive it on long trips. It drank a quart in 1000 miles.

2/3 or 4/5?

 

I didn't quote just you, but you did say a few(few means 2-3) wouldn't be worth it. However with him having a 4cyl it can make a much larger difference compared to doing it to a 3.0 or 4.0. Those would only gain a few in return. However if he lowered it he could see upwards to a 10-12mpg difference. He's getting 15mpg on 32's and going to a 25-26" tire on a 17" wheels will change the entire truck between mpgs and the way the truck drives.

Mcleary was the main one I was talking to. He said "if you drive a ranger dont expect good mpg dd" Which is wrong. With my 2.3 duratec with automatic and 4.10 gears I avg 26mpg and last time I checked that's pretty good dd mpg. If it was a 5spd I'd see even better out of it.

 

just buy you a beater and leave the truck alone!

 

I say leave it alone. Drive the ranger on the long trips or like others have said sell the saturn and just drive the ranger. Take the money from selling the car and get a tuner or a regear and you'll be good to go.

 

You should sell the car anyway and paint that powerdome to match!!!!

 

It's getting painted. Been looking at places around here in Memphis to get it done. Just been waiting for harvest to get over with.

 

^ Ditto. and straighten that bumper out :P

Although this would look awesome too, but it involves a lot of work taking a body lift off. I would love a slammed 2wd with the fr500's.

 

I got a different bumper.

It wasn't hard putting the lift on. I helped put the lowering kit on the truck pictured so I know what that involves. I just need the time and space to do the stuff more than anything.

 

I've actually wanted to get a Saturn to DD to work, instead I'm getting a lift for the Ranger. I might still get one next spring.

 

Its not a fancy car at all but I get 34 mpg out of it and it rides decent. My dad gave it to me so can't beat that.

 

You think I would get mileage back if I dropped it to 4.56? I have 4.10 now and I have a hard time holding 70 going up a hill.