So i have a 1999 ranger 4x4, it has a 3.0 flex fuel with a 5spd stick. The current motor is bad, looking to put another 3.0 in it. Now I have done a lot of research and that exact motor was only made from 1999-2001. I am wondering what is the difference between that 3.0 and the other years? I have been told if its not the exact same motor within those years it will be a lot more work to put a different year in. How much harder would it be to put another in say form 93-98? And what else in the way of work needs to be done?

 

I would recommend just swapping the block and heads, then you can use your intake, fuel system and all sensors and controls, no new wiring needed.

1991-2007 block and heads will work.
You will need to change the oil pan and oil pickup if new 3.0l is from a 4x2
'94-'01 had roller tappets
You can also use a 3.0l from a Taurus or Sable, but you DO need to change the head gasket to Ranger style for coolant flow.

Flex fuel was computer, fuel sensor and fuel injector related so won't be effected by different block or heads.
The head dome design was slightly different for flex fuel but people have changed flex fuel heads to older 3.0l heads and they still worked fine for gas or ethanol.

 

well i originally thought my problem was that i either had a bad head or a blown head gasket because the truck runs great but it smokes white and blue when it gets up to temp but is not overheating. so went and had a mechanic check the heads and he says they are fine. installed new gaskets throughout the motor and still had the problem. turns out my problem is that the #5 cylinder that piston has a hole about the size of a dime blown/melted through the side of it up by the top and the oil ring is bad, cannot figure out what would have caused this though

 

Pinging(pre-detonation) causes that, could have been an air leak at the intake location of #5 or a clogged injector at #5.
Engine should have been making a noticeable pinging noise prior to the hole forming.

Google: images for pre-detonation piston

And no one saw this bad piston when changing the head gasket?

 

i have taken this pinging into consideration and i have gotten opinions from a few other guys and we're thinking thats not what caused it because the motor runs great and has not made any noticeable noises. If it were not for the smoke there's no way you could guess there is anything wrong with it, but in the same way i cannot figure what else would have caused this. And no it was not noticeable when the head gasket was changed because the piston was pulled down and it is blown on the side of it.