3L Engine Swap New vs Old
 

Need some help. I have a 1994 4x4 3L manual Ranger that has a bad engine. Wanted to put in a new 3L but was wondering how new I could go. The Ford Vulcan 3L ran from 1986 to 2008. In 94 it was a DFGD5. From 95 to 98 it was a DFGN5, 99 to 2001 it was a DFGW4 and from 2002 on it was a DFGXV. Will all of these engines work in a 94 or just the DGFD5????

Welcome to the forum


You can use any 3.0l Vulcan engine, and regular or flex fuel doesn't matter either.

You will use 1994 upper and lower intake, use your distributor, also probably need to swap over oil pan and oil pump pick up unless other engine is from a 4x4.

The transverse mounted 3.0l Vulcans used different head gaskets but many have reported no problems just leaving them as is, up to you.
Car 3.0l's also had different Cam, less torque more HP, also up to you on what you want to do

When changing internal engine parts you need to know what the year engine is because there were changes, so put a label on rad support to remind you what year engine is in there

1995 and up didn't use distributor but still had distributor hole and cam gear until 2008, it was used for Cam position sensor/synchro
In 1995 it also had Crank position sensor behind crank pulley but I think the main pulley still lined up with 1994 and older accessory pulleys, but check that