Hello all!

Before i say anything else im going to say im on a very limited budget (just got out of high school, getting ready for college). My parents got me an 97 ranger 3.0 xlt and i am looking for a few easy non-bankrupting methods to give it more "get up and go".

I have almost no knowledge of vehicles but I am trying to learn. Any help would be great!


Thanks,
RJ

 

intake is probably among the cheapest, then exhaust..it's hard to say, really. Just depends on your actual budget and how much you're willing to spend for a few more horses

PS: Welcome to R-F!

 

Ya, start with exhaust and intake. They are both pretty reasonably priced power mods and you get the sound too from them.

 

Better yet give us an idea of how much your willing to spend and then we can send you the right direction.

 

You are F'd in the A dude. The aftermarket for your engine sucks. Wait it out and then swap engines after college.

There's lotsa small stuff you can do....but...

 

Man that was rude, anyone ever told you if you don't have anything nice to say then keep your trap closed?
I have a 3.0 and yes its slower than a 4.0 but maybe its all working folks or college bound people can afford. I have done the intake and exhaust and noticed better performance and better gas mileage.

 

+1

 

well if you have some money your best bet is going to be intake, exhaust, and then pullies. After that if you save a fe hundred get the Bama tuner for it. with those mods it should really wake up your truck and you can get three different tunes for it.

 

If you have 450 you can afford to spend then get you a bama chips programmer best bang for your buck performance.

 

I've asked this question before, https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...750#post672750

But still haven't gotten an answer to the question. $400.00 buys you what? 10-15 HP and that in torque plus a couple more mpg? If that's the case that isn't much bang for the buck. No smart a$$ here just wanting to know. I will buy one if the trade off is worth it and so far it doesn't seem so. Expense alone tends to make people justify their purchase. I have an U/D crank pulley on the way because it's proven to make 8 hp and 11 tq and for $115.00 with a belt shipped is a good investment I think.
I see Bama mentioned a lot, what about underdog they sell the Rogue X Calibrator 2.
I want to say it again I'm not trying to be a problem I've just been around long enough to need facts instead of opinion before I spend $400.00+. None of the sites have dyno sheets showing their tunes.
Thanks

 

I'll put it to you this way. I dont have a bamachip I have a superchip only because a friend hooked me up. However I have personally met Doug a couple of times and he's a good guy. He knows his stuff and I will buy from him next time around. Anyway onto my point. Reasons why the programmer is worth it to me. I now have a smoother/firmer shifting transmission. The performance is much better and my mileage went from 15/19 city/hwy too 19/24 city/hwy and i'm running 30.5in tires. Imagine this you pay roughly 300-400 for exhaust and get little in return besides an awesome sound. Sure you might gain a couple horsepower maybe even just a little mileage improvement, but comparing it to what you can get with the programmer there is no question as to which I would get. basicly when I got the programmer it felt like my truck woke up from a deep slumber lol. I dont have near as much 4.0 envy as I did before the programmer.

 

but it's true.

There is nothing for our Vulcans. we can spend 200 dollars on an intake that doesn't really do anything except some minor low end torque 500 on a shiny exhaust that gives a louder whirrrrr that does the same thing as the intakes.

the most bang for the buck is the tuner, that let's the engine do what it was meant to do. but thats still 400 easy and requires you to use 93 octane which eats away at the wallet a little more everyday.

if you want "vroom vroom" for little money you might as well buy lottery tickets or a magic lamp at a flea market.

Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of flashy add-ons that will let you feel like a tuner worthy of underground drift racing or whatever. The reality is that the Ranger is a working man's humble pick up and making it into something else takes a checkbook that most of us don't have.

 

I get your point. After a tune you realize there were flat spots in the rpm range. Is that what you mean? Something like that. Seems to even out the "pull" under acceleration.

I have a manual shift so I wonder if the mpg change would be as much as yours. I do wish they would show dyno sheets from their tunes.
I put a Power Commander on my Harley and it did wake up the motor and I doubt the hp/tq were upped that much just seemed to spread it out. I like the P/C because you can tweak the fuel and timing, can you do that with a tuner? I know canned maps are pretty generic even the performance ones but they are a good place to start if you can "adjust" the map to fit your vehicle. I would go for it if you can do that. Thanks for giving me your take on the tuner.
Still wondering about the Bama or Rogue.

 

Im not positive of the adjustments you can make on the tuners he uses. However Nick from TTperformance use to have a reg cab 3.0 5spd and got around 27mpg with dougs tuner.

 

Thats for all the ideas all.....I can spend about 200-300 a month on it, or save a few months if need to.

I dont want something super fast thats gonna break my checking account I just want a lil more get up and go.

Im gonna try to go for the exhaust, intake, and programmer from what i have heard so far.Can you all send me links or tell me the best ones to get? Like i said before i have little knowledge of this sorta thing and am trying to learn.

sorry to be such a pest,

RJ

 

I have a 3.0 ranger too. I don't see that as rude. I can only guess maybe too many hugs from mommy as a child?

I didnt say anything mean. There's almost non existant aftermarket for the 3.0. Therefore he is screwed.

The only option is the bamachip, and altho a nice noticeable gain, it sure isn't a powerful improvement.

 

I always thought your truck had a 4.0?

 

that's what she said

 

I have a 3.0 4WD in Alaska too.

 

haha I forgot about your old truck. Have you driven a more recent 3.0? like an 04+ to me they seem quicker then my old 03 3.0 and it was a 5spd regcab.

 

"Alaska Rules. Texans suck(cept roach and Evan)"


I HATE that. Every time I see a post and see that comment from you...I wanna kick you in the a$$ with my "TEXAS" size 12 BOOT........can someone remove that?

 

Same tuner except different people selling them.

It maybe true but could have been said in a different way

Your not being a pest
www.bamachips.com or www.jusnesmodified.com
www.stuffforyourranger.com
www.summitracing.com

There are just a few to look over.

Brilliant come back, how long did that take you to come up with *** hole?

 

Thanks

 

Na, it's his sig, so he can keep it there if he wants. I think it's rather funny. haha It kind of reminds me of that "Edn of ze World" movie.

Brenton

 

well if you save up,you could get new headers and a nice exhaust system, maybe a cold air intake.. or you can try to find a supercharger on ebay lol which isnt the cheapest thing to do.