I test drove a 4.3 and it kinda didn't deliver the instant power i wanted on demand, the 4.0 SOHC gave me that power on demand I wanted, IMO the 4.0 SOHC and the 4.6L V8 are the best engines that Ford has right now, unless you want to bring up Crate engines :D!!!

I'm very pleased with my 4.0 and my Grandmother likes the power her 4.0 gives her in the Explorer.

 

personally i like my ohv, i also have a manual transmission. and everyone has made great points. my moms 2000 explorer got up and went. but if i was stock with no lift or tires i would have demolished it... my ohv is still quick turning 33s with 7 inches of lift... thats just imo...

 

4.0 sohc would work the other motors. 4.3 is sluggish and slow, along with the old 4.0

 

the troq curve between the OHV and the SOHC are differnet where the SOH doesn't come alive until about 2700RPM the OHV would ahve more torque at the bttom end allwing you to turn those tires better, oh yeah the manual helps

 

The only place the old 4.0 delivers more power is from 1000-1500 rpm. After that the SOHC dominates:

 

u gotta get to 1000-1500 in order to go faster.... with bigger tires more torque at lower RPMs will help.

 

I think with an automatic transmission the 4.0ohc "feels alot better" than the ohv because the torque converter lets you get to 3000rpm almost instantly.
However with 32" tires and 4600# of weight unloaded.... its not a speed demon.. I have been known to not let ricers cut in front of me... it has enough power for that .
And If I'm offroad I have low range so In reality if I had more power.. I'd probably just break stuff.

On another note I just bought a bel rx65 pro (i think thats the model)
for 217+ shipping. Its susposed to be as good as an escort 8500 X50 (??)

My aged cobra pos .. has been pissing me off alot lately. So I upgraded my protection. I dont really need one as I dont speed like I used to with my supercharged 4.6L t-bird(mmm 290rwhp/390tq)... But I've had one for so long I feel naked without one and this cobra makes me feel really drafty lol. (false alerts, poor detection)

Edit: Q, I can brake torque to 2000rpm easily......

Rand

 

I test drove a S10 Extreme with 50k miles on it when I was looking for a truck. Honestly I was very unimpressed. When I floored it from the light it was a one tire fryer which was fun, but it went no where. It felt slow and unresponsive. Now with my 4.0L OHC I gun it from a stand still and the LS kicks and im off. Instant kick for beating those V8's. I raced a S10 4.3 and beat it badly, however alot of that was probably because he had no traction off the line also.

4.3 is 180hp/250tq
4.0 is 207hp/238tq.

Id rather have the latter.

 

the 4.3 in the s10 and the 4.0 in the cherokee is are much better then the dohc 4.0 in the rangers

at least that is what i have found

 

a 4.3 vs a 4.0 sohc would be a drivers race. Pretty equal imo.

My 1994 cpi 4.3 automatic ran 16.6's
my 2004 4.0 sohc 4x4 manual ran 16.3's

both were stock when ran.
The 4x4 would add weight, but the manual should be faster than the automatic. Basically a wash.

 

How did you "find" this? What factor swayed you? Ranger motor is not a DOHC, its a single OHC...

 

Holy old post batman. I think all engines are pretty close, it's mostly about gearing and traction.

Comparing stock engines, my 4.0l would beat them all though...

 

between my moms ol cherokee, my cousins s10/my syclone and my uncles 4.0 ranger

i really prefer the I4.0 and the 4.3 but have nothing against the 4.0 cause it is a great engine in a great truck...better than the dodge 3.9

and after having a syclone there is no better V6 than the 4.3 turbo

 

emphasis on TURBO.. lol..

 

my 4.3 1999 blazer sucked and it was the 2 door version. of course i traded it for my edge and am much happier

 

well, i really haven't driven the OHC rangers enough[just around the lot] to notice a difference between it an the SOHC. I can tell a 3.0 from a 4.0 though.
I race occasionally at the drag strip, test and tune nights, and many people are shocked because i beat other pickups that are lowered, or stock appearence with the basic mods under it. i know i've beaten a few 4.3L's. Stock i know i ran 16.1, lifted and tires, got it back down to 16.8, still beat people.

 

Not to be a d1ckhead or anything, but please people, get your valvetrain terminology correct...

4.0 OHV - (Over Head Valve) Standard setup, just like any other real american V motor, cam is in the block...

4.3 - Also OHV, again, standard issue

4.0 SOHC (Single Over Head Cam) ONE

DOHC - (Dual Over Head Cam) TWO

 

if your gonna get technical, you need to double some of those numbers. a dohc V motor would be a 4 cammer.

 

I should have clarified, two cams PER head.

DOHC, two cams PER head, one operating intake side valves, the other operating exhaust side valves...

SOHC, one cam PER head, operating both intake and exhaust valves...

OHV, one cam total, in block, operating all valves via pushrods...

My 3L V6 has 12 total valves, off of one cam.

A 5.4 V8 from a Navi for example, is a DOHC (technically 4) with 4 vpc, thus a 32 valve motor...

Anyone want to discuss VTEC?

 

^^this guy knows his stuff^^

 

I am amazed at the different opinions of the 4.0 SOHC Ranger engine. I think it is a great truck engine. I tow with it all the time and see no lack of torque.

I find it interesting when people talk about how the 4.0 OHV engine has so much more torque than the SOHC. I have the Ford graphs for HP and Torque from 1000 rpm to 6000 rpm on the 4.0 SOHC and from 1000 rpm to 5000 rpm on the 4.0 OHV. Neither are slugs at 1000 rpm with above 190 ft-lbs torque. The OHV engine only produces 4-6 ft-lbs more torque from 1000 to 1500 rpm. At 1600 rpm they are equal. From there the SOHC torque rises at a much faster rate than the OHV. At 2750 rpm when the OHV peaks at 225 ft-lbs the SOHC is over 235 ft-lbs and rising. I don't know of many people that drive a Ranger under 1500 rpm. I would say that the OHV has a little advantage from a stop while towing. Although, I have never had a problem starting from a stop with my 4.0 SOHC while towing with a load of around 4,000 lbs unless I have stopped on a steep incline.

 

Are you guys all stubburn? I have a buddy who's 4.3 s10 ran mid 15's stock NA and 14.3 on a little juice. Don't jate on Cheby just because you prefer ford.

 

i love my engine. i dont really think it lacks anywhere for a midsize truck.

 

My truck seems a little underpowered, but I've only had ~7 months experience on manual and haven't driven a whole lot. Low end is there, my truck span it's tires when I stomped it going about 25mph getting onto a highway the other day. I wanna get some things done to it though, like catback magnaflow exhaust and some other things. I don't want to spend a whole lot though. I think I read bama's wouldn't benefit my year much either.

 

Oh YEA???