I am trying to replace the engine in my 03 4.0l v6 sohc Ford ranger engine. I a 2004 Ford sport Trac that's being part out and it looks to have the same engine it's a 4.0l sohc v6 but in the picture I see one thing different than mine. If you look closely to the right of the throttle body cover witch will be right on top i in the front of the driver side valve cover there is like a (iron pipe) will it matter or no? Will it fit my 03 ford ranger even though it's off a 2004 sport Trac? Will the engine fit my truck?

 

Looks like the EGR tube, you should have the same, maybe wrapped better but should be there

Yes, 2003 Ranger and 2004 Sport Trac both could have the same 4.0l SOHC engines
Wiring can change by year and vehicle, so its best to swap over upper intake from the '03 to the '04, swapping upper intakes also keeps EGR setup the same
Oil pans might be different, for 2WD and 4WD or suspension differences, but they can be swapped as well

Any time any engine is out, replace the rear main seal, cheap part and not hard to change, but very hard to get at

And on the 4.0l SOHC check the thermostat housing for leaks, common issue
Also check the wiring on the Knock Sensor(under the intake), or just replace it

And on any 1997-2004 4.0l SOHC I would replace the 2 long chain tensioners(timing chains), and only use Motorcraft, also a know issue for those years

 

Thanks!! So if I do purchase you think I should go ahead and replace all the timing chain components. I was really trying to avoid that because that's were it gets expensive. But I know for a fact it is worth it especially with these difficult engines with only a hand full of people who will work on them and if they do it ain't cheap!! But then again I can't complain my 03 had about 240.000 before timing chain guide explosure!!

 

The tensioners were the problem, not the rest of the components, problem is that when the tensioners started to fail it damaged the other components so they needed to be replaced or inspected very closely, and since you have to remove them to inspect..............it became a just replace with new situation since they were out

2004 should have the new tensioner design, "should" being the KEY word, but if you replace with new, the the 2004 WILL have new design tensioners

 

Ok and I always thought it was just the cheap looking plastic used on the guides that was the problem.