I have a 2000 Ranger with a 3.0l engine and a complete running Explorer with a 4.0 engine (double overhead cam). I am wondering how difficult it would be to do an engine swap. Should I use the 4.0 transmission ? What components would I need to install in the 3.0.

I have been having issues with the 3.0 for too long, I've spent too much time and money under the hood, I've had enough.

 

Double overhead cam?????????

 

Um the expo didn't have a 4.0 dohc, are you talking over head valve or single overhead cam?

 

Eh well... from what I read it has a cam for each head. LOL Two =double :D

It is the engine with a timing chain on each end.

 

Yeah sohc means single over head cam per side. You've never heard of a qohc or quadruple over head cam

 

I really don't care what you call it.... I am wondering how much work it is to install it. :D

 

Yes I would use the expo trans, it's a bit involved I'm sure you can guess but in the end it will be worth it. What year is the 4.0?

 

It is a 2000 Explorer. I also like the white Dash dials and such. The Ranger is a 2000 with the 3.0L engine.

I was just going to buy a used Ranger but dang the prices are out of sight on these. I have the time to do the engine/trans swap and a complete donor vehicle. This is not going to be a vehicle I rely on for daily transportation, just something to have around for errands and yard work. Who knows ? I might like it enough to drive it more often.

 

I was advised by a friend not to do anything to the engine but just install it and drive. LOL The reason being, I'm not going to put many miles on the truck over the years. I probably won't listen as it is difficult for me NOT to take something apart and look inside. :D Besides it has 250K miles on it. Sounds like a good excuse but it'd prolly take me 10 years to put 50k miles on it.

 

Well if you're not going to put that many miles on it then don't worry about it. But those early motors were really bad at having the timing chain guides go up on them. I drove a 3.0 and they are awfully slow. I could never own one of those motors personally. Don't know how you did it.

 

I dunno..... It seemed OK to me performance wise and shifte really smoothing compared to my old truck. However, I'd Rather have the 50hp though with basically the same fuel mileage.

 

I'd be kinda curious about how much it would cost to drop a somewhat larger engine into a 2.3L 4cyl Ranger. I'm guessing it would be completely cost-prohibitive unless you could DIY, even if you can get the engine for cheap? $1,000-2,000 range or more like $4,000-5,000?

 

Much better to purchase what you want already in there. I've been looking around but the prices on the Rangers are SKY HIGH.

I know I'm not just going to drop the 4.0 in there with no maintenance. I'll spend $1K at least I'm sure doing th job. I might even have to change the rear end or at least the gearing. I haven't checked into that. I don't want a gas guzzling tactor for a truck. LOL

 

The 4.0 is a gas guzzler anyway man

 

yeah my 4.0 is a gas guzzler that gets 21mpg combined with 33x12.5 mud terrains

just put a 5.0 in the truck if you're going to swap anything into it. the ford 4.0 is really underpowered also

 

My car gets 16mpg and I don't even bother tracking MPG with the Ranger since it's a hauler only (in other words, I don't really care...) MPG isn't really part of my concern lol. I am interested in more power, but really only if I can drop an engine in for $1k or so. Obviously better to buy the 4.0 to start, but if you've already got the 2.3L it'd cost more than that to sell it and buy the 4.0 (price difference is more than $2k).

 

I like your thinking, you look at the situation from a lot of directions. Actually, the 4.0 is not a gas guzzler, they get roughly the same fuel mileage as the 3.0 perhaps 1mpg less. So you get the same fuel mileage plus a lot more power. I have a whole donor vehicle but since I am not worried about power (the 3.0L is more than enough). I keep hoping to get this thing working correctly. Even when the 3.0L was running badly, it still got 20 MPG on my commute which is about the norm. I was surprised about the mileage given the performance (ITran very rough at times). As I mentioned, we never did find out exactly what the problem was. (this project is on my list. ha ha but I've about done it all except for the computer)

I loved my 2.3L Ranger (400K miles) It was a 1991 and seemed to me to have plenty of PEP. It had a 4.11 rear end which might have accounted for that and it got 23.5 to 25mpg. Mine had the dual spark plug set up and I never had to keep my foot in it to get it to go. I pulled my sons boat around some and didn't even know it was back there. I loved that truck, but it just wore out. It never left me ONCE in 14 years but I did have a good PM program.

My suggestion for you is to look into up upgrading your 2.3's HP. I understand there are many 2.3L CULTS out there that know how to get power out of them. Less work for you and more in line with your costs.

Good luck whatever you choose.

 

Getting more power out of the existing 2.3L might be the best option. I'll be scouring the 2.3L & 2.5L section and Google to see what my options are there. The truck may just feel extraordinarily slow because I'm used to having 400hp... lol

 

Driving anything less than a 4.0 ohv just feels like a slug to me, I just cant do it. It's more about the torque, the 3.0 is underpowered but the ohv and sohc are fine.. I'm sure the 2.5 is just as about exciting as watching grass grow. its hard to have a manual 4x4 5.0 although im sure it can be done. That would be something. I just have to have the twin sticks, I had to have manual everything lol.