my son has a 2006 ford ranger with 3.0 we want to put a 4.0 sohc engine in.
what do I need? such as should I make sure the 4.0 is and 06 and grt all engine harness and ecm. and do I need dash harness and ignition switch?
remember I live in commy cali. need it to pass smog.
any help would be apreciated

 

Welcome to the forum.

First it will be better in the long run to fix the 3.0l and sell it, then use that money to buy a 4.0l Ranger.

To do an engine swap in Calif., and most states that have emissions testing, you have to use same year or newer engine, period, so that part is decided.

You are better off buying a rolled or other wised damaged 2006 or newer 2WD Ranger with 4.0l complete, because you will need many of the parts, including the transmission.
3.0l and 4.0l use different trans bolt patterns, and no adapters are made.
And trans needs to be 2WD auto or manual which ever you have now.

And I also believe the Title would reflect the change, could be changed to Salvaged not sure how that works in Calif., since VIN no longer matches vehicle, VIN includes engine size, and new Computer also contains VIN info for original 4.0l vehicle.
So a Frankenstein mix and match, which will cause small issues a few years down the road when you go to get a part that ends up being wrong because of changes from year to year or model to model, not a big deal but still a pain.

You also have to take completed vehicle to a pre-inspection location, privately owned, and pay them to certify it as road worthy before you can take it for emissions testing, and this is a total inspection, not just for the swapped parts, so they can find other issues that need to be changed and then brought back for another inspection.

All in all this type of swap isn't really cost effective for the gain, since any one can go out and buy a stock 4.0l Ranger.

With a V8 swap which requires pretty much exactly the same cost and work, you get the V8 power and while it is still a Frankenstein, it isn't a vehicle someone can just go out and buy, like they could a 4.0l Ranger.

 

New to the Ford Ranger, I have a question concerning this sort of swap. After many, many threads that start promising they all seem to just stop lol.
With the 3.0L to the 4.0 SOHC in say my 2003 using a similar year donor, is this a plug-n-play swap like the V8 swap? Easier - harder - direct bolt in, program the PATS to the new ECU and good?
Also how does the 4.0 like boost SC or turbo?

A 2003 2WD 4.0 SOHC Ranger around me goes for $6500-9000 so a swap is cheaper and I like to get my hands dirty. This is my first Ford powered Ford and the first NA engine I've owned.

 

Welcome to the forum


4.0l SOHC use 9.7:1 compression ratio so not the best for adding boost, lower compression engines are better for boost, the horse power increase is less on higher compression engines, so for a $/HP cost and improvement would probably be disappointing.

4.0l SOHC is rated at 205 horse power, but that is ONLY when running 93 octane fuel, 9.7:1 compression ratio again, lol, it has a Knock Sensor that changes spark timing, and lowers power, so it can run 87 octane.

302(5.0l) V8 uses 9.0:1 compression ratio and gets 210HP using 87 octane, also way more "build parts" available for less money.

Swap is the same for either.
Engine and trans
Computer and wiring
Same labor

'96/'97 explorer V8 doesn't have PATS, which is why it is a popular donor, PATS is in the Computer on most years, some earlier had separate PATS module but the Computer was "married" to that PATS Module so same difference, you just need two pieces not just the computer

PATS can be swapped over if you have matching PATS keys for the computer used.
Or Mobile Locksmith with Ford software can add your current PATS keys to new computer, computer must be hooked up in the vehicle to access the PATS, so unless you tow it to Ford dealer or Locksmith it can't be reprogrammed, which is why a mobile locksmith may be best.

If you are having computer reprogrammed for better engine performance then the programmer can often disable the PATS in that computer, it varies by year.

 

Had to replace the ECM in this Ranger when I purchased it and of course the PATS module didn't match but that was an easy fix. This Ranger has a separate module. Reprogrammed it myself using free software called Forscan, worked like a champ, no dealer needed lol.
Didn't realize the numbers were actually that low for HP, might just have to be patient and keep an eye out for a 2.3 Ecoboost at the salvage auctions. Sure it will be a bit more involved than a plug-n-play swap but the end result will be more along what I would want. Nothing like doubling the HP and getting better fuel mileage.
Thanks for the reply
Once I have the donor vehicle I will start a build thread.

 

Yes, 4 cylinders are much better for turbos than V6s or V8s, as far as daily drivers.
MPG and power when needed

 

RonD, where did you find the information that the 4.0L engine is rated at 205 hp only with 93 octane? My owner's manual states to run 87 octane and nothing about using higher octane to increase hp. I know it has a knock sensor but I thought that was just to protect the engine under certain conditions and possible crappy fuel.

 

The 4.0l SOHC is actually tuned for 87 octane, some dynos show slight loss of power using higher octane although that does seem odd.

Couldn't find the dyno tests that were done for before and after tests on computer tunes, but they showed a fairly aggressive spark timing change with active knock sensor.
And were showing about 165HP at rear wheels, adding 15% drive train loss gets you to 190HP.
And 180HP with 93 octane no active knock, for 207HP at crank, which is Fords listed HP.

They did tune the computer to get up to 175HP on 87, so it can be done.

But my comparison in previous post was for Ranger swap purposes, when you have to swap out engine/trans,computer and wiring then 4.0l SOHC would be a poor choice, 5.0l is the better choice.
One reason is simply for power reasons, a 5.0l will always have more power than a 4.0l with same add-ons, just the laws of physics at work there, "no replacement for displacement"
Second reason is that when changing engine sizes you can end up with a "rebuilt" tag added to your title, depends on the state.
And that kills resale when buyer can get clean title with a stock 4.0l SOHC Ranger.
A V8 ranger will retain value since there is no clean title V8 Rangers, lol, they were never made.