I have a 1997 Ranger with the 3.0L and I am registering only 20 psi compression in cylinder 5. When I bought the truck it had a major lower intake leak so it idled about 2200 rpms. Not sure how long it ran like that for but I am guessing long enough to possibly fry the valves.

My question to all you gurus is will the heads from a Taurus (or Mercury Sable) 3.0L swap over to a Ranger without modification? I have read that the head gaskets are different but can't find anything about the heads themselves.

Thanks in advance.
DD

 

heads are different, and hello from schaefferstown

 

Welcome to the forum

Heads are the same if its a 3.0l Vulcan engine, not the 3.0l Duratec, which was also used as optional engine in the Sable/Taurus models, the Duratec is Dual Over head cam(DOHC) design so easy to see the difference, valve covers are MUCH larger on the Duratec
There was also the 3.0l SHO engine, another DOHC, so easy to spot that it is NOT a 3.0l Vulcan engine

Head gasket was the only difference between 3.0l Vulcan used in Ranger and the cars, you need to use Ranger 3.0l head gasket NOT taurus/sable gasket

Flex fuel or gas only doesn't matter either, IF changing both heads, the chamber shapes were slightly different on Flex Fuel models but not enough to prevent the use of either on any 3.0l Vulcan application
But just as a matter of balancing power I would only use 2 gas only heads or 2 flex fuel heads, no mixing, lol

Difference seen here: https://therangerstation.com/tech_li...3.0build11.jpg
On the left is Flex fuel

You need to use new head bolts on a 1997, there are two lengths, 1998 and older and 1999 and newer(which are longer)
This has nothing to do with the year of the heads, it was a difference in the 1999 and up blocks
So 2008 Vulcan heads would still use 1997 head bolts

And there was some confusion on the head bolt torque with the 3.0l
1991 - 1998 uses non-TTY bolts
1999 and up use TTY bolts with the 90deg turns

For yours
Tighten all to 50ft/lb
then loosen all one full turn
Tighten all to 37ft/lb
Tighten all again to 68ft/lb
Your done

 

RonD, thanks for the informative reply. I have the pushrod motor, is that the Vulvan motor you are referring to?

Hey there in Shaefferstown!

DD

 

Yes, 3.0l OHV Vulcan engine, OHV is over head valves, which pretty much ALL engines had since the days of the "Flat heads", lol, but its used as a designation for push rod engines, vs OHC or DOHC

It was used in Fords from 1986 to 2008
1986–1997 Ford Aerostar
1986–2007 Ford Taurus
1986–2005 Mercury Sable
1990–1992 Ford Probe
1991–2008 Ford Ranger
1992–1994 Ford Tempo
1992–1994 Mercury Topaz
1994–2007 Mazda B3000
1995–2000 Ford Windstar

Heads are interchangeable from any year, but again I wouldn't use 1 flex fuel with 1 gas only

One heads up I forgot to mention, the 2004-2006 Ranger 3.0l heads did have a problem with Valve seats so avoid those years for used heads

 

RonD,

Thanks again for the info. That really opens up my options next time I'm in the junkyard.