Hey y’all, truck doesn’t work anymore it cranks but doesn’t start, there’s extreme pressure in the hoses and lots of bubbling in the coolant Reservoir misfire on one of the cylinders and a vacuum leak. Was told it’s most likely a blown head gasket “ unless anyone has other ideas”. Figured it’s a good option to swap the engine, this is my first ranger and don’t know what type of engine would be Compatible that is not super expensive, any help would be appreciated thank you very much.

 

Welcome to the forum

You should always include year of Ranger and engine size with questions?

You profile shows 1999 3.0l

Blown head gasket is no reason to swap out any engine
Way easier to fix heads or head gasket issue than to swap out an engine and way cheaper

Starting in about 1985 vehicles started to come with fuel injection and Engine Computers to run the fuel injection
So in about 1985, and up, changing the engine to a different model/size, larger or smaller, became EXPENSIVE

To change the engine, you need the engine and then the computer for that engine and the wiring for the computer for that engine
And in most cases the transmission needs to be swapped as well and that means new drive shaft as well, so expensive......................

The least expensive motor to replace your 1999 3.0l motor would be a 1998-2000 3.0l motor from a Ranger or Mazda B3000 of those years

 

Ok gotcha so do you know the cheapest head or head gasket I can buy from?

 

Don't get ahead of yourself

Call local Machine Shops and ask how much to test, clean and surface BOTH 3.0l heads, usually $75-$150 per head
They test if valves are sealing and if head is cracked, then they "surface" the side of the head that goes onto the engine to make it flat so new gasket will seal
If a head fails a test then "they" may offer a price for a rebuilt head or "Valve job" if its just leaking valves, but you will get a price

I am partial to Fel-Pro gaskets, 3.0l set here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/39212553798...%7CMake%3AFord
MUST BE FOR A RANGER 3.0l, or Mazda B3000, not for a Taurus or Sable 3.0l

You also need 16 new head bolts, so 2 sets of these: https://www.ebay.com/itm/29394469590...oAAOSwE~9f9rQC
Need 8 per head
And these are the longer ones, 1998 and up 3.0l

Rebuilt heads run about $300-$350 each, that's complete with "new" valves, if you see them for less they will be bare heads, no valves
There is often a CORE CHARGE so you will need to pay up front and then when you send your old head(s) back you will get a refund
Heads weight ALOT so shipping can be costly

 

Thank you so much, I really appreciate it