I just got a 1998 ranger 4wd 3.0ltr. Ext cab.
Got it for $500.
Has bad motor.
Just wondering what other motors I could stick in it.
I know that its a 3.0 Vulcan engine right?? I found a 2001 3.0 out of a Ford Taurus for $200, will that work??

I also found a write up on putting in a 5.0l Ford explorer engine and tranny into a ranger. Also found just a 5.0l explorer motor for $250.

Just wondering what my best options are.

I have a good running 1999 Ranger ext cab 3.0ffv 4x4.
If I can't get the 1998 one up and running I'm gonna keep some parts and use for my good 1999 ranger and sell the rest.

Thanks for any advice

 

I would go with the 5.0 but it would be more work then another 3.0. If you have the time and know how then go the 5.0 you will be happy!

 

someone did a taurus 3.0 swap awhile back, I cant remember who. its an easy swap, but if I recall right, the cam on the taurus engine was different or something of that sort, causing it to get worse gas mileage than a standard ranger 3.0.

 

If the rest of the truck is in good shape, go with the 5.0

 

Going with the 5.0 is a long shot. In order to do that swap you need the matching computer and transmission . The guy selling the 5.0 only has the motor, nothing else. So it would be a lot of work and tome to track down a tranny and a computer and all the other stuff. The best bet would be to get a whole explorer.

Doing the 3.0 Taurus swap, I'm not sure if i would need to swap computers.
But as to the engine and heads being different, i read somewhere its because the Taurus is front wheel drive.

The guy with the Taurus says he has the whole car and several other Taurus parts cars.

The motor that is currently in the ranger, won't start, it almost does and wants to, it turns over, so its not locked up. They guy said he was sure it was a bad cylinder. Last year when he drove it, itnwould lose power at about 50mph, and would just struggle.
I'm not sure what the exact problem is, and maybe the cylinder is bad, and I'm not sure if its worth fixing, or if its better to swap motors.

If all goes to hell, I'm gonna use it as a parts truck for my 99 ranger.

Any advice, comments, or suggestions?

 

I know what's involved in a 5.0 swap. LOL. IMO if you're gonna do anything aside from dropping in the identical motor, and you've got a DD, this would be the way to go.

Find yourself a parts Exploder and go to town. I sold my 97 5.0 AWD at the beginning of the summer, and if my truck wasn't my daily driver right now, I'd have swapped it instead of selling it. With smaller tires, I was only getting 1.5-2 MPG less than my 3.0 Ranger. I think most of it could be the extra weight of the Exploder and the smaller tires. If you're going to have the same gas mileage, might as well have more power!

 

Thanks for the info and suggestions.
My 99 ranger 3.0 4x4 is my daily driver. This 98 ranger 3
0 4x4 is just extra. I bought it with the owner telling me the engine us bad, with bad cylinder or something. Its got some body damage, dent in door, dent in driver side box quarter panel, gouges in the hood, and front hub issues. My first reason for buying it was for extra parts for my 99 ranger.
But other ideas have surfaced.

Should I try fixing the motor and other issues and selling it to make money?
Should I drop another 3.0 motor in it and sell it and male some money?
Should I drag it out and try putting in a 5.0l motor?
Should I just keep it as a parts truck?
Or should I take the parts I want and need, and sell the rest ?
Right now I have about $545 invested in it.

Mechanically I know what I am doing, I can take stuff apart and pull the motor and tranny out, no issues. But when it comes to the internal workings of an engine and stuff, I get a bit lost.

Is there a motor rebuild kit for the 3.0 ranger engine available ?
Thanks

 

i have two rangers. the 98 3.0 single cab had a clutch & slave cylinder issue so i aquired a 99 extended cab with 3.0 in way better shape body, interior, etc with cracked heads and broke down the 98 and did put new head gasket & good heads on 99. im seeing a little diference in fuel rail system and injectors. im beginning to wonder if its going to cause isssues and what other potential issues i might run into. need info asap so i can go back to work. also the 99 is a manual trans also. can post pics if necessary. thanks in advance

 

So you took the heads of the 98 and put them on the 99, if I understand ?

If one is a flex fuel and the other not, maybe.

The flex fuel heads have a "heart" shaped combustion chamber, while the non-flex fuel heads are "oval" in shape.
You can use the heart shaped heads on a non-flex fuel engine, but not the reverse.
Are all the injectors the same colour in both engines ?

Rebuilding The Ford 3.0L Engine

Here's some more info from Ron too.

https://www.ranger-forums.com/2-9l-3...x-fuel-150904/

 

Good luck on it!

 

the taurus enging may not have the motor mount bolt holes drilled and tapped for rwd. ck it out.also timing cover may have to be changed because water pump is different. good luck. btw, I just bought a 2000 Ranger with a bad vulcan. i bought a salvage yard motor out of a 2002 ranger and fired it up and drove it a couple of days ago.