Hey guys I'm 18 don't know much about my 3.0 v6 ranger I sure have put a good bit of work into it but I only have done a small amount my self I'm looking to start working on it my self and I need advice and I have a 2wd 2001 ranger xlt extended cab I have had it since I turned 16 but that's when my grand father passed and I'm wanting to keep care of his truck. I'm looking to put posi in it for cheap any advice on that private message me if you have any good advice and you wanna go into detail about it. I'm new to this forum thing.

 

Welcome to the forum!

What modifications are you interested in?

 

Posi - either a rear end from an Explorer or from an FX4, you need the complete rear end assembly; you get posi and 31 spline axle, a heavier duty setup.
The cost is a slight modification of the Explorer Axle, the FX4 can be a bolt in.

The other way would be buy a separate posi unit from a aftermarket manufacturer and get it installed in your axle housing.

If you are not going to any trail riding, IMHO… don’t get a Locker of any kind.
My reason is that the back end of the Rangers are very light and when the rear tires are locked together there is more possibility of the rear sliding around on hard corners or slippery conditions or a big bump.

 

I'm interested in a engine upgrade. But I was also looking at a locker so thank you to the second person for clearing that up

 

IMHO… if you are a street truck, like most of us, you do not even need a locker a good limited slip will do it.
If you have a 7.5 rear axle and want to keep it, you might get the aftermarket unit but if as you stated, you are thinking about an engine change, then consider the Explorer Rear Axle Assembly, easier to find and maybe dics brakes too.
Swap the mounting points for the springs and shocks and/or buy an adapter kit and you will be all set, 31 splines, a posi and disc brakes ready for the higher powered engine.

Luck with it.

 

Welcome to RF!

 

Thank you for the suggestions I think that's what I'll do but I'm not a street truck I'm more for the off road I'm kinda looking to get my truck lifted 5 inches and get 35s on it after I get a 5.0 in it or a 5.4 351 Winser

 

welcome! I think you mean 5.8 351 the 5.4 mod motor would be a much different story

 

Well no we are going to rebuild my dads f350s v8 5.4 it's engine that wasn't made long its a 351 Winser Modified. It's more powerful than the v10 it's also smaller so makes for a great deal for when wanting to put that in my ranger and he will put a v10 in his.

 

Welcome!

 

Thank you

 

welcome, sounds like you are going to be throwing a lot of money into that ranger

engine swap
rear end
35s
lift kit

 

Again… opinions !
First slow down, don’t do something just to get started.
Check out the site and as many swap threads as you can, here and other sites.

The 351M was not the best motor Ford ever put out and a mistake in my opinion.
It is considered a big block engine, not a small block, it takes the big block trans bolt pattern and has almost no performance parts in the aftermarket.
As far as the Ranger is concerned vs the 351M, it is too big to just slip in without a lot of work.
They are wider than a 351W and way wider than a 5.0L but I don’t think too much longer if any, they are way heavier than a 302 and they are hard to keep cool without a major radiator swap up, especially in a small engine compartment and a lifted truck, they are known for blowing head gaskets and over heating will bring that on real quick.
Not even sure where you will get an exhaust, all custom will be the name of the game.

If you do this, which I wouldn’t, make sure to get a hood with a working cowl induction setup you are going need it to release some of the heat.

The 351W, powerful when tricked out but again, wider than a 302/5.0L, heavier than a 302 and harder to cool in the small engine compartment and again exhaust will be custom, maybe home brew but all hand made is where you will be.

The 4.6L and 5.4L Triton engines, nice engines, well at least the 4.6 and the 5.0 are, the 5.4 is a little under powered for its size.
All of these motor will require additional work for mounting, exhaust, cooling, and just fitting in the engine bay. Big Motors !

IMHO… (which I give out all the time and enjoy doing so) there is no other motor than the 302/5.0L for a Ranger. It lend itself to the size of the engine bay, it is one of the lightest cast iron V-8 on the market, their is TONS of power increasing add ons from air intakes to cams and stroker kits and with a slight increase in the size of the radiator it runs very cool.
I have found a raised hood or cowl induction hood will decrease any under hood temps too.
These motors were made for this application in mind as in the Explorers, all of the parts are available from the Junk Yard or new from any part house.

I did a ’93-5.0L EFI, in a 1988 Ranger STX, auto, after market radiator and L&L Products Swap Kit and it turned my Ranger into a new truck and a new driving experience, the way Ford should have made it but didn’t want to trend on the F150 sales. My Ranger was lifted 5” with larger tires and without any air dams, thought it looked good but it created a problem, I had was it ran a little hotter than I thought it should. fixed it by raising the rear of the hood to release some of the heat, temp dropped 15 degrees with the poor mans cowl induction hood (1” spacers at the hinges.

So where is all this going, take your time, don’t start by rebuilding the engine and you will be stuck using it no matter.
Start slow, do some investigation, read all of the postings you can find about engine swaps, especially the head aches of the 351W and the 351M engines.
Check out the ability of the little 5.0L EFI, this is a great motor,even carb’d it is nice, see what people are doing with them in Rangers.
Check out the cost of the swap, is it worth it to you and you are the only judge of that.

Don’t use the engine just because it is there in front of you, not the best reason and it WILL cost you more to swap it and the cost of gas will be far more than a good EFI 5.0L.

I have already said too much but the main idea is to look at a lot more options before deciding on this engine.
The 5.0L I swapped for my 2.9L was quick and easy, and the gas cost was no different with the 5.0L, I didn’t have to put my foot to the floor as often with the v8 and mine was a stock Mustang motor, with some power enhancing parts a 5.0L will produce far more horse power than needed and a Ranger can handle.

Good Luck, don’t go crazy with the swap until you check it out !

I’ll get off the soap box now…

Also, you said you are 2WD and you will be trail riding, this will work and a higher level limited slip will work good off road, a locker will work great too but keep in mind the characteristics of driving with a locker, can be a bear.