I'm looking into getting a motorless xlt and idk if I want to drop my spare ranger v6 3.0 and just upgrade it motor wise or if I want to look into getting a different motor to put in it. I'm looking for something rather cheap $1000 ish and pretty reliable but also kinda quick

 

What year Ranger?

And what engine WAS in it?

Transmissions are engine specific, as are the computers if it is a 1986 or up Ranger

 

it is a 02 xlt the v6 3.0 I have is off of a 99 so it will fit. It had the 3.0 v6 in it before.

 

Then you should be fine to do the 1999 3.0l swap into a 2002 3.0l Ranger, trans and computer will match up

No, I wouldn't swap in another engine size for a daily driver

And only engine that would be worth while to swap in would be 1996-2001 Explorer V8(5.0l), with its trans and computer

Any time you change engine sizes you need engine, trans, and computer, plus engine wiring harness
Doesn't matter if it was used in a Ranger, engine, trans and computer are all different, so same work as V8 swap, and "there is no replacement for displacement"

 

I've got nothing but time lol I just wanted a nice fun little daily that you dont see often. Was thinking about lowering it and making it look slick. Lower it to about the stock s10 ride height

 

Well on Rangers you can reverse the rear leaf spring shackles(hangers), I think that's about a 2-3" drop in the back

For 2WD you can get a set of drop springs for the front, under $70 for the pair, also 2-3" drop

Low profile tires, can drop it quite a bit, but tires ain't cheap