3.8 - 4.2 in to ranger??

[ex91]

could i take a 3.8 fwd block put 4.2 in sides in it and put it in my ranger 3.0 auto with a 4r55e(its out of a 4.0 truck) i think it will all bolt up but will the tranny hold up??? the f-150 uses a 4w70 i think for there 4.2?? any help would be nice what motor monts do you need to put a 3.8 fwd in to a ranger??

[Psychopete]

could i take a 3.8 fwd block put 4.2 in sides in it and put it in my ranger 3.0 auto with a 4r55e(its out of a 4.0 truck) i think it will all bolt up but will the trunny hold up??? the f-150 uses a 4w70 i think for there 4.2?? any help would be nice

That transmission will not directly bolt that motor as it lies, the FWD 3.8L is a Vulcan bellhousing pattern (RWD is different).

IMO, more practical (easier) to get a rear wrecked F-150 with everything you need since it was already designed to be in a truck.

Pete

[ex91]

ok so i can put a 3.8 fwd motor in my truck and it will bold up to my 4r55s what do you guys use for motor mount??? and headers???? or castings???

[pacodiablo]

Reread Pete's post...the FWD has a Vulcan bellhousing pattern, so it will not work with a 4.0 transmission.

Just curious, why do you want to do this? The 3.8 and 4.2 are not spectacular motors...they are known for head gasket failures. You are probably better off with another 4.0 (SOHC or OHV) or with swapping to a 5.0.

[ex91]

my truck has a 3.0 in it i am not going to put a 4.0 in the truck , the tranny is a 4r55e it is a 4.0 tranny im looking at a v8 swap tp but it cost a lot more yes i know the 3.8 have a prob with head gaskets has any one put a 3.8 in a 4x4 ranger?????

[rusty ol ranger]

The 3.8L is a piece of shit to.

Your better off keeping the 3.0, it might not have the power, but atleast its reliable. Sure a 3.8 has more power, but what good is it when its got antifreeze in the coolant cause of a head gasket?

later,
Dustin

[therieldeal]

The 3.8L is a piece of shit to.

Your better off keeping the 3.0, it might not have the power, but atleast its reliable. Sure a 3.8 has more power, but what good is it when its got antifreeze in the coolant cause of a head gasket?

later,
Dustin

:icon_confused:

[rusty ol ranger]

Whoops...i meant antifreeze in the oil :icon_twisted:

[therieldeal]

figured, lol

[Wicked_Sludge]

actually, ford fixed the head gasket problem on the 3.8 sometime in the mid 90's (i dont remember exactly when). the problem was actually in the block and it was reworked.

the main issue with the later model 3.8's is you cant keep an intake manifold gasket in them. they start dumping antifreeze overboard or ingesting it. a little less serious than a head gasket...but a bummer none the less.

for the amount of work involved, a 4.0 swap nets you better power and its all bolt-in.

[ex91]

thanks for all the info the 3.0 stays think im just goign to put my a trim on it that i had fou my mustang but the car engine got to big for a a trim so ill put it on the truck.

[rusty ol ranger]

....for the record....a 4.0 will not directly interchange with a 3.0. It will interchange with a 2.9 though.

A 3.0 has differnt bellhousing and motormounts.

later,
Dustin

[351crownvic]

The bellhousings on the A4ld are removable and interchangeable. Thas why when replacing the auto behind the 3.0 you get the auto that was behind the 4.0 since it was built stronger.

[ex91]

thank you that is why i have a 4r55e behind my 3.0 it was a 4.0 tranny so long story short where do i get motor mounts for a fwd 3.8 to go in a ranger???

[91exploreron37]

Dont mean to be rude or anything but why do you want to swap in the 3.8? Just curious.

[ex91]

i dont think i will but the 3.8 is not that bad of a engine they had there probs btu look at how many where mad i think im going to supercharger my 3.0 with my a trim but 3.8 would be easy if i could find some motor mounts.

[91exploreron37]

Besies motor mounts, what about headers, wiring harness, will you be able to get to the oil filter, etc... Yea I dont think it'll be worth it either. Whats wrong with the 4.0 or SOHC 4.0.

[Wicked_Sludge]

you guys, the 3.8 was used in RWD form in the mustangs and thunderbirds. the bellhousings are different but its the same engine. all the RWD stuff already exists (headers/manifolds, wiring harness, motor mounts, etc.). this swap wouldnt be THAT big of a deal to perform.

its just not worth the measily power numbers the 3.8 puts out when compared to an even easier 4.0 swap.

[91exploreron37]

I completely forgot about that

[ex91]

true the 4.0 sohc is a nice motor i have one in my mustang great on fuel

[Mutant Pony]

The 4.2 will run circles around the 4.0 though. I've driven F150/4.2s with manual trannies that were WAY more fun to drive than any 4.0 I've driven. I haven't had a chance to run a 3.8 split port yet but, I know they are better than the reg 3.8.
I'm still looking for a deal on a 4.2. As soon as I find one I have a Ranger waiting. If I find a split port I might do that just to be different.
From what i've seen of the FWD 3.8s the mounting bosses on the side seam to be similar to the 3.0. The 3.0 mounts might bolt, at least close enough to make fit. As soon as I get a chance I'll measure it up but, that won't be soon.

[rurouni20xx]

just to add to this i was looking into a 3.8 fwd as well but since i have the 3.0 block im going to build it up instead. if my block is skrewd then ill go w/ a 3.8, but back to what i was saying...morana v6 offers for the 3.8 a 4.2, 4.3, and 4.4 stroker kit as a 4.2 ford (f150 motor) is a stroker 3.8. i was looking into this as well when i was digging around for stuff for my 3.0, and ran across this stuff and thought it would be kewl, then i found out the bellhousing dont match. since i found out the fwd 3.8 will fit however, again if my block is skrewd i may just try it...

[bobbywalter]

mounts are easy to fabricate, if thats the only problem then get it done.