91' 3.0 ranger short block?

[snahman]

Hello. I have a 91 ranger that needs head gaskets. I can buy a remanufactored short block that say it's a Vulcan from a car. Will it work with my existing heads,intake,etc.?

 

[franklin2]

From another board.


A Ranger has a 3.0l Vulcan engine, it had a distributor from 1986 to 1994, Rangers got the 3.0l Vulcan in the 1991 model year.
In 1995 3.0l Vulcan went to full electronic ignition so no distributor.

3.0l Vulcan was used in these Ford vehicles

1987–1997 Ford Aerostar
1986–2007 Ford Taurus
1986–2005 Mercury Sable
1990–1992 Ford Probe
1991–2008 Ford Ranger
1992–1994 Ford Tempo
1992–1994 Mercury Topaz
1994–2007 Mazda B3000
1995–2000 Ford Windstar

Some are transverse mounted, but the engine(block and heads) is the same.
If you get a Vulcan engine from a car(transverse mounted) it is recommended that you change the head gaskets because coolant flow on that type of mounting is front to back and out to radiator
In a Ranger it is front to back and then back to front and out to radiator.
But some have done the car to truck swap and said they had no cooling problem, so up to you.

Just as a "head up" Ford introduced the Durtec 3.0l in 1996 Taurus and Sables, no relation to the 3.0l Vulcan engine and they are not interchangeable.
Duratec 3.0l was used in:

1996-2005 Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable
2001-2005 Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner/Mazda Tribute
2005-2006 Ford Five Hundred, Mercury Montego and Ford Freestyle

You will see there is an overlap in the model years for the taurus and sables, the 3.0l Duratec was an optional engine in those crossover years.
So, for example, a 2001 Ford Taurus could have a 3.0l Vulcan or 3.0l Duratec engine



Last edited by RonD; 08-13-2015 at 07:59 PM.

 

[Blmpkn]

I'm pretty sure Ron is made of gold and cookies.

I hope he didn't get got by a car bomb in Ireland lol.

 

[snahman]

From another board.


A Ranger has a 3.0l Vulcan engine, it had a distributor from 1986 to 1994, Rangers got the 3.0l Vulcan in the 1991 model year.
In 1995 3.0l Vulcan went to full electronic ignition so no distributor.

3.0l Vulcan was used in these Ford vehicles

1987–1997 Ford Aerostar
1986–2007 Ford Taurus
1986–2005 Mercury Sable
1990–1992 Ford Probe
1991–2008 Ford Ranger
1992–1994 Ford Tempo
1992–1994 Mercury Topaz
1994–2007 Mazda B3000
1995–2000 Ford Windstar

Some are transverse mounted, but the engine(block and heads) is the same.
If you get a Vulcan engine from a car(transverse mounted) it is recommended that you change the head gaskets because coolant flow on that type of mounting is front to back and out to radiator
In a Ranger it is front to back and then back to front and out to radiator.
But some have done the car to truck swap and said they had no cooling problem, so up to you.

Just as a "head up" Ford introduced the Durtec 3.0l in 1996 Taurus and Sables, no relation to the 3.0l Vulcan engine and they are not interchangeable.
Duratec 3.0l was used in:

1996-2005 Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable
2001-2005 Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner/Mazda Tribute
2005-2006 Ford Five Hundred, Mercury Montego and Ford Freestyle

You will see there is an overlap in the model years for the taurus and sables, the 3.0l Duratec was an optional engine in those crossover years.
So, for example, a 2001 Ford Taurus could have a 3.0l Vulcan or 3.0l Duratec engine



Last edited by RonD; 08-13-2015 at 07:59 PM.

Thank you very much!

 

[snahman]

Thank you very much!

Also,before I commit to a short block, my existing engine actually runs good. When it rains, steam comes out of tailpipe until the motor gets hot. I'm going to try the glove test. There is no oil/water mixing dipstick. Oil pressure good, doesn't run hot. Will an intake gasket cause steaming out the back?

 

[snahman]

Also,before I commit to a short block, my existing engine actually runs good. When it rains, steam comes out of tailpipe until the motor gets hot. I'm going to try the glove test. There is no oil/water mixing dipstick. Oil pressure good, doesn't run hot. Will an intake gasket cause steaming out the back?

Oh yeah, the coolant fills up the overflow tank and doesn't go back into the radiator at cool down. I just let it out of overflow tank and add some back into radiator. Thanks.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Oh yeah, the coolant fills up the overflow tank and doesn't go back into the radiator at cool down. I just let it out of overflow tank and add some back into radiator. Thanks.

If you haven't already, change the cap. Also check the line from tank to rad for cracks.

 

[franklin2]

Also,before I commit to a short block, my existing engine actually runs good. When it rains, steam comes out of tailpipe until the motor gets hot. I'm going to try the glove test. There is no oil/water mixing dipstick. Oil pressure good, doesn't run hot. Will an intake gasket cause steaming out the back?

You will get steam when it's cold on any engine. The engine produces water among other things during the normal combustion process. This water vapor hits the cold exhaust pipe and condenses, causing the vapor you can see. When the exhaust gets hot enough, the vapor doesn't condense as much and you can't see it coming out of the pipe.

 

[snahman]

You will get steam when it's cold on any engine. The engine produces water among other things during the normal combustion process. This water vapor hits the cold exhaust pipe and condenses, causing the vapor you can see. When the exhaust gets hot enough, the vapor doesn't condense as much and you can't see it coming out of the pipe.

Thanks for the reply. When I say steam,I mean as if I was spraying for mosquitoes!
Will an intake gasket leak cause steaming out the back also? Thanks.