Ranger FX4 Off-Road

[Ranger_XL]

Does or has anyone owned the twin-stick super cab with the 4.0 SOHC V6? I wanted to garner general thoughts or opinions.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I never have... but @gw33gp has. He off roads... overlands... hauls a race car... I would trust whatever he said and his opinions.

What are the questions you hope to have answered?

 

[gw33gp]

Yes, I have a manual transmission with a manual transfer case FX4. I am told twin sticks is not the proper term for that. That is used for dual manual transfer case setups. I am guessing you are talking about what I have anyway.

I have put over 251K miles on mine and have used it off-road a lot as Uncle Gump said. It is also my daily driver. I have been very happy with it and love being able to shift into 4WD manually when I want to. I know it is in 4WD when I shift and don't have to just trust a light on the instrument panel. Shifting out of 4WD is a little different though. If the transfer case is in a bind, it will stay in 4WD until the bind is relaxed. The leaver moves like it is out and the 4WD light goes out but that does not guarantee is truly out. A little driving is all it takes for it to slip out though.

My 02 FX4 has been out of commission for the past couple days but it has nothing to do with the "twin sticks". I suspect the catalytic converter is plugged but don't know for sure yet. I think I have been pretty lucky to get over 251K miles on the original cat. I am also preparing to change the cam timing chain cassettes in a couple months. They have not given me a problem yet unless they are contributing to the issue I am dealing with now. I just don't want to be out in the middle of the wilderness and have a problem with them. Not a good place to be stranded.

I would be happy to answer any other questions you have.

 

[Ranger_XL]

I am letting my old Ranger go -- rather than put more money into it; I happened to see a 2002 Ranger Super Cab FX4 Off-Road with a manual transmission, manual-transfer case, and 170k miles for sale for $3,100. Moreover, yes, twin sticks were technically first employed in commercial, heavy-duty trucks circa the 1970s; it had nothing to do with a transfer case as nearly all of the platforms were rear-wheel drive. One stick operated the five or six forward gears, and the other stick transferred torque between high-, mid-, and low-range. I also saw a 2000 Ranger Super Cab with a 3.0 Vulcan V6, M5OD, RWD, and 175k miles for sale for $2,500 or best offer. The FX4 is rather clean and sharp-looking, but I have heard mixed reviews about the timing chain in the 4.0 SOHC V6; I know the Vulcan V6 is neither powerful nor fuel-efficient, but it is virtually indestructible.

 

[RonD]

The 4.0l SOHC had long chain tensioner issues, it has 2 of them, passenger side rear, and drivers side front

If the engine doesn't have "the rattle" then timing chains and guides are OK for now, you would want to buy 2 new Motorcraft tensioners and install them after you bought it, then change them ever 100k miles or so

When a tensioners internal spring failed that allowed its timing chain to bang on the guide during start up, until oil pressure took over and chain got pushed tight
Over time the banging on start up would break the guide, and you would get "the rattle", once that happens the guide need to be changed
If its the passenger side rear guide then engine must be pulled out to change it

Passenger side rear tensioner might take 20-30min to change, drivers front maybe 60-90min because some disassembly is required, but just simple wrench work

4.0l SOHC also had an issue with leaking thermostat housing, its plastic and would crack

 

[JohnnyO]

4.0l SOHC also had an issue with leaking thermostat housing, its plastic and would crack

A partial cure for that is to swap to the 16 lb radiator cap for a '98-'00 Mustang V6. You can also get cast aluminum thermostat housings from Amazon or Zabtek. They cost more but won't crack.