TRS-3 20th Anniversary Ford Ranger

[Jim Oaks]

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I'm sure you all know I sold my 1996 Ford Ranger 4x4 TRS-2. I built that truck in 2004. TRS-3 has been long over due, and I've been building it in my head for some time.

It's time for a newer version. The options are:

1) Buy a 2019 Ford Ranger 4x4 and have the newly released Ford Ranger to promote TRS. The downside is all of the wheeling I would do with it in that first year, as well as the miles I'd cover. The other negative would be the purchase cost

2) Find a way to get Ford to give me one to promote as I'm travelling across the country celebrating our 20th anniversary and promoting The Ranger Station.

3) Build another one off of the last generation.

Which will it be?

IDK, but I've been setting money aside. Whatever I come up with has to represent The Ranger Station, the Ford Ranger, and it's capabilities as an off-roader well.

This post is going to be my daily reminder to get this done.

.

 

[Jim Oaks]

[reserved]

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Personally, id buy a 03. Heres why...

03 is 20 years newer then TRS 1, which is an 83. Its also the 20th anniversary of the original ranger, which is what this site mainly caters to, and pry will for the forseeable future...

So, 2 rangers, 20 years apart, on the 20th anniversary of the ranger nameplate (former fullsize useage not withstanding) to celebrate the 20th anniversary of TRS.

See what im gettin at?

 

[fastpakr]

Rusty, he can't get the '03 in a 2.9. Can you handle that?

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Rusty, he can't get the '03 in a 2.9. Can you handle that?

I think so. I mean, he can get a 4.0, which is a family member, and would allow for easy swapping of a 2.9 at a later date

 

[fastpakr]

I wouldn't take an OHC 4.0 if I had any other choice. Way too many problems with the cam chain. If it gave me trouble, the 5.0 would go in its place.

 

[Craig0320]

I wouldn't take an OHC 4.0 if I had any other choice. Way too many problems with the cam chain. If it gave me trouble, the 5.0 would go in its place.

I completely agree. The only way to change the the cam chain in the back is pull the engine or the transmission to gain access to the back of the block. They suck. 5.0 all the way.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Never been a 5.0 fan. 351 or bust

 

[fastpakr]

If the 5.8/351 were the easy option that a 5.0 is, that would be a good alternative. The reality is that a 351 is just enough bigger that it's a giant pain to swap in (header fitment, etc) where all the engineering legwork was done for you ahead of time on the 5.0 swap (just need a donor Explorer).

 

[rusty ol ranger]

If the 5.8/351 were the easy option that a 5.0 is, that would be a good alternative. The reality is that a 351 is just enough bigger that it's a giant pain to swap in (header fitment, etc) where all the engineering legwork was done for you ahead of time on the 5.0 swap (just need a donor Explorer).

That is true, i forgot about the clearence issues. Personally i think the couple 300 converts ive seen are my favorite. 302s are to cookie cutter. But, they do motivate rangers pretty well in stock form. I had a buddy a few years ago swap out a OHV 4.0 for a mid 70s 302. He was pretty disappointed in the fact he lost power (untill he modded it, of course). I tried to tell him.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

But, they do motivate rangers pretty well in stock form.

Really they do, but in a world where a NA 4 banger can make about the same power they kinda lose some luster.

 

[Craig0320]

I had a buddy a few years ago swap out a OHV 4.0 for a mid 70s 302. He was pretty disappointed in the fact he lost power (untill he modded it, of course). I tried to tell him.

Thats why the 5.0 explorers(especially with the 40p heads are better IMHO) Drop in ease, efi and a cam designed for torque at lower rpms with no mods installed and better than a stock 4.0 ohv any day. Plus 5.0 intake flows lots of air. And yes there are some powerful 4 bangers out there. But smoking the tires doesn't sound as good as my 5.0 .

 

[fastpakr]

Really they do, but in a world where a NA 4 banger can make about the same power they kinda lose some luster.

Which NA 4 cylinders are you referring to?

 

[Craig0320]

Lol you should just scrap your build fast and put one in.

 

[fastpakr]

I think he meant to refer to the EB 2.3 (which, for the record, I'd prefer to have over the Explorer 5.0). Just not sure and wanted to clarify.