Automotive technology you miss.

[85_Ranger4x4]

I think 207 was the best from the 4.0 sohc... that's not really bad for a small truck.

Pretty “meh” for today though.

 

[Dirtman]

My 2.3 makes 270hp in EcoBoost form (2019 ranger)... and has higher hp than the 2.9, 3.0, and 4.0 ohv in naturally aspirated form. Only the sohc 4.0 beats the duratec in power by a few hp. And it doesn't tick, knock, or need a steady supply of coolant. Facts...

My 2.3 makes about 10 more hp than the absolute best 2.9. And will live forever. Facts... throw methanol and superchargers on your 2.9... a 2.3 EcoBoost will still beat it and last for 200k

Reality sucks. So does the 2.9.

 

[8thTon]

For a light truck I find 150hp to be just fine with 4.10 gears. It can get out of its own way with no problems - of course these days lots of vehicles have more power and better power to weight, but I have a hard time thinking of a Ranger as a performance vehicle. It handles better than it should, but this isn’t the chassis I’d want for something with a lot of power.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

My 2.3 makes 270hp in EcoBoost form (2019 ranger)... and has higher hp than the 2.9, 3.0, and 4.0 ohv in naturally aspirated form. Only the sohc 4.0 beats the duratec in power by a few hp. And it doesn't tick, knock, or need a steady supply of coolant. Facts...

My 2.3 makes about 10 more hp than the absolute best 2.9. And will live forever. Facts... throw methanol and superchargers on your 2.9... a 2.3 EcoBoost will still beat it and last for 200k

Reality sucks. So does the 2.9.

Lmao.

Your high on crack if you think a 2.3 duratech will outrun the 2.9. 150hp sure, 10hp, but the 2.9s still got it beat it torque and down the 1/4 ill bet on the 2.9 anyday.

Also, i believe theres been atleast a couple 2.9s that have survived under forced induction quite happily. The bottom end on a 2.9 is plenty stout, hell, the whole motor is as long as you keep them cool.

 

[adsm08]

And it doesn't tick, knock, or need a steady supply of coolant. Facts...

The 2.3/2.5 Duratech can be plenty loud and ticky, they DO have bottom end issues, most developing some degree of rod knock before 100K miles, and I have replaced quite a few of those engines from the Mazda L family because they were not kept in coolant.

I even replaced one after it leaked some internal engine parts into the transmission.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Maybe the next get together weekend ya'll should do like a street outlaws event. 2.9L's against the rest.

 

[Curious Hound]

 

[racsan]

I always felt my ‘93 4.0 had plenty of power, I wouldnt want the ohc version, more power yes, but at a higher higher rpm and with timing chain issues, due to design issues if its one bank of the engine that has the issue, the motor needs pulled. But on that note , Me and my girl have been looking for a extra vehicle, darn near bought a 97 or 98 exploder with a 302. been finding a few with 4.0’s and timing chain issues, one looks real good, also has a balljoint issue. for $900 its very tempting. Sure, my current ranger is a 2.3 (lima), but with 4.10’s its not too bad for what I do- most of the time.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

With better heads, better emissions, and no distributor to screw with.

On, and the ignition module is more reliable.

Mine has none of those problems; I just click the mouse and pollute as much or as little as I choose. ?

And the only thing I'd say about the TFI system is that if the current module goes bad, it's getting replaced with HEI or EDIS.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

My 2.3 makes 270hp in EcoBoost form (2019 ranger)... and has higher hp than the 2.9, 3.0, and 4.0 ohv in naturally aspirated form. Only the sohc 4.0 beats the duratec in power by a few hp. And it doesn't tick, knock, or need a steady supply of coolant. Facts...

My 2.3 makes about 10 more hp than the absolute best 2.9. And will live forever. Facts... throw methanol and superchargers on your 2.9... a 2.3 EcoBoost will still beat it and last for 200k

Reality sucks. So does the 2.9.

I used to like you.

 

[sgtsandman]

I have the 4.0 SOHC and 2.3 Ecoboost. So, I'm staying out of this fight. Supposedly, my 2011 is the best the SOHC ever was but will be a bastard to repair if it decides to eat a chain and the Ecoboost still needs to be proven in it's current form with the Ranger. The original 2.5 Lima in my 1998 had a head gasket failure that took out a couple of the pistons. The replacement junkyard engine seems to be serving my buddy just fine but it was a gutless wonder that got slightly better after I swapped the 3.45:1 axle to a 4.10:1 axle. At least it wasn't struggling to get out of it's own way after the axle swap.

 

[pjtoledo]

The 2.3/2.5 Duratech can be plenty loud and ticky, they DO have bottom end issues, most developing some degree of rod knock before 100K miles, and I have replaced quite a few of those engines from the Mazda L family because they were not kept in coolant.

I even replaced one after it leaked some internal engine parts into the transmission.

not all of them.
my 2005 Duratec kinda accidentally rev'ed to 6K last week when I was in a hurry to pass a semi.
not bad for 361,000 miles. (killed a few mosquitoes too)
of course by 2005 the bottom end was redesigned, mine doesn't have the 1 piece bearing cradle.

 

[Dirtman]

I used to like you.

The truth is often painful.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

The truth is often painful.

You mean the truth that your semi modern 4 cylinder ranger would still get its ass handed to it by a an old ticky V6 that hasnt been made in 27 years?

 

[Dirtman]

Or the truth that they would both get spanked by a fiesta...