Did 3.0 Rangers get any better in later years?

[ratdude747]

I've been dormant a number of years. Long story short, rust and a persistant cylinder 5 misfire got the better of my current 1995 Ranger, and barring a resale (or some legal gymnastics, long story), it's been condemned to a parts truck and driveway storage shed.

I've been on the lookout for another long bed 1995+ Ranger to replace it and move some of my mods and the like to (1995+ for head unit and OBDII reasons). Last night I stumbled upon a 2007 RWD long bed Ranger with a 3.0 and looks to have what is or is close enough to the fully optioned interior I do indeed like, something that's a bit rare to find with a long bed (and both 1995's did too). And it has a 3.0.

(For the body condition, I think the seller wants way too much for it. But for the sake of this discussion, we'll ignore that since I'm not even at the "what is it worth" stage)

My first of two 1995 Rangers had a 3.0 in it and it was somewhat gutless. A somewhat far cry from the 1995 4.0 Ranger that replaced it. So, I'm a bit hesitant. However, my wife's former 2003 Taurus also had a 3.0 Vulcan... and it kicked butt. So, did Ford change tunings at some point, or is that a difference between Ranger and Taurus tunings?

(Not looking to tow or anything too crazy... I have a 1984 F-150 to haul my boat and other things...)

Also, I haven't done a lot a lot with the later models of the "old" rangers... I do know about PATS and the suspension overhaul in 1998 (I'm a bit of a TIB fanboy, so that makes me slightly sad). And that they retuned the transmissions to run 5 speeds. But other than a couple of facelifts, they seem unchanged since 1998 (or at least since 2003). Any surprises or things to watch out for? Yes, I am aware of the cam syncro issues Vulcans have. And the always rotten leaf spring mounts and shackles. Been there, done that!

 

[Lefty]

I never owned a Taurus Vulcan but I'm told it has a little bit more pep. If I recall, it's got a different cam which allows it to breathe a little better.

 

[Lefty]

I never owned a Taurus Vulcan but I'm told it has a little bit more pep. If I recall, it's got a different cam which allows it to breathe a little better. I'm not sure if it ever got faster.

 

[ratdude747]

I never owned a Taurus Vulcan but I'm told it has a little bit more pep. If I recall, it's got a different cam which allows it to breathe a little better.

Right... I think I remember that now.

I'd rather not get a Ranger with a 4.0 OHC (too many timing chains!)... so I dunno.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Right... I think I remember that now.

I'd rather not get a Ranger with a 4.0 OHC (too many timing chains!)... so I dunno.

SOHC isn't bad. Just doesn't drive like a truck for the most part. Lots of black magic methods to keep them running indefinitely as well.

I'm at 195k mi and no timing chain issues.

 

[JohnnyO]

SOHC isn't bad. Just doesn't drive like a truck for the most part. Lots of black magic methods to keep them running indefinitely as well.

I'm at 195k mi and no timing chain issues.

I had 212k on my old 4.0 Sport Trac when it blew a head gasket (not a common problem on the 4.0 SOHC). Synthetic oil changed religiously every 5k since new.
Timing chains were still fine but the fix is the same, engine has to come out. I opted to trade it in on a new Ranger.
My wife used to have a 3.0 Vulcan Taurus station wagon and it was a slug although not as bad as my old 99 3.0 Ranger.
Probably weighed less than the Ranger.

 

[Lefty]

I had 212k on my old 4.0 Sport Trac when it blew a head gasket (not a common problem on the 4.0 SOHC). Synthetic oil changed religiously every 5k since new.
Timing chains were still fine but the fix is the same, engine has to come out. I opted to trade it in on a new Ranger.
My wife used to have a 3.0 Vulcan Taurus station wagon and it was a slug although not as bad as my old 99 3.0 Ranger.
Probably weighed less than the Ranger.

If I recall correctly, the Taurus had a different cam which made it go faster and a slightly larger throttle body

 

[bobbywalter]

did.... that can be a complicated word to define.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

My first truck was a 2000 Ranger. 3.0, 5-speed, 2wd, extended cab. They like the RPMs. If you got it up where it made power and kept it there it would scoot along pretty decent. That starts around 2,700 rpm and runs up around 5k somewhere.

Never had an automatic one, but if I did I’d be inclined to throw a shift kit at the trans and hope for the best.

The 4.0 motors make their power a bit lower, which helps if you’re going to work it. The OHV was up until 00 and then it switched to the SOHC. Mom’s 02 Explorer with the 4.0 SOHC made it up to about 176k before the transmission became a problem, just changed the tensioners every 80-100k. I forget what year got the upgraded guides for the timing chains, it was somewhere 04-07, so the later SOHC was more durable than the earlier ones. Most of my junk has the OHV

 

[SenorNoob]

... Most of my junk has the OHV

Which can do 500,000 with basic maintenance if you get lucky.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Which can do 500,000 with basic maintenance if you get lucky.

Yeah, I haven’t been lucky

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Yeah, I haven’t been lucky

did u use sp oil?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

did u use sp oil?

View attachment 147460

I’ve used regular stuff, synthetic, potions… my Choptop has had a penchant for eating motors. I’m on something like #8. In fairness, the first 4 were 2.9s. Also in fairness the last one was still running when I pulled it to go 4.0 because the 2.9 didn’t like 35” tires and one of the 4.0 motors I put in I knew wouldn’t last because it was clapped out but I had the TRS 20th to make it to and it’s what I had. It only made the weekend, lol.

Also, I have only put 18k on that rig now since I bought it

 

[SenorNoob]

It does help if they run right when they go in...

 

[morsetaper2]

SOHC isn't bad. Just doesn't drive like a truck for the most part. Lots of black magic methods to keep them running indefinitely as well.

I'm at 195k mi and no timing chain issues.

I'm at 196,000 in my 2011 4.0 sohc. I bought it used w/ 9000 miles in 2013 and have owned it since. Oil changes every 5k. So far it is hanging in there, no guide or cam chain noise so far. Just recently changed the tensioners (for the first time) at around 185k. I had never heard of the tensioners being a "maintenance item", until last Fall. Then I changed both of them during a R&R of the leaking thermostat housing.

As for the 3.0's, my experience was they were just not powerful. You had to understand your available gap if you had to pull out in front of traffic. Where w/ my current 4.0 just pull out and give it gas and it moves right along.

My first Ranger was a '99 2x4 w/ a 3.0 that I bought brand new. Somebody T-boned me and totaled it in 2003 right before it was about to hit 100k. No issues w/ that engine.

Then I bought a 2001 2x4, used, from Carmax w/ about 50,000 miles on the odo. Drove that to 235,000 and sold it to my brother. He drove it a couple years more and then totaled it.

Then I got my current 4.0 sohc in 2013 in a 2011 2x4. After driving this 4.0 engine, I don't think I'd ever want a 3.0. The power difference is major. And the 4.0 gets the same mpg as the 3.0 (well maybe like 1 mpg less?). I'm a pretty "easy" driver, not a jack rabbit driver, YMMV.