4.2 into a ranger

[jmg8550]

The 4.2L also came in Econoline vans from 1997 to I believe 2004 as the standard motor. My opinion of the 4.2L, (and this is based on experience working on lots of them for DHL) they don't last very long unless a severe maintenance schedule is followed to the letter. I have seen them go up to about 300,000 miles on this schedule. That is using semi-synthetic Castrol oil and Napa Gold oil filters and oil changed every 3000 miles.

 

[jmg8550]

The 4.2 is in a few newer Windstar and probably Freestar minivans also. The 3.8 I believe was in the Mustang also.

The Freestar and the Windstar are front drive engines and won't work in rear drive vehicles.

 

[bobbywalter]

The Freestar and the Windstar are front drive engines and won't work in rear drive vehicles.

stop it

 

[bobbywalter]

you can use the 4.2 block and 3.8 pistons have a stroked 4.3 use the 3.8 heads and run a eaton supercharger ? lot of parts and wiring but can be done
I have a 90 thunderbird sc and a ranger with a v 8
know em both depends on time money and patients.. I am looking for a 4.2 to steal the crank out of now


LIL advice if the motor is not a 98 or newer dont even try.
they fixed the head gasket problem and the oil pan on the early ones wont fit the ranger I dont think .

double stop it

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

The Freestar and the Windstar are front drive engines and won't work in rear drive vehicles.

+1 on stop it.

why wont it work?

 

[rusty ol ranger]

The 3.8/4.2L are known for head gasket faluire...and they dont make much more power then a 4.0...and...for the amount of work you could have a 351W.

later,
Dustin

 

[goodluck90]

well i got a few questions im planning a 3.8 super coupe swap for my 90 4.0l ranger 2wd. i was curious if i could use the 302 after market motor mounts in like the lmc trucks catalog and how much beating of the trans tunnel do i have to do to fit the aod that is with the engine?????

 

[goodluck90]

and another thing what exactly do i have to do for the trans mount can i just reposition the factory mount in my ranger now!??

 

[goodluck90]

also about the head gasket failures the trick i read on the super coupe forums is to use chevy 2.8L head studs {because they fit perfectly and are cheaper to buy then the 3.8L ones] i guess it has something to do with the torgue to yeild bolts strecthing just like the 6L power strokes always blowing head gaskets [like 2$ hookers in las vegas!]

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

the 3.8 head gasket problem is in the cylinder block, not the head bolts. going to studs isnt likely to prevent head gasket failures.

the issue was adressed in later blocks. your bestr bet would be to upgrade to a later model block.

 

[351crownvic]

Now if u are lucky to have the 3.0 like i do the bellhousing pattern on the FWD 3.8 is the same as the 3.0. I was thinking of using a newer fwd 3.8 and the sc set up off of a thunderbird...

 

[bigcountry]

i had the 4.2 in my old 1997 f150 and it was a pos it wasnt worth the metal it was built with i had to have the motor rebuilt after 55k miles cause the head gaskets went and like stated above its to much work for not enough power go big or dont go at all is what i say

 

[birddog321]

Why can't you use a FWD motor for anything RWD. Any thing is possible

 

[bilzy7]

I don't understand... Why people want to swap a 4.0 down to a 3.8... Just go 5.0 or go sohc 4.0 since you can't fond a sc for ohv anymore... Worried about gas mileage?

 

[bobbywalter]

Why can't you use a FWD motor for anything RWD. Any thing is possible

I don't understand... Why people want to swap a 4.0 down to a 3.8... Just go 5.0 or go song 4.0 since you can't fond a sc for ohh anymore... Worried about gas mileage?

you must have missed the stop its....one stop it was specifically referring to the rbv 3.0 trans.


the 3.8/4.2 can easily be made to scream big fun n/a over a 4.0 as far as bolt on type stuff goes.

the 302/351 seem a better choice though as the work is similar.