1984 ford ranger 4.0l swap

[chayse brooks]

Does anyone know what has to be done to fit in a 4.0l v6 into a 1984 ranger. It has the 2.8l v6 but it needs more power and good gas mileage as this is my commuter truck.

 

[RonD]

EFI will help gas mileage but a 4.0l doesn't really "sip" fuel, lol, you would be around the 16mpg range.
2.8l, 2.9l and 4.0l all have the same transmission to block bolt pattern.

You will need pretty much a whole donor vehicle since you need to swap over all the engine compartment wiring, and fuel system.

Good articles here on engine swaps: http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/index-engine-fuel.shtml

Since you are after better MPG and more power, which generally don't go together, lol, a 2.3l Turbo swap would be something to consider.
4cyl turbos get the better 4cyl MPG when you keep your foot off the pedal, but have that extra power when you want it.

Or throw caution to the wind and do a V8 swap

These all entail about the same amount of time, 2.3l or V8 would require different transmissions from current 2.8l trans

 

[dirtcowboy]

"Good gas mileage and more power' shouldn't be in the same sentence. The 2.8 is a good engine and its "computer advances" can be rectified pretty easily. One can still get a decent cam along with a 4 bbl manifold and small carb. I say go SBF and don't look back!

 

[chayse brooks]

Thanks for the advice. I know that with more power the less mileage I will get but I figured a bit less mpg wouldn't mater if I got more power. I just want to swap something that has a good ratio of both and if I shaped a 302 in what is about the most I could get out of it mpg wise

 

[RonD]

1995 Fuel injected 5.0l(302) shows 13 city, 15 combined, 17 highway with manual trans in a 2WD F-150, you might do a little better with less weight in a Ranger, but if you have a 4x4 then it would be about the same.

Less weight and less friction = better MPG
So empty truck with skinny tires will get better mpg