1994 Ford ranger xlt 6 cylinder x 4.0L help

[Mikeosaji]

I know that there are so many that ask this question. But if someone could tell me a lot of ways to increase HP and speed in my truck it would help a lot

thank you

 

[sgtsandman]

 

[97RangerXLT]

What ^^ said.

the 4.0 is pretty much configured as good as it is gonna get from the factory shy of dropping a supercharger on it.

You can get a few more ponies/ speed by polishing the ports on the intake and heads, adding headers and what not. But if you want more horses and speed, V8 swap it.

AJ

 

[gaz]

Mike,

From the pic you have a Ford ohv 4.0, here is a simple formula:

-loose the crank driven fan/clutch for electric.
-a complete bottom end engine balance = +10% performance
-flow bench port/polish the heads to the intakes = +20hp
-custom ground stock cam = +20hp
-quality headers with one size up tubing/exhaust = +20hp
-SOHC flat top pistons = +3% hp/tq
-0.035" mill on the heads = +3% hp/tq
-bore the stock throttle body to 64 mm = +3hp across the RPM band

This can bring a freshly built 4.0 to just over 200 wheel hp which will offer the potential for improved fuel economy.

In regards to driving faster, well that is another issue all on it's own, it's a truck; it was designed to work not necessarily fast. When I want to go fast I don't use a truck.

 

[RonD]

Its actually pretty simple to add power to any vehicle, because there are only two ways to do it

Lighten the load, there is a "power to weight ratio", if you lighten the vehicle then engine can make it go faster and quicker

Increase the amount of energy engine can release, gasoline engines use 14.7:1 air:fuel ratio, this is a WEIGHT RATIO
14.7 pounds of air to 1 pound of gasoline
14.7 grams of air to 1 gram of gasoline
Ever wonder why fuel injectors are rated at POUNDS PER HOUR of flow, thats why

If you add more gasoline to an engine, you get a flooded engine, not more power
But you need to add more gasoline to release more energy...............

So you need to add more air, FIRST
A 5 liter engine has more power than a 4 liter engine because it can pull in 1 liter more air every 2 RPMs, so can burn more gasoline and release more energy

Cams allow an engine to pull in a bit more air every 2 RPM so more fuel can be added
Super or turbo chargers FORCE more air in so even more fuel can be added

So as said, pretty simple to understand what is needed, not complicated at all
Less weight to move
OR
More air to move that weight
OR
Both

 

[Mikeosaji]

Is it possible for me to get a newer intake like ram air intake and if so where would you think I should put it becuase if I put it under the hood all it’s gonna do is suck hot air in

 

[RonD]

For another intake to be a benefit then the stock intake would have to be designed wrong, so its limiting 4 liters of air flowing in at WOT(wide open throttle)

You can test for that using a vacuum gauge
Check air filter first
Get a vacuum gauge and a longer vacuum hose so gauge can be in the cab
Hook up the vacuum gauge so you can see it while driving

Need a long straight road with no police, lol
Need to get up to top speed and then floor it
Vacuum should drop below 2" but stay above 1", NO VACUUM means no air flow at all so no fuel flow either, it will drop to 0" when you reach max RPMs and valves "float", that's normal
If vacuum at WOT is staying at or under 2" then air flow is good, if its 2.5" or over then there is a restriction somewhere

You can try this in a lower gear at lower speed, max RPMs and WOT will be the same vacuum level, but WAY MORE FUN, at 100MPH

Test doesn't matter if its a 4cyl or V12 engine, vacuum is vacuum


Heads and intakes or exhaust ports are not matched, they are just "good enough to work"
That's where porting and polishing come in
Mis-matched intake and head port will cause some turbulence in air flowing into a cylinder, so if you grind a bit of metal and get the ports to match exactly then smoother air flow and polish the rough castings in the head so it is also smoother then you will maximizes air flow, get that vacuum down closer to 1" at WOT
Same for exhaust ports, if all the exhaust can't flow out then less new air:fuel can flow in
So if you minimize turbulence you maximize air flow, IN and OUT

 

[sgtsandman]

Is it possible for me to get a newer intake like ram air intake and if so where would you think I should put it becuase if I put it under the hood all it’s gonna do is suck hot air in

As a very broad and general rule, you have to increase air and fuel flow from the intake to the exhaust tip while balancing everything to not defeat any gains you make. ie. Too big of an exhaust an actually hurt performance as an example.

What gaz told you gives you the specifics and RonD tells you the how and why. If you are going for horsepower, it's going to take money and someone's time.

Changing the gear ratio in the axle(s) is going to change things too. A higher ratio (4.10:1, 4.56:1, etc) is going to give you more low end get up and go while sacrificing top end speed. Conversely, a lower gear (3.55:1, 3.45:1, etc) will sacrifice take off response for higher top end speeds.