99 engine swap?

[99rangercustom]

I have a 1999 XLT Ranger, 4 cylinder, RWD, manual trans.

I'm wanting to swap to a V6 engine fore my ranger, for a variety of reasons. What is the best and most straightforward year to pull parts from? And does any one have a list of what all parts I will need?

I really want to keep it Manual too

Thanks for any help and advice

 

[RonD]

Changing engine size is the same work for V6 or V8, just FYI

Need:
Engine and transmission(manual or auto)
Computer with wiring harness for the new engine size
Exhaust

1999 4cyl Ranger doesn't have PATS(passive anti-theft system)
1999 and up V6 or V8 will, so a bit of extra wiring for that

4.0l OHV V6(1996-2000) or 5.0l OHV V8(1996-2001) would be most straight forward

And the V6 swap would be a labor of love, not practical, because you can buy a Factory made Ranger V6 for less money than you would spend on a swap if you factor in your time

 

[99rangercustom]

Changing engine size is the same work for V6 or V8, just FYI

Need:
Engine and transmission(manual or auto)
Computer with wiring harness for the new engine size
Exhaust

1999 4cyl Ranger doesn't have PATS(passive anti-theft system)
1999 and up V6 or V8 will, so a bit of extra wiring for that

4.0l OHV V6(1996-2000) or 5.0l OHV V8(1996-2001) would be most straight forward

And the V6 swap would be a labor of love, not practical, because you can buy a Factory made Ranger V6 for less money than you would spend on a swap if you factor in your time

Thank you for the info.

The thought of just buying another ranger has crossed my mind, but I have already done a lot of work customizing the interior of this truck and don't want to do it all over again if I can avoid it.

In my area, rangers that run are over priced from over seen. And if they are in my price range, they usually have some thing wrong with them.

My plan was to try to find a vehicle that had been totalled in a wreck, but had a salvageable drive train. It's still going to be a daily drive and I want decent fuel milage which is why I'm leaning towards a 3.0. Are there other Ford models that would work? I can find V6 motor mounts, but the drivers side motor mount for the 4 cylinder is impossible to find.

 

[Blmpkn]

V6 ranger and fuel efficiency really don't fit in the same sentence.

A 3.0 would be a bit more of a mizer than the 4.0.. but even with a 3.0 you can bet on losing 25-30% of your current fuel efficiency.

If the 3.0 actually made decent power.. the swap may be worth it.. but to spend all that time and effort (and money) swapping motor, trans, most wiring, exhaust ect for a measly 20-30 horse is about as crazy as the average mother-in-law.

Easy way out if all you're after is some 3.0 power would be to install one of these...

Boport Performance - Stage 1.5 N/A Ranger Street Cam (Powered by CubeCart)

This performance cam is designed fo

www.bo-port.com

 

[99rangercustom]

V6 ranger and fuel efficiency really don't fit in the same sentence.

A 3.0 would be a bit more of a mizer than the 4.0.. but even with a 3.0 you can bet on losing 25-30% of your current fuel efficiency.

If the 3.0 actually made decent power.. the swap may be worth it.. but to spend all that time and effort (and money) swapping motor, trans, most wiring, exhaust ect for a measly 20-30 horse is about as crazy as the average mother-in-law.

Easy way out if all you're after is some 3.0 power would be to install one of these...

Boport Performance - Stage 1.5 N/A Ranger Street Cam (Powered by CubeCart)

This performance cam is designed fo

www.bo-port.com

More power is part of my desire, but the main thing is the impossible to find motor mounts for the 99 4 cylinder and the annoyance of taking apart the intake manifold and other things just to change the driver side spark plugs on the 4 cylinder. I've been looking for a year and a half for the driver side motor mount, and as I've seen in numerous other forum post, they are very hard to find. Every auto parts store just gives you two passenger sides, but they are not the same, and do not line up any way you try.

I realize this isn't the easiest route, but I've put a lot of work into the interior of this truck and it is finally the way I want it inside. I don't want have to turn around and do it all again.

I would even be open to another 4 cylinder that more intuitive to work on, so long as motor mount would be easy to find for the conversion.

Just looking to see what options I have, because the factory 99 4 cylinder isn't working for me. Would mustangs or explorers have any options

 

[RonD]

For MPG you may want to consider a 2.3l DOHC with manual trans swap
2.3l DOHC is a 4cyl with good MPG and more power, 143HP
Used in mid-2001 to 2011 in Rangers and Mazda B2300

You want a 2004-2011 2.3l Ranger or Mazda B2300
But you want a 2001-2003 2.3l Computer with harness and to have it re-programmed to delete IMRC, Heated thermostat, and PATS
But thats a wish list, lol
You could use 2001-2003 2.3l engine/trans and computer as is as long as you got a working PATS key with it

Can't use 2004-2011 because of the digital dash handshake

 

[99rangercustom]

For MPG you may want to consider a 2.3l DOHC with manual trans swap
2.3l DOHC is a 4cyl with good MPG and more power, 143HP
Used in mid-2001 to 2011 in Rangers and Mazda B2300

You want a 2004-2011 2.3l Ranger or Mazda B2300
But you want a 2001-2003 2.3l Computer with harness and to have it re-programmed to delete IMRC, Heated thermostat, and PATS
But thats a wish list, lol
You could use 2001-2003 2.3l engine/trans and computer as is as long as you got a working PATS key with it

Can't use 2004-2011 because of the digital dash handshake

That's the duratech engine correct? I have thought about that as well. Did they do away with the dual ignition system for those engines? It's really annoying buying 8 spark plugs and wires for a 4 cylinder, not to mention the annoyance I've had with changing the driver side.

And how difficult would motor mounts be to find that would work between the two?

Thank you

 

[Blmpkn]

More power is part of my desire, but the main thing is the impossible to find motor mounts for the 99 4 cylinder and the annoyance of taking apart the intake manifold and other things just to change the driver side spark plugs on the 4 cylinder. I've been looking for a year and a half for the driver side motor mount, and as I've seen in numerous other forum post, they are very hard to find. Every auto parts store just gives you two passenger sides, but they are not the same, and do not line up any way you try.

I realize this isn't the easiest route, but I've put a lot of work into the interior of this truck and it is finally the way I want it inside. I don't want have to turn around and do it all again.

I would even be open to another 4 cylinder that more intuitive to work on, so long as motor mount would be easy to find for the conversion.

Just looking to see what options I have, because the factory 99 4 cylinder isn't working for me. Would mustangs or explorers have any options

I feel you on the annoyance of the drivers side plugs and stuff... I replaced the valve cover gasket on my '96 a couple weeks ago so I just had to go through all that lol. At least plugs last a good long time in most cases.

What about having a solid mount made? Wouldn't (shouldnt) cost too much $.. of course it would lead to some increased NVH.. but.. probably by a near imperceptible amount

 

[RonD]

Yes, the 2.3l Duratec has 4 valves and just one spark plug per cylinder
4 valves is a better use of head space, than dual spark plugs

You don't ever need to change the intake side spark plugs
You have a 2.5l SOHC Lima engine, a stroked 2.3l SOHC Lima engine

This engine ran fine from 1974 thru 1988 on just 4 spark plugs with a distributor
Dual spark plugs were added in 1989 when Ford switch to distributorless spark system, which makes dual spark plugs easier to add

All engine makers knew/know that dual spark plugs added more power, pretty much since gasoline engine were invented
But if you have a distributor you end up needing this: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/CLUAAOSw0eBjF4za/s-l1200.webp
Need 2 coils and 8 wires

6cyl dual spark distributor cap: https://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads20/nummers+rechts+dr1333595112.jpg

Without the distributor it is a lot easier, and you get more power, so why not
Dodge Hemi ran dual spark plugs for awhile

So why don't they make all engines dual spark plugs now?
Because 4 valves instead of 2 valves in a cylinder adds even MORE power, so a better use of head space
The 2.3l/2.5l Lima was replaced with 4 valve 4cyl 2.3l DOHC engine with single spark plugs

So you can just change the exhaust side plugs as needed and your engine will run just fine, slightly less ADDED power but will run just fine, as it did 1974 thru 1988
The only time you would have a spark misfire is when BOTH spark plugs in a cylinder failed to fire

 

[99rangercustom]

I'm liking the sound of the duratec engine more. I changed all the exhaust side plugs recently, but my engine still feels like it's not firing right.

I still plan to use this engine for a while, I'm just trying to get a game plan in order for if/when something goes wrong with this engine, or more preferable I have an extra vehicle a d can take my truck out of commission for a while and do everything I want to with the exterior

 

[RonD]

Unplug the 3 wire connector on one coil pack
Start engine
See if there is a steady misfire, if so then one or more of the spark plugs on the working side are bad
Then swap it around and test the other 4 spark plugs and coil pack

Better to do the test with warmed up engine
CEL(check engine light) should come on, but will reset once both coil packs are working again