• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

Best heads by year or motor


Ranger850

Doesn't get Sarcasm . . .
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Jan 24, 2018
Messages
8,421
Reaction score
4,659
Points
113
Location
Tallahassee Florida
Vehicle Year
2001
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
Born with a 3.0, looking for a donor V8
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
Stock 2"
Tire Size
Stock
My credo
Doing things wrong, until I get it right.
Just out of curiosity, what are the "BEST" heads for a 3.0 Vulcan? Either by year or motor or Car.
Can I put Heads from a Taurus on a Ranger Engine?
If so, what year range should I be looking for/at?
My truck is a 2001 Ranger Edge 3.0. Can I upgrade with a simple parts swap?
 


Ranger850

Doesn't get Sarcasm . . .
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Jan 24, 2018
Messages
8,421
Reaction score
4,659
Points
113
Location
Tallahassee Florida
Vehicle Year
2001
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
Born with a 3.0, looking for a donor V8
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
Stock 2"
Tire Size
Stock
My credo
Doing things wrong, until I get it right.
Thanks to everybody for the quick responses.

It seems like the last 2 years of the Ranger got the most powerful versions of the Vulcan @205 hp, but I couldn't find any info on the heads. Did they run the exact same heads for 15 years? Internet only says "improvements were made" and "horse power was upped" but doesn't say how they did it.

A lot of my searches kept circling back here to TRS.com

I know one or two TRS members are/were building a 3.0 but they all have fallen off with posting updates. @snoranger weren't you doing something with a Vulcan?
 

snoranger

Professional money waster
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
RBV's on Boost
ASE Certified Tech
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
GMRS Radio License
Joined
Nov 25, 2007
Messages
13,053
Reaction score
13,524
Points
113
Location
Jackson, NJ
Vehicle Year
'79,'94,'02,'23
Make / Model
All Fords
Engine Type
2.3 EcoBoost
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
I didn't ask for your life story, just answer the question!
Thanks to everybody for the quick responses.

It seems like the last 2 years of the Ranger got the most powerful versions of the Vulcan @205 hp, but I couldn't find any info on the heads. Did they run the exact same heads for 15 years? Internet only says "improvements were made" and "horse power was upped" but doesn't say how they did it.

A lot of my searches kept circling back here to TRS.com

I know one or two TRS members are/were building a 3.0 but they all have fallen off with posting updates. @snoranger weren't you doing something with a Vulcan?
No… I have never done, or never planned on doing anything, with a 3.0l Ranger. If I ever end up owning one, I’ll 5.0 swap it before I even transfer the title into my name.
 

superj

Well-Known Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Joined
Oct 1, 2021
Messages
3,026
Reaction score
2,500
Points
113
Location
corpus christi, texas
Vehicle Year
2004
Make / Model
ranger edge
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Engine Size
3 liters of tire smoking power
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
none
Total Drop
none
Tire Size
235s
My credo
Grew up in the 70s, 80s, and 90s
I wonder what the differences were? Interesting question to find out
 

Blmpkn

Toilet enthusiast
Supporting Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2020
Messages
5,495
Reaction score
6,347
Points
113
Location
Southern maine
Vehicle Year
2023
Make / Model
Ford Bronco
Engine Type
2.3 EcoBoost
Engine Size
2.3
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
2.5"
Tire Size
285/75/18
My credo
Its probably better to be self deprecating than self defecating.
Best stock, untouched heads would be dependant on what the goal of the project is and what cam the thing has in it I would imagine.
 

Roert42

Well-Known Member
RBV's on Boost
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Apr 24, 2020
Messages
4,739
Reaction score
4,883
Points
113
Location
Kintersville, PA
Vehicle Year
2011
Make / Model
Ranger XLT
Engine Size
4.0 SOHC
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Sounds like the plan for the engine and the goal is to change the heads and not the cam, or anything else for that matter.
 

pjtoledo

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Joined
Oct 5, 2007
Messages
5,338
Reaction score
2,907
Points
113
Location
Toledo Ohio
Vehicle Year
20002005199
Make / Model
Fords
Engine Size
3.0 2.3
check Ford for part numbers on various years???
if something changed I'd expect a revised part #. it would probably be in the suffix,,AA BA CA etc.
I think the flex heads had different chambers,


what years had the 205 hp?
I thought the 3.0 was dropped a couple years before Ranger production ended?
the Duratec 3.0 was rated at 205.
 
Last edited:

Ranger850

Doesn't get Sarcasm . . .
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Jan 24, 2018
Messages
8,421
Reaction score
4,659
Points
113
Location
Tallahassee Florida
Vehicle Year
2001
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
Born with a 3.0, looking for a donor V8
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
Stock 2"
Tire Size
Stock
My credo
Doing things wrong, until I get it right.
Sounds like the plan for the engine and the goal is to change the heads and not the cam, or anything else for that matter.
No real plan. Just curiosity mostly.
check Ford for part numbers on various years???
if something changed I'd expect a revised part #. it would probably be in the suffix,,AA BA CA etc.
I think the flex heads had different chambers,


what years had the 205 hp?
I thought the 3.0 was dropped a couple years before Ranger production ended?
the Duratec 3.0 was rated at 205.
I read somewhere that the last version of the Vulcan was used in the 07-08 MY rated at 205. Good idea about the part #'s, I'll see what I can find out. I didn't really think about the cam, but I wuold imagine that has an effect as well.
 

Blmpkn

Toilet enthusiast
Supporting Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2020
Messages
5,495
Reaction score
6,347
Points
113
Location
Southern maine
Vehicle Year
2023
Make / Model
Ford Bronco
Engine Type
2.3 EcoBoost
Engine Size
2.3
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
2.5"
Tire Size
285/75/18
My credo
Its probably better to be self deprecating than self defecating.
Well, putting car heads (if possible) on a block with a truck cam or vise versa probably isn't optimal.. although.. mabey?

Car chambers might be smaller or something..
 

Ranger850

Doesn't get Sarcasm . . .
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Jan 24, 2018
Messages
8,421
Reaction score
4,659
Points
113
Location
Tallahassee Florida
Vehicle Year
2001
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
Born with a 3.0, looking for a donor V8
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
Stock 2"
Tire Size
Stock
My credo
Doing things wrong, until I get it right.
@stmitch, don't you have some 3.0 knowledge. Do you know IF there were any differences in the cams/heads over the years?
 

rubydist

Well-Known Member
TRS Forum Moderator
Joined
Dec 16, 2016
Messages
985
Reaction score
835
Points
93
Location
Denver
Vehicle Year
2009
Make / Model
Ford Ranger FX4
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
I am 99% sure the transverse engines had different heads than the ones mounted north to south. But that is the extent of my knowledge of the differences in heads through the years.
 

Ranger850

Doesn't get Sarcasm . . .
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Jan 24, 2018
Messages
8,421
Reaction score
4,659
Points
113
Location
Tallahassee Florida
Vehicle Year
2001
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
Born with a 3.0, looking for a donor V8
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
Stock 2"
Tire Size
Stock
My credo
Doing things wrong, until I get it right.
I am 99% sure the transverse engines had different heads than the ones mounted north to south. But that is the extent of my knowledge of the differences in heads through the years.
Well, that's something at least. Thanks @rubydist. Any idea which ones had the better flow?

EDIT: Are you sure they were different heads, or just valve covers? I read somewhere that if I got a Taurus motor to swap into a Ranger, I would have to keep the Ranger Valve covers.
 

Ranger850

Doesn't get Sarcasm . . .
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Jan 24, 2018
Messages
8,421
Reaction score
4,659
Points
113
Location
Tallahassee Florida
Vehicle Year
2001
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
Born with a 3.0, looking for a donor V8
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
Stock 2"
Tire Size
Stock
My credo
Doing things wrong, until I get it right.
Anybody ever heard of Tom Morana?

He seems to be pretty popular on FordForumsOnline.com
 

Roert42

Well-Known Member
RBV's on Boost
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Apr 24, 2020
Messages
4,739
Reaction score
4,883
Points
113
Location
Kintersville, PA
Vehicle Year
2011
Make / Model
Ranger XLT
Engine Size
4.0 SOHC
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Probably the biggest name for performance V6 stuff, at least for ford power plants.
I think PJ spoke to him a while back about his 2.9 build, said it was super old. Not sure how much longer his shop would be around.

Super six motorsports dose a lot with ford V6s too, not sure about the 3.0 though.
 

Ranger850

Doesn't get Sarcasm . . .
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Jan 24, 2018
Messages
8,421
Reaction score
4,659
Points
113
Location
Tallahassee Florida
Vehicle Year
2001
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
Born with a 3.0, looking for a donor V8
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
Stock 2"
Tire Size
Stock
My credo
Doing things wrong, until I get it right.
Probably the biggest name for performance V6 stuff, at least for ford power plants.
I think PJ spoke to him a while back about his 2.9 build, said it was super old. Not sure how much longer his shop would be around.

Super six motorsports dose a lot with ford V6s too, not sure about the 3.0 though.
lurking over on his website, he seems to be "the go to". . . but I ain't got $$$ like that.
Also seems like a good port & polish with the "gasket match" method is what gets the best results. and "cam grinds". (?)
Funny how almost every search ends back here. I found some old archived stuff from RangerPowerSports.com on another forum. That's where i read about Tom Morana. I got to one Taurus performance Forum and they where referencing the Tech Library here on TRS. Cool. . . I guess? I was hoping to find anything new, but can't. I can see why everybody says trying to squeeze performance from a Vulcan is just not worth it. BUT that's the kind of stuff that intrigues me gets me in trouble.
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Truck of The Month


Kirby N.
March Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top