Hey Ford!!! Screw you guys!!!!

[19Walt93]

The 3,0 Vulcan was engineered for the 86 Taurus, it was simple, compact, and worked great in the Taurus-once we got all the piston slapping 86's and broken head bolt 87's fixed. I think part of it's success was the 4 speed transaxle that helped it stay in it's power band. I bought a new 99 Taurus with the 3.0 Duratec, sold it to one of my techs at 192,000 miles, and he drove it 2 more years. Duratec's came geared lower than Vulcan's because they had a higher torque peak, Vulcan's often got better mileage for that reason. I've never cared for the 3.0 in a Ranger and it was pathetic in a Windstar but that doesn't mean it's a bad engine. When taken apart the resemblance to the FE series is more apparent.
I initially forgot to mention, the Vulcan was used in the first generation Probe and could be had with a 5 speed in a Tempo, which worked slick. Sporty Tempo is an oxymoron, but they drove nice. The Tempo 2.3 hsc was an uninspiring work horse like the Falcon six it descended from.

 

[19Walt93]

ADSM08, don't feel bad about the timing slipping, if you're actually doing anything you'll make a mistake once in a while. You fixed it, end of story. I know you've mentioned flat rate before, cases like this are part of my objection to that pay plan: it financially punishes a tech for not being perfect. Nobody's perfect.

 

[19Walt93]

Ford built a bunch of 2.0 engines, early Pinto's got the EAO 2.0 ohc P.O.S. before the 2.3 Lima arrived, Rangers got a 2.0 that was 2.3 Lima based, Escorts got the 2.0 SPI- based on the early 1.6 and 1.9 and it was a workhorse but noisy, Escort ZX2's got the 2.0 Zetec and were pretty snotty, I think Probes got a 2.0 Mazda(didn't like them, didn't pay attention), Focus got the 2.0 SPI, 2.0 Zetec, and 2.0 Duratec, the EcoBoost 2.0 is a Duratec converted to direct injection and turbo'd. Ford being Ford, almost nothing interchanges between them.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

That's not a translation, but more of a rearrangement of the same words. Unless American to Canadian needs translation?
Yes, the Subject of the question that I was answering was "why does the 3.o get so much hate" and yes, I was referring to the Lima Family of engines when I was referring to the I4's.

The 3.0 Vulcan has very little, if anything, to do with the other Cologne or Lima engines.

To kinda build on what 90 said I have heard it say that the 3.0 combines the 2.3 (mainly Duratec) power with the mileage of a 4.0.

Never been around one but I have heard that said more than a couple times on here.

So yeah, if you twist it around it could be about the same engine performancewise as a 2.3.

The 3.0 is really a pretty sophisticated little engine. Roller cam, pedestal rockers... kinda make all the colognes aside from the rube goldberg SOHC 4.0 look kind of archaic. I make fun of them (mainly for @ericbphoto 's benefit) but they are a neat little engine. From a durability standpoint IMO they are probably the best overall V6 put in a Ranger.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

here.

The 3.0 is really a pretty sophisticated little engine. Roller cam, pedestal rockers... kinda make all the colognes aside from the rube goldberg SOHC 4.0 look kind of archaic. I make fun of them (mainly for @ericbphoto 's benefit) but they are a neat little engine. From a durability standpoint IMO they are probably the best overall V6 put in a Ranger.

Most sophiscated but still manage to get their ass handed to them by what basically boils down to a circa 1971 2.8 with EFI. (2.9).

Also, the 2.9 can be, and is just as durable assuming someone doesnt do something dumb and overheat it.

The highest mileage RBV on TRS was a 2.9. Last i knew it had 660,000 miles and never been apart, it was a 86 or 87 BII with a 2.9.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

This discussion of the Limas, Colognes, and Vulcan got me thinking...These are pretty badass motors, why are they so (relatively) wimpy! Especially the 3.SLOW!
Also they are used in so many vehicles for so many years, I am surprised there is not a huge aftermarket for them, compared to say the 4.6, 5.0 or chevy LS motors....Even the 460 can be bought in a crate, or built to hell off a catalog.

Does anyone even make a bolt in turbo or s/c kit for any of these engines?

I dont get why it would take lots of mods, parts hunting and matching, machine work, time and money to get 250 rwp out of a 4.0 ohv.
I know they are made for torque, but even still increasing numbers to near today's standards seems maybe downright impossible.

Are they just made for reliability, not power, or was it technology and cost limitations?

I feel like these engines have way more potential, or perhaps the moderate performance is what makes them last forever...everything's a compromise lol. Maybe I dont know shit and am talking out of my ass, but do wonder about the non v8 ford motors. Maybe its an untapped market

 

[snoranger]

This discussion of the Limas, Colognes, and Vulcan got me thinking...These are pretty badass motors, why are they so (relatively) wimpy! Especially the 3.SLOW!
Also they are used in so many vehicles for so many years, I am surprised there is not a huge aftermarket for them, compared to say the 4.6, 5.0 or chevy LS motors....Even the 460 can be bought in a crate, or built to hell off a catalog.

Does anyone even make a bolt in turbo or s/c kit for any of these engines?

I dont get why it would take lots of mods, parts hunting and matching, machine work, time and money to get 250 rwp out of a 4.0 ohv.
I know they are made for torque, but even still increasing numbers to near today's standards seems maybe downright impossible.

Are they just made for reliability, not power, or was it technology and cost limitations?

I feel like these engines have way more potential, or perhaps the moderate performance is what makes them last forever...everything's a compromise lol. Maybe I dont know shit and am talking out of my ass, but do wonder about the non v8 ford motors. Maybe its an untapped market

There’s no or limited after market because they’re missing 2 or 4 cylinders... ‘Merica!!!

Up until the first Fast and Furious movie came out, if it didn’t have a V8... it wasn’t worth modifying.

 

[Dirtman]

Limas have a huge aftermarket and are widely used in racing, especially popular in dirt track racing, and turbo models were built from the factory.

Vulcans were made to be mom and pop sedan engines. They are reliable and plentiful but aren't amazing in any particular way so why bother.

Colognes have been used in racing, especially in Europe where they were born. Plenty of aftermarket parts are made for these engines including supercharger kits.

Duratecs are used in formula racing

 

[rusty ol ranger]

This discussion of the Limas, Colognes, and Vulcan got me thinking...These are pretty badass motors, why are they so (relatively) wimpy! Especially the 3.SLOW!
Also they are used in so many vehicles for so many years, I am surprised there is not a huge aftermarket for them, compared to say the 4.6, 5.0 or chevy LS motors....Even the 460 can be bought in a crate, or built to hell off a catalog.

Does anyone even make a bolt in turbo or s/c kit for any of these engines?

I dont get why it would take lots of mods, parts hunting and matching, machine work, time and money to get 250 rwp out of a 4.0 ohv.
I know they are made for torque, but even still increasing numbers to near today's standards seems maybe downright impossible.

Are they just made for reliability, not power, or was it technology and cost limitations?

I feel like these engines have way more potential, or perhaps the moderate performance is what makes them last forever...everything's a compromise lol. Maybe I dont know shit and am talking out of my ass, but do wonder about the non v8 ford motors. Maybe its an untapped market

Ask @PetroleumJunkie412 about his 2.9 build. Not sure if he wants me to blurt the numbers out hes thinking....but lets say its well north of what even i thought.

The 2.9 espicially was actually sought after for performance in europe. The potential is there, but the US got the 2.9 that was more tuned for truck duty rather then all out performance.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Most sophiscated but still manage to get their ass handed to them by what basically boils down to a circa 1971 2.8 with EFI. (2.9).

Also, the 2.9 can be, and is just as durable assuming someone doesnt do something dumb and overheat it.

The highest mileage RBV on TRS was a 2.9. Last i knew it had 660,000 miles and never been apart, it was a 86 or 87 BII with a 2.9.

Yeah, a debored stroked 2.8 with better flowing heads.

2.9's can be good but a lot of them are no longer with us because of the head issues. PJ had some rather interesting production issues he found with his engine. And they had lifter noise issues which drove people nuts too.

I guess I mainly consider the 3.0 for the later trucks. Want a 4wd but don't want 10 miles of timing chain fun? Get a 3.0. Against the 4.0 in a second gen it is a little tougher sell.

This discussion of the Limas, Colognes, and Vulcan got me thinking...These are pretty badass motors, why are they so (relatively) wimpy! Especially the 3.SLOW!
Also they are used in so many vehicles for so many years, I am surprised there is not a huge aftermarket for them, compared to say the 4.6, 5.0 or chevy LS motors....Even the 460 can be bought in a crate, or built to hell off a catalog.

Does anyone even make a bolt in turbo or s/c kit for any of these engines?

3.0 had Whipple, 4.0 had Banshee supercharger kits. Whippleis obsolete, I think you can still get Banshee stuff.

As things get older demand drops off and aftermarket dries up...

 

[Dirtman]

As things get older demand drops off and aftermarket dries up...

I dunno 2.3 limas are almost 50 years old and you can still buy brand new crate race engines. Somethings are just timeless.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I dunno 2.3 limas are almost 50 years old and you can still buy brand new crate race engines. Somethings are just timeless.

Yeah, there is a certain threshold you have to hit for sure that slows the decline.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I dunno 2.3 limas are almost 50 years old and you can still buy brand new crate race engines. Somethings are just timeless.

Im sure 90% are NOS as they dont sell.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Im sure 90% are NOS as they dont sell.

Don’t the little midget racers run them? Some kind of dirt track thing iirc.

 

[Dirtman]

Yes they are a pretty standard motor for 4 cylinder sprint cars.

Im sure 90% are NOS as they dont sell.

Several companies make them 100% new for racing.

Don’t the little midget racers run them? Some kind of dirt track thing iirc.

Yep, they are still one of the main engines for 4 cylinder sprint cars, some classes REQUIRE the 2.3 lima since you have to purchase the engine from the track.. Also popular in outlaw stocks.