- Joined
- Jun 2, 2012
- Messages
- 25,291
- Reaction score
- 8,296
- Points
- 113
- Location
- canada
- Vehicle Year
- 1994
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Transmission
- Manual
The 3.0l Vulcan engine is designed as a high RPM engine, makes best torque at 3,600(1991), most other engines make best torque at 2,600rpms
3.0l specs here: https://therangerstation.com/tech_library/3_0performance.shtml
2.9l specs here, used until 1992 in Rangers: https://therangerstation.com/tech_library/2_9_Page.shtml
BOTH used the same automatic trans with same shift points
In a manual you can drive it as it was designed, high rpm shifts, for best power so best MPG, yes they do go hand in hand
In an automatic the shift points are designed for a 2,600rpm engine so you are basically lugging the engine around town and even on the highway, which will show up as low MPG.
The 3.0l Vulcan is 1986 technology so won't ever match newer V6s or even V8s for MPG but in an automatic its really down.
You could go with a 4.10 ratio rear axle, limited slip of course, lol, that should raise up the RPMs a bit for computers shift points, and highway cruising.
You can get a complete used L/S Ranger axle for not too much and it is just a bolt in project, although the U-bolts can be a b*cth, so may be cut them off and use new
3.0l specs here: https://therangerstation.com/tech_library/3_0performance.shtml
2.9l specs here, used until 1992 in Rangers: https://therangerstation.com/tech_library/2_9_Page.shtml
BOTH used the same automatic trans with same shift points
In a manual you can drive it as it was designed, high rpm shifts, for best power so best MPG, yes they do go hand in hand
In an automatic the shift points are designed for a 2,600rpm engine so you are basically lugging the engine around town and even on the highway, which will show up as low MPG.
The 3.0l Vulcan is 1986 technology so won't ever match newer V6s or even V8s for MPG but in an automatic its really down.
You could go with a 4.10 ratio rear axle, limited slip of course, lol, that should raise up the RPMs a bit for computers shift points, and highway cruising.
You can get a complete used L/S Ranger axle for not too much and it is just a bolt in project, although the U-bolts can be a b*cth, so may be cut them off and use new
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