This may be crazy but let me explain

[Acefirebat]

Hi all, new member and first real post other then my introduction post. I have a 1999 ford ranger 4.0l stock as it sits right now. I have a few other trucks that I've made custom as far as looks and what I use them for, but my ranger has always just been my workhorse daily driver and I'm finally gonna make a project all about her. What I have in mind right now is to buy a Morana Racing stroker kit for it. Turning the stock 4.0l into what they call a 4.3l it sounds really amazing theres a video of it installed in a ford Taurus and it seems like it would preform really well. However that's the only real thing I could find as far as performance parts for the 4.0 goes. I'd really like to make her into a mini power house and maybe lift her and throw 33 inch tires on it. Spitball some ideas or thoughts with me please.

 

[tinman_72]

I don't know a lot about 4.0's but spending 3 grand on a stroker kit for an additional 0.3 liters doesn't seem cost worthy to me. I would look more into heads, intake, and exhaust.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

A 351 would be cheaper and yeild more power

 

[Dirtman]

There is a 4.0 supercharger kit available somewhere...

Yes, a 302/351 will make more power cheaper than trying to build a 4.0. But people build all sorts of strange engines that could easily be replaced by something better for cheaper so if you have the money and just wanna be weird, why not build a 4.0.

Look at @PetroleumJunkie412's 2.9. That thing makes no logical sense!

 

[rusty ol ranger]

There is a 4.0 supercharger kit available somewhere...

Yes, a 302/351 will make more power cheaper than trying to build a 4.0. But people build all sorts of strange engines that could easily be replaced by something better for cheaper so if you have the money and just wanna be weird, why not build a 4.0.

If hes going for the one off factor sure. But bang for your buck in a ranger its hard to beat a 302/351.

 

[RonD]

Yes, +1 on the above

Your current 4.0l OHV is a very reliable engine with 160HP and 220ft/lb torque
The stroker kit takes it to 190HP and 250ft/lb, but $2,500+
(Make sure you are not reading about the 3.8l to 4.3l stroker kit)


A V8 conversion would be more practical for power and cost
The Explorer stock V8(5.0l) was 215HP, and 280ft/lb torque
And there are loads of upgrades for the 302(5.0l) V8, if you wanted even more power

And as the saying goes, "there is no replacement for displacement"
Which is why the 4.0l to 4.3l adds power
But the 4.0l to 5.0l adds even more power and a more reliable choice

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Yes, +1 on the above

Your current 4.0l OHV is a very reliable engine with 160HP and 220ft/lb torque
The stroker kit takes it to 190HP and 250ft/lb, but $2,500+
(Make sure you are not reading about the 3.8l to 4.3l stroker kit)


A V8 conversion would be more practical for power and cost
The Explorer stock V8(5.0l) was 215HP, and 280ft/lb torque
And there are loads of upgrades for the 302(5.0l) V8, if you wanted even more power

And as the saying goes, "there is no replacement for displacement"
Which is why the 4.0l to 4.3l adds power
But the 4.0l to 5.0l adds even more power and a more reliable choice

Or if youre froggy and dont have emissions you can step up to your 94-97 truck 351 windsor thatll get you slightly less ponies at 210hp....but a huge gain in torque (which is what you'll feel) at 325ftlbs.

 

[Roert42]

There is a 4.0 supercharger kit available somewhere...

Moddbox has them, but they are only for SOHC 4.0Ls

 

[Dirtman]

Moddbox has them, but they are only for SOHC 4.0Ls

I could have sworn someone made them for the OHVs. Wasn't there even a factory supercharged v6 mustang in the 90s?

 

[Roert42]

I could have sworn someone made them for the OHVs. Wasn't there even a factory supercharged v6 mustang in the 90s?

Not Mustang, ThunderBird Super Coupe. That was a 3.8 ohv not 4.0, mustangs didn't use 4.0 until the sohc anyway.

 

[Dirtman]

Not Mustang, ThunderBird Super Coupe. That was a 3.8 ohv not 4.0, mustangs didn't use 4.0 until the sohc anyway.

Yous is smart...

 

[Roert42]

Yous is smart...

If I'm so smart why do I have a supercharged v6 ranger?

Seems like a lot of poor choices all rolled into one.

 

[fastpakr]

I could have sworn someone made them for the OHVs. Wasn't there even a factory supercharged v6 mustang in the 90s?

I don't remember a factory supercharged V6 Mustang, no. But there was definitely an OHV 4.0 system available - many years ago. Explorer Express or BBK come to mind.

 

[Acefirebat]

Okay so swapping to a 302/351 how easy is it to bolt in? Would that require custom mounts or anything fancy? I'm really not trying to make it a one of a kind deal I just figured keeping a 4.0 block would be the easiest option as far as bolting to hardware that's already there. I definitely want to get more power for the price especially when upgrades and parts would be easier to find.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Okay so swapping to a 302/351 how easy is it to bolt in? Would that require custom mounts or anything fancy? I'm really not trying to make it a one of a kind deal I just figured keeping a 4.0 block would be the easiest option as far as bolting to hardware that's already there. I definitely want to get more power for the price especially when upgrades and parts would be easier to find.

Youll need trans, motor mounts, wireing/ecu (unless you save the headache and go carb)...numerous other odds and ends.

Yes its "eaiser" to mod the 4.0 but the work to gain ratio sucks.