• 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.

Will a 2006 3.0 Taurus motor work in a 03 ranger flex fuel as a swap?


Clean ranger

New Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2020
Messages
3
Reaction score
3
Points
3
Location
Hemet California
Vehicle Year
2003
Make / Model
Ranger
Transmission
Automatic
Hello my name is Eric what a 3.0 2006 Ford Taurus motor work in my 2003 Ford ranger 3.0 with flex fuel as a motor swap or do I need the harness and the computer or will it even fit at all any opinions would be really appreciated I really want to get my truck on the road thank you so much
 

Attachments



Dirtman

Former Middleweight Moss Fighting Champion
Joined
May 28, 2018
Messages
19,304
Reaction score
13,326
Points
113
Location
41N 75W
Vehicle Year
2009
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
It's up there.
Total Drop
It's down there.
Tire Size
Round.
My credo
I poop in the furnace.
I'm assuming your truck currently has a 3.0. If so yes the taurus engine is the same. There was a DOHC 3.0 in the taurus but not in 2006 so it's a direct swap. You'll need to swap over a few things from the old engine (I believe the intake manifolds are different).

If your truck currently doesn't have a 3.0... it's a terrible swap.
 

rusty ol ranger

2.9 Mafia-Don
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
12,400
Reaction score
7,495
Points
113
Location
Michigan
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
177 CID
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...
I'm assuming your truck currently has a 3.0. If so yes the taurus engine is the same. There was a DOHC 3.0 in the taurus but not in 2006 so it's a direct swap. You'll need to swap over a few things from the old engine (I believe the intake manifolds are different).

If your truck currently doesn't have a 3.0... it's a terrible swap.
You sure the DOHC wasnt around in 06?

That pile of shit i took to the junkyard was an 04 and it had a DOHC.
 

Dirtman

Former Middleweight Moss Fighting Champion
Joined
May 28, 2018
Messages
19,304
Reaction score
13,326
Points
113
Location
41N 75W
Vehicle Year
2009
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
It's up there.
Total Drop
It's down there.
Tire Size
Round.
My credo
I poop in the furnace.
They dropped the DOHC as an option in 2006, it was only in 2000-2005 models. The vulcan was the only option for 2006 and 2007. 2008+ got the 3.5.
 
Last edited:

rusty ol ranger

2.9 Mafia-Don
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
12,400
Reaction score
7,495
Points
113
Location
Michigan
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
177 CID
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...
They dropped the DOHC as an option in 2006, it was only in 2000-2005 models. The vulcan was the only option for 2006 and 2007. 2008+ got the 3.5.
Gotcha.
 

1990RangerinSK

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2016
Messages
2,346
Reaction score
1,312
Points
113
Location
Saskatchewan, Canada
Vehicle Year
1990
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
They dropped the DOHC as an option in 2006, it was only in 2000-2005 models. The vulcan was the only option for 2006 and 2007. 2008+ got the 3.5.
Nu-uh! DOHC was first offered in 1996.
 

Dirtman

Former Middleweight Moss Fighting Champion
Joined
May 28, 2018
Messages
19,304
Reaction score
13,326
Points
113
Location
41N 75W
Vehicle Year
2009
Engine Type
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Lift
It's up there.
Total Drop
It's down there.
Tire Size
Round.
My credo
I poop in the furnace.

Josh B

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Aug 15, 2019
Messages
4,005
Reaction score
1,986
Points
113
Location
Oklahoma
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Thinking I might find it rather difficult explaining what yall just explained to the OP ;)

and BTW Eric, howdy, and welcome to TRS
 

Clean ranger

New Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2020
Messages
3
Reaction score
3
Points
3
Location
Hemet California
Vehicle Year
2003
Make / Model
Ranger
Transmission
Automatic
Dirt man thank
I'm assuming your truck currently has a 3.0. If so yes the taurus engine is the same. There was a DOHC 3.0 in the taurus but not in 2006 so it's a direct swap. You'll need to swap over a few things from the old engine (I believe the intake manifolds are different).

If your truck currently doesn't have a 3.0... it's a terrible swap.
Dirtman thanks so much for your help
 

stmitch

March 2011 STOTM Winner
MTOTM Winner
2011 Truck of The Year
Joined
Jan 29, 2010
Messages
2,286
Reaction score
647
Points
113
Location
Central Indiana
Vehicle Year
2000
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
3.0
Transmission
Manual
The only non-obvious part of this swap is reusing your Ranger fuel injectors. IF both engines are flex fuel, you don't need to swap injectors, but I probably would reuse the Ranger parts assuming they're still good. They're right there anyway when you replace the lower intake manifold.

If you're capable of an engine swap, everything else should be pretty obvious (manifolds, water pump, possibly oil pan, etc).
 

Clean ranger

New Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2020
Messages
3
Reaction score
3
Points
3
Location
Hemet California
Vehicle Year
2003
Make / Model
Ranger
Transmission
Automatic
The only non-obvious part of this swap is reusing your Ranger fuel injectors. IF both engines are flex fuel, you don't need to swap injectors, but I probably would reuse the Ranger parts assuming they're still good. They're right there anyway when you replace the lower intake manifold.

If you're capable of an engine swap, everything else should be pretty obvious (manifolds, water pump, possibly oil pan, etc).
Stmitch thank you so much for all the info I really appreciate it everybody is very very helpful on this site
 

fixizin

FoMoCo is forcing me to buy a 'yota
Supporting Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2008
Messages
1,045
Reaction score
114
Points
63
Location
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Vehicle Year
99
Make / Model
XL Spurt
Engine Type
3.0 V6
Engine Size
3.0 (Flex)
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
A properly suspensioned Ranger can be safely airborne for up to 4 seconds at a time! =:O
I thought the head gaskets were different, due to coolant flow paths, i.e. transverse+tilted mounting in Taurus vs. "conventional" orientation in Ranger?????
 

rubydist

Well-Known Member
TRS Forum Moderator
Joined
Dec 16, 2016
Messages
1,027
Reaction score
858
Points
113
Location
Denver
Vehicle Year
2009
Make / Model
Ford Ranger FX4
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
No, the fwd block is significantly different from the rwd block and they will not interchange. The engine mount locations are different, the accessory locations are different, etc. etc.
 

stmitch

March 2011 STOTM Winner
MTOTM Winner
2011 Truck of The Year
Joined
Jan 29, 2010
Messages
2,286
Reaction score
647
Points
113
Location
Central Indiana
Vehicle Year
2000
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
3.0
Transmission
Manual
No, the fwd block is significantly different from the rwd block and they will not interchange. The engine mount locations are different, the accessory locations are different, etc. etc.
I had zero issues putting an 03 Taurus engine into my 00 Ranger. Plenty of others have done the same. The oilpan even fit the engine cross member a little better IMO. As long as you make sure that the Taurus engine is an OHV Vulcan engine and not a DOHC Duratec, it's a drop in and bolt up swap.
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Members 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


Shran
April 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