1997 Ranger engine swap

[97ranger22bronco]

I recently got 1997 Ranger with a 2.3L and a manual transmission. I was thinking about updating the engine to the 4.0 L V6 for a bit more power. I also thought that since it was one of the stock options, the swap would be more straight forward then going with a 302 block. Would that be the case?

Also, can I use the same transmission with the bigger block?

 

[97ranger22bronco]

Was looking at these two options:

Ford Mercury 4.0L V6 Remanufactured Engine - 1997-2001 - Powertrain Products

Ford Mercury 4.0L V6 Remanufactured Engine - 1997-2001 by Powertrain Products . OEM quality, backed by the industry's best warranty.

www.powertrainproducts.net

ATK Engines DFT5: Remanufactured Crate Engine for 1997 Ford Explorer, Ranger, & Aerostar with 4.0L V6 - JEGS

Get the Best Performance with ATK Engines Remanufactured Crate Engine for 1997 Ford Explorer, Ranger, & Aerostar with 4.0L V6 DFT5 parts at JEGS. Shop Now at the Guaranteed Lowest Price!

www.jegs.com

 

[Uncle Gump]

The bell housings are for sure different. You'll need a transmission too.

 

[SenorNoob]

Best find a donor. Gonna need at a minimum, engine, transmission, PCM, and some wiring.

 

[RonD]

Swapping engine sizes in Computer controlled vehicles is the same work regardless of new engine size

Need engine and transmission
Computer for that engine size and its wiring harness
Splicing in 12v and ground, harness's are never quite plug and play, lol
Exhaust


Now since you can buy a 1997 4.0l Ranger factory built the engine swap of a 2.3l Ranger to a 4.0l becomes a labor of Love and not really practical
Fixing up the 2.3l Ranger and then selling it, then buying a 4.0l Ranger would be cheaper in most cases, certainly less work, lol

The 1983 to 1992 Rangers and BIIs were a more practical swap to 4.0ls since they used older computer systems and less powerful engines

1997 V8 swap would be better since its about the same work and Ford never made V8 Ranger models for public sale, they did make prototypes
So a V8 Ranger would be special, in my opinion

 

[SenorNoob]

This^

 

[97ranger22bronco]

Got it. The 302 is the recommended block if going the V8 route, right? From what I read that's the biggest that'll fit without cutting?

 

[don4331]

While @RonD might consider swapping 2.3 for 4.0 a labour of love; I consider it a great learning experience for a neophite. You learn all about pulling transmission, pulling engine, wiring, rerouting intake & exhaust with something you can always look at what the factory did. And maybe you do the 4.0 SOHC from a slightly newer Ranger/Explorer into your '97 for almost as much power as a V-8/less weight/better gas economy.

Then once you have skills/tools, branching out to something factory never sold. I hate to see projects listed as started but were too ambitous so never finished.

Even the 302 will require some minor cutting of the HVAC.

302 is recommended as it was found in Explorers - which were bascally Ranger SUVs at the time. So, a lot of the same year generation Explorer just transfers into the Ranger. It still not just drop and drive, but there are few enough issues (and most of those are well documented) that your chances of success are good.

351W has some minor issues with the steering (and a little more issue with the HVAC).

Any other engine requires more work - wiring, intake, exhaust, etc. (not something you want to do for your 1st swap).

 

[97ranger22bronco]

While @RonD might consider swapping 2.3 for 4.0 a labour of love; I consider it a great learning experience for a neophite. You learn all about pulling transmission, pulling engine, wiring, rerouting intake & exhaust with something you can always look at what the factory did. And maybe you do the 4.0 SOHC from a slightly newer Ranger/Explorer into your '97 for almost as much power as a V-8/less weight/better gas economy.

Then once you have skills/tools, branching out to something factory never sold. I hate to see projects listed as started but were too ambitous so never finished.

Even the 302 will require some minor cutting of the HVAC.

302 is recommended as it was found in Explorers - which were bascally Ranger SUVs at the time. So, a lot of the same year generation Explorer just transfers into the Ranger. It still not just drop and drive, but there are few enough issues (and most of those are well documented) that your chances of success are good.

351W has some minor issues with the steering (and a little more issue with the HVAC).

Any other engine requires more work - wiring, intake, exhaust, etc. (not something you want to do for your 1st swap).

@don4331 I really appreciate your thoughts. You're exactly right, to me this truck is a platform for growing my skills, so starting out with, can I get the current engine (2.4) to run; after that moving on to a different engine but not a true 'custom'. Like you said, since the 4.0 was an option it's a step up to swap the engine but does not require as much custom work.

So my long term plan is to get the truck running with the power plant that it has and then later work on a 4.0 swap/rebuild to grow skills. Also, I don't think my wife will let me buy a cherry picker quite yet lol.n