3.0 Flex build

[pvtmikes]

Need a lil help. Got a 2000 Ford Ranger XL super cab and the 3.0 Flex is tired. Want to rebuild it but need a lil more power, any suggestions? I thought about a cam, roller lifters, headers but I live in California and don't know what will be legal. Asked around and getting run around. Any help would be appreciated. God Bless Our Troops.

Mikes

 

[stmitch]

Depends what your budget and performance goals are. If you're going to have the motor apart, I'd atleast port and polish the heads and intake manifolds. The castings are really rough, and even just a minor gasket matching them will help the engine breathe much more easily. Plus it's cheap if you do it yourself, just takes time and sanding cones/paper. Roller rockers and a good tune would be icing on the cake. An underdrive crank pulley, an e-fan conversion, and exhaust are easy and cheap mods that made a big difference for me compared to stock. JBA makes headers with and without an egr option too, so those wouldn't hurt your emissions at all either.
I've got some decent pics of the work I've done on my supercharged 3.0 ffv that may help in my build thread: http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102433&page=9
Also have some before/after pics of the ported lower intake manifold here: http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=104849

 

[jrpdash9]

I modified the mass air flow housing on mine and I got a slight power increase I'll take a pic later.

 

[pvtmikes]

Thanks for the info, I appreciate it. I will keep in touch while in the build.

 

[James86]

SO far I've ported and polished the MAF housing, and put on a 2.5" cat-back set up with a Flowmaster 40 muffler. Thing seems to come alive after 3,000rpm. Thought about digging deeper inot the motor, but it ain't broke yet, so don't need to "fix" anything. What gears are you running? I've got 4.10s and my truck gets up and goes pretty good for an auto.

 

[pvtmikes]

@james, Im still running 3.73 on 30" all-terrains. I swapped out the 7.5 with an 8.8 with 31 spline axles and posi.The front ifs has a locker. Im pondering the idea after the engine swap on doing a straight axle conv. I have a design for a rear kid racing seat install instead of the cheap side seat.

 

[James86]

With a 3.0 I'd think 4.10's are a better fit, at least with an auto. Drove a 3.73 3.0 with a 5 spd and the thing was a turd comparatively speaking.

 

[pvtmikes]

mine isn't too bad. I will do the gear swap after I do the motor. Gotta see how much it will run me to do the motor like stmitch.

 

[stmitch]

mine isn't too bad. I will do the gear swap after I do the motor. Gotta see how much it will run me to do the motor like stmitch.

I believe James has an Extended cab truck with 4wd and Auto trans, so his truck is about as heavy as a 3.0 Ranger gets. 3.73's move my lighter 2wd regular cab truck pretty well on the street. If you go offroad with yours or have oversized tires, 4.10s might be a good investment, but I wouldn't worry about them to much for a street driven truck.
As for cost, I've got over 3000 in mine plus the supercharger and the supporting stuff (gauges, injectors, fuel pump etc). I've made some of that money back by sellling off the original engine, and other parts I didn't need from the donor though. Your costs will vary obviously, depending on how deep into the rabbit hole you want to go.

 

[James86]

I believe James has an Extended cab truck with 4wd and Auto trans, so his truck is about as heavy as a 3.0 Ranger gets.

You forgot the fiberglass topper and that I switched from alloys to steelies, otherwise, you pretty much nailed it lol.

If you do build up your 3.0, I'd love to see a thread showing it's progress.... I need another 3.0 to drool over besides stmitch's