3.0 power

[callahantay]

any cheap way to get some power out of a 3.0? i know headers and stuff but thats $600+ i thought about making my own but idk any ideas?

 

[06RangerXLT]

buy a 4.0 or 5.0 and swap them. the 3.0 is a fuel hungry powerless pig, unfortunately. Theres nothing you can do for much under $450. and even then its really not worth the $$$

 

[callahantay]

like a ranger 4.0?

 

[Froggmann]

The 3.0 will never be a power house, a little bit of power can be freed up for a reasonable price--after that it will get expensive for little gained. U/D crank pulley and E-fan is a good place to start, frees up some power and improves fuel economy.

 

[Colin]

...no a bwm 4.0

of course a ranger 4.0, that or an explorer 4.0 since its the same engine

 

[James86]

Never ask what can be done to a 3.0 without the 4.0/v8 crowd telling you to swap....

That said, the 3.0 is what it is. If you think you need that extra 5-10HP and low end torque, and you have the money for a different engine/tranny/computer, then go 4.0, but if I was throwing that kind of money at it and rippping it all out, I'd just go 5.0 and be done with it. All I've done is ported and polished the MAF, trim the hole bigger on the front of the airbox, replace the rubber hose from the airbox with a straight plastic one, and put a 2.5" cat-back exhaust on mine with a flowmaster 40. Mine came with 4.10's so I don't know about this "pig" behavior everyone else talks about, and I get better mileage with my 3.0 on E85 than my co-worker's 4.0 SOHC stock.

 

[callahantay]

yea i thought about buying a wreaked ranger or someting with the 4 but i dont know what ill do

 

[James86]

My question is, what made you come to the conclusion the 3.0 is underpowered? Most 4.0 people I know have never driven a 3.0, and when one or two drove my 3.0, they said it wasn't bad. It's been my experience that of the half dozen or so people I know with V6 powered RBV's, only 3 of us have ever owned a 3.0 and we're content with them.

 

[Gotta_gofast]

In short, I did a lot to my old 3.0L with 5 speed ranging from ported heads, cam, roller rockers, headers, UD pulley, e-fan. Then I took a new 4.0L SOHC out for a test drive for shits one day (the truck in my sig) and ended up trading my old ranger with the 3.0L that day.

The extra torque (that the 3.0L lacks) makes the truck feel like a beast. The 3.0L with everything installed did make more top end power, but knowing what I do now I would never do it again. I get the same fuel mileage with my new truck (and its better when I tow my trailer).

The only real gain to be had is by forcing more air down its throat. A turbocharger or fabbing up a supercharger system is going to be the only "real" difference.

 

[James86]

Every engine has it's strengths and weaknesses, just depends on what you use it for. Here's what my 1999 Ranger manual says for HP and torque:

 

[callahantay]

well my 3.0 is an absolute turd it may be just mine idk

 

[Gotta_gofast]

well my 3.0 is an absolute turd it may be just mine idk

Auto or manual transmission? Swapping to a manual if you do not already have one will help you out some. But all in all the 3.0Ls are what they are. I remember being extremely frustrated when I first bought my old truck and all I had to that 3.0L at the time was exhaust and UD pulley/efan trying to tow my father's boat to our cabin. It was struggling to keep up with traffic on the interstate (70mph) in 4th, and I would have to downshift to 3rd to keep from loosing speed when a gust of headwind hit or a slight grade was present. The new truck pulls said boat to the same cabin on the same roads in overdrive rarely unlocking the torque converter.

James comparison on similar horsepower between the 3.0L and 4.0L OHV can be seen when accelerating past 75mph (both motors fall on their face). But off the line and in the midrange when towing even the 4.0L OHV will embarrass the 3.0L (that belongs in the taurus). What the 4.0L OHV can do all day at 3000rpm would require that same 3.0L to be screaming at 4000+rpm.

Personally, I'll never purchase another ranger with a 3.0L V6. BUT, this little six has a reputation for reliability. Its not going to win any races, and its not going to tow a house.... so if these are your honest goals then you have the wrong motor. If you tow light loads and don't pick fights at the stop light then be happy with the 3.0l. As far as performance, it is possible to make more horsepower. You can either turn more rpm so that there is more work being done in a given time (which is NOT what you want in a truck), you can gain more power chemically (nitrous baby) and you can force more air into the engine. IMO, the 3.0 would love some mild boost. I wasn't willing to go that far at the time because I had a 2wd ranger with a 306 that I'd rather make go fast.

 

[lsittingbull]

Dang. I totaled my 98 2.5 ranger and bought a 99 Auto with extended cab 3.0. my 2.5 would rev harder than this anchor. And so far burns just as much or more gas than my 2.5. Im looking for a Aftermarket cold air, exhaust and hopefully get a chip or something. This thing sounds like a farmall 140.

 

[callahantay]

manual

 

[callahantay]

i havent had a problem with the motor yet so i cant complain there and i bought a chevy 3500 with a 454 so im thinking this will be my power house and the 3.0 will be the gas saver