3.0 power

[James86]

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.

That's me to a tee I guess... I rarely tow and when I do it's nothing absurd, and I'm more interested in longetivity than firebreathing. As far a sfalling on it's face above 3000rpm, I' honestly don't know what you're talking about though. COMpared to my 1999 Cherokee 4.0 with a 5spd, THAT thing got wheezy in the upper RPMS, whereas this truck seems ot fly up to 80 easily when I kick down to pass and such. Must be gearing since I see so many people one here say they have 3.73's and I have 4.10s. In concession though, I drove the father in law's 1998 3.0 with a 5sp and that thing DID feel a lot less enthusiastic than my truck.

 

[Gotta_gofast]

When did I say the 3.0L looses steam past 3000rpm? The 3.0L has NO steam until then. It is a motor that needs to spin. Still, it will "fall on its face" above normal highway speeds. It made for a decent motor in the taurus because the taurus is more aerodynamic. Therefore, it requires less power to move at highway speeds. But my old 3.0L and my buddies 93 2wd ranger with 4.0L OHV really struggle to accelerate past 75mph. Not saying they wont, but I wouldn't hold my breath lol.

The Jeep 4.0Ls can be decieving because they have a very flat torque curve. You never feel the pickup point where the powerband comes on because there really isn't any. The 3.0L may feel fast because it lacks punch until the mid-top end.

 

[03ranger30]

I am perfectly content on my 3.0, it is still pretty quick for being what it is, and mine isn't stock (intake and pulley), but I know that it will never be fast, which is why I am not going to drop anymore money into the engine. I will get a mustang or something if I want to go fast.

 

[James86]

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.

My mistake, I misread that I think, but I still have't felt my truck "fall on it's face." Not much happens below 3K, but off the line I can usually catch a pretty good jump on people. Passing is also pretty effortless and it'll jump past 80mph no problem, and I've easily buried my 120MPH speedo more than once. It's that lag between flooring it and the 1st-2nd shift I notice a lack of lower torque, but from what I can gather, most 3.0s have 3.73's or something, not 4.10s - I even started a thread on here once to see how many people had 4.10's from the factory and evidently not a lot. I don't fault people for preferring certain motors, but it all boils down to preference and purpose. If someone wants to tweak their 3.0 to be a high RPM screamer instead of a stump puller, so be it. I just like to root for the underdog I guess

 

[Earl43P]

My mistake, I misread that I think, but I still have't felt my truck "fall on it's face." Not much happens below 3K, but off the line I can usually catch a pretty good jump on people. Passing is also pretty effortless and it'll jump past 80mph no problem, and I've easily buried my 120MPH speedo more than once. It's that lag between flooring it and the 1st-2nd shift I notice a lack of lower torque, but from what I can gather, most 3.0s have 3.73's or something, not 4.10s - I even started a thread on here once to see how many people had 4.10's from the factory and evidently not a lot. I don't fault people for preferring certain motors, but it all boils down to preference and purpose. If someone wants to tweak their 3.0 to be a high RPM screamer instead of a stump puller, so be it. I just like to root for the underdog I guess

Speed limiter is set at about 92-93 mph.
I've hit it 4th and 5th gear (in my 2000 4wd 3.0 MO5D with 4.10s) many times.

The ONLY way you exceeded that 92 mph speed limiter is IF you have a custom tune in your PCM or a tuner installed that deleted the speed limiter or if you disconnected the rear VSS signal, in which case your speedometer won't work.

I pretty much agreed with every other comment you made, supporting the 3.0 as a solid performer (above 3k rpm) until you wrote that total BS.

I found that the cheapest way to make it "quicker" is to install smaller diameter tires (which I did, from stock 245-75-16s to 235-75-15s). I believe the math came out to an effective ratio of 4.33 with that tire size change, compared to stock Off-Road package 4.10s.

The only time that truck fell on its face is when I exceeded the rpm limiter (5500 rpm) in second or 3rd gear - it's like hitting the brake. And I had that happen quite a few times as well. I pretty much pounded that truck from delivery, brand new. My son still has it.

 

[Rearanger]

from what I can gather, most 3.0s have 3.73's or something, not 4.10s - I even started a thread on here once to see how many people had 4.10's from the factory and evidently not a lot.

My choice for the 3:73 was because it came limited slip, the 4:10 did not.

 

[Earl43P]

LS was an option, which I got in my 8.8" w/ 4.10s..
It was less than $200 extra and the fleet manager that ordered my truck tried to talk me out of it (and failed).

I drove a guy's 03 3.0 with 3.73 open, 2wd and an auto transmission. Turd is the word.
But he was happy with it (until he rode in mine).

 

[callahantay]

would a 5.0 swap be eaiser than a 4.0?

 

[Gotta_gofast]

would a 5.0 swap be eaiser than a 4.0?

What year is your truck? A V8 swap isn't something most first timers can do in a weekend so its best to have a second vehicle. Source out all of your parts (5.0L explorers are good sources). There are links in the tech library you should read.

 

[callahantay]

97 its also 4x4 i have another car i just didnt know if the 4.0 would be worth it or if the 5.0 it too much of a hassel

 

[James86]

Speed limiter is set at about 92-93 mph.
I've hit it 4th and 5th gear (in my 2000 4wd 3.0 MO5D with 4.10s) many times.

I've done it. I don't know why it wouldn't hit the governer, but it does break 100.

 

[haze3o]

i love my 3.0 and yes its true once you have romped on a 4.0 all day and then drive your 3.o the though WTF is this tinker toy does cross your mind however driven correctly excellent milage and performance can be seen. 50% driver 50% truck