3.0 to 4.0

[kman]

what all will i need to do this its a 97 3.0 4x4 5speed and i'm looking to buy a 95 4.0 2wd 5 speed was wondering if i could hook my transfer case to the 2wd tranny or if there is a way i can use parts from both trannys and make one work for a while what will i be looking for to switching over. i want the of the 4.0 that the little 3.0 don't have

 

[stmitch]

The 4.0 OHV that came in pre 01 Ranger's isn't much of an upgrade over the 3.0 as far as performance goes, at least in my opinion. The 4.0 OHV was listed at 160hp/220lb ft. The 3.0 was listed at 147/160. (according to the tech section here)
It just seems like a lot of work for less than stellar gains to me. You'd be doing the same amount of work to put the 4.0 in as you would a 5.0, so why not just swap in an engine with the potential to make some real power?

 

[kman]

well for one a 5.0 is going to use more gas and it can make thing hard to change when they go back because the thing take up every inch of the engine bay and you can make the 4.0s have power there is a lot more aftermarket parts for the 4.0 then the 3.0

 

[stmitch]

Most of the mods that I've seen for the 4.0 are for the SOHC motor, and not the OHV engine in the truck you're looking at. If you've got planned mods for the 4.0, make sure they'll work on the OHV engine before you buy the other truck. Why would you want to go through all of the work of swapping in a new drivetrain though, and then have to add more mods to get the power you want?
From what I've seen, the 3.0 and 4.0 OHV have pretty similar options as far as aftermarket performance goes. Out of curiosity, what were you wanting to do to the 4.0 that you couldn't do to the 3.0?

As far as fuel economy is concerned, the 97 Ranger 4.0 OHV 4X4 5spd was rated at 15mpg city and 19hwy. Here's a link: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/13789.shtml
The 97 explorer 5.0 4X4 Auto trans was rated at 12 city/17 hwy, but that was in a much heavier vehicle with an auto trans. Here's a link: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/13938.shtml
I know of several guys with the 5.0 in their Rangers that get high teens to low 20's in the mpg department.

 

[kman]

and is there even a manual trans for the explorer 5.0 plus there are alot less 5.0 explorers out there then 4.0 rangers

 

[BlackBII]

With 60 more ft/lbs of torque at a MUCH lower RPM, you can bet your ass the 4.0 is an upgrade over the 3.0. Especially in a 4x4 off road truck.

The 4.0 makes more torque at 1200rpm than the 3.0 could ever dream of making, without forced induction.

The 4.0 will physically swap into place, but everything is different. You will need
Motor with mounts
Tranny - (4.0 and 3.0 have different bell housing bolt patterns)
Clutch/Flywheel/starter
Wiring harness
Computer
Radiator?
Fuel lines?
etc etc

You can swap a 4x4 tail shaft and housing onto the back of a 2wd tranny. But it's almost easier to just get a 4x4 tranny from a junkyard.

 

[stmitch]

I didn't say it wasn't an upgrade, I just think that if you're going to do all of that work, you might as well get the most benefit that you can by going with the 5.0.
As stated, either engine swap will need the engine, trans, wiring harness, ECU, exhaust, etc. So, you'd be doing the same amount of work either way. If they take the same amount of work to install, and you can choose between the 4.0 OHV or the 5.0, why wouldn't you go with the 5.0?
I don't know of any 5spd Explorers with the 5.0, but there were tons of other Fords that came with the 5.0 and a 5 spd, plus there's a HUGE aftermarket for the 5.0 compared to the 4.0 OHV or 3.0.