3.5 Eco Boost into a 1990 XLT 4x4 5 Spd

[RangerDon1951]

Looking at dumping the anemic 145 HP 2.9 litre V6. I know that the rear axle is not strong enough. Update all brakes. Suspension upgrades? Mostly for the street. Steering and front end advice. Custom wood dashboard. it has gone 301,000 miles. Body is great. Pacific Ocean rust around the windshield and below. Bed pristine mostly.

 

[Robertmangrum.rm]

@bobbywalter ain't this what you've been talking about for a while now?

 

[sgtsandman]

Looking at dumping the anemic 145 HP 2.9 litre V6. I know that the rear axle is not strong enough. Update all brakes. Suspension upgrades? Mostly for the street. Steering and front end advice. Custom wood dashboard. it has gone 301,000 miles. Body is great. Pacific Ocean rust around the windshield and below. Bed pristine mostly.

Welcome! It is not a common swap but it has been done on some newer Rangers. Unfortunately, what has been done and posted is lacking in detail. So, while we might be able to give some suggestions, we don't have any hard info to give you.

So, please, whatever you end up doing, post it up with details. We have sections dedicated to build threads, whether it be 4X4, mini trucks (RWD), or engine swaps. If you plan on doing more than an engine swap, it might be best to separate the engine swap from the rest for others to better follow along.

Either way, good luck and keep us updated!

 

[bobbywalter]

i would use the 2.3 or a 2.0 ecoboost.

the complexity and the cost of the 3.5 is too much in regards to keeping it maintained.

i love the ecoboost 3.5 ...i am on my second powerboost, but there is a reason i lease them. ford quality otoh has myself severely disappointed lately.

that said, on a 2wd tib application i would suggest to swap to a mustang 2 or crown vic front suspension scenario, this would also allow a coyote swap later.

with a ttb 4x4....4 cylinder or the v6 engines, fitment would be difficult within oem suspension configuration.

i would swap to a solid front axle and make a custom k member so fitting the 3.5 was not a total disaster.

the 4 cylinder is easily capable of 300 hp and 400 ft pounds.

something a 302 will struggle with in terms of torque, because the ecoboosts are low rpm engines in relatives to power production. they have very good drivability as any current ranger owner should be able to say. even in the explorer they are pretty good. at least to me they are.

 

[Robertmangrum.rm]

Yeah I've had no complaints out of the 2.3. Used to tow 2 800cc SxSs never skipped a beat. I will say the one in my wife's 2025 Bronco seems to have a little more kick. That could be weight difference and transmissions. But my truck is way quick even sitting on 34 in tires and hauling about 600lbs daily. Would be awesome paired with a manual transmission haha

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Yeah I've had no complaints out of the 2.3. Used to tow 2 800cc SxSs never skipped a beat. I will say the one in my wife's 2025 Bronco seems to have a little more kick. That could be weight difference and transmissions. But my truck is way quick even sitting on 34 in tires and hauling about 600lbs daily. Would be awesome paired with a manual transmission haha

Bronco did get a slight hp bump and also has a lighter duty transmission (10R60 vs Ranger's 10R80)

Not sure on yours but they can also get goofy gears, our Black Diamond has 4.46 gears which with similar size tires (ours has 32's from the factory) could make for a difference compared to the Ranger's 3.73.