4.0 engine switch

[sun417]

I have a 97 ford ranger xlt 4x4 5 speed manual tranny with a sick 4.0 in it. I was wondering if anyone knows if I can drop a 4 cylinder in it without any trouble. Bell housing match etc. If so which year and engine would it be? Oh it has a hydralic clutch if that make any diff. Thanks in advance for any ideas and help you guys can give. Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this.
Bob<><

 

[Big Jim M]

Put another 4.0 back in there you will (can) get the same or better mileage with the bigger engine.
Little engines spend a lot more time at WOT trying to get the speed the driver is asking for. Bigger engines get the speed quicker and maintain that speed with less throttle using the same or even LESS fuel.
Seems to me fuel usage is all about the work being done. All things being considered, it takes a quart of fuel to maintain a certain amount of work no matter which engine is being used. At part throttle a bigger engine is able to advance the timing and use a leaner mixture than a smaller engine at full throttle is able to use.. Making the larger engine usage of the fuel closer to the maximum usage than the smaller engine.
So the smaller engine is wasting part of it's fuel trying to keep up with the larger engine that is using it's fuel wisely...
Big Jim

 

[Jrrrrrr]

If that is the case everything should have a V-12 in it.