4.0 rebuild or 302 swap

[krazykracker]

Ok the truck is a 94 ex cab ranger 4.0 5spd 4x4 sas 4.88s w 39.5 radials. Nearing 200k and has a few samll oil leaks

My dilemma is should I rebuild the 4.0 or 302 efi swap. ,never done a swap before dont know much about internal engine work but am mechanically inclined(done a few sas etc)

4.0 route..definitely cheaper either way the engine is getting rebuilt. I already have headers,so ill be upgrading to the torque oriented cam,and upgrade the valvetrain(rockers,springs,valves),maybe port and polish the heads. Just make it peppier than stock


302 efi routeo.. I can pick up a 93 f150 5spd 4x4 for about 600 runs and drives no title, ive been told ill have to swap the intake to a car or explorer because of the height. I dont wanna run a body lift. It'll get the same treatment maybe gt40 heads if I can find em.


My question is is it worth it? My truck is a dd occasionally pulls a 6x12 enclosed trailer and sometimes my yj buggy but I swap to 35s when I do that,I don't hot rod it and id like to still get decent mileage

 

[bmerr98]

I think if it were me I'd go with the 302. The extra power when you need it would be nice, as would having a Ranger with a V8. Not many around. MPG should be comparable since the bigger engine wouldn't have to work as hard. If you gotta pull a motor, you might as well upgrade.

 

[RangerSVT]

Normally I'd say go V8. But with your given donor, you will have no more power than what you have now. If you come across a 96-97 V8 explorer, then I'd say yeah. The power the f150 makes is minimal (165 hp vs the 4.0 160 hp) due to it being a non HO motor. If you step down to 35" tires, the 4.88s will be happy towing a trailer to the offroad parks. My 96 4.0 auto with 4.56 gears and 37's pulled trailers all the time, and got about 17 mpg on any given day. I upgraded to V8 for the stronger tranny and more available power via boltons available for the V8. If you stay with the 4.0, don't go with too big a cam, it will hurt you big time. Go with an rv type cam designed for low to mid range power. 4.0's were never really a high revving engine, they make they're torque down low where its needed. If you go V8, find an explorer setup. If you do decide to V8, read my ranger swap thread, first post. It will give you a real good idea of what is involved and needed. I can help you out on the wiring end if needed, its not as bad as you think it would be...

SVT

 

[RonD]

I would rebuild the 4.0l.
Lots of nickel and dime stuff on a conversion that adds up to dollars, and unless you rebuild the V8 you are putting an "unknown" engine into the truck, it might have a 100k miles left on it or 100 miles.

DDs need to be on the road, and while there can be issues with rebuilds it won't be nearly as risky as with a conversion.
Having the extra power is a double edged sword, drive train was made for 4.0l power, putting in a V8 and using the extra power might mean a breakdown, and if you don't use the extra power why bother, lol.

As projects conversions are great, time delays and the nickel here and dime there are not as big of an issue, if you need to get it back on the road ASAP then you end up paying top dollar for a must have part, no shopping around for a deal.

 

[RangerSVT]

When I did my swaps, I got donors for both, and highly recommend it. My ranger I scrapped the leftover parts, in the end, it cost me $154 to do the swap. When I did my Trac, I sold some parts, scrapped the rest within 2 weeks, paid top dollar for that do or cause I needed it right away, but in the end I made $50 after the swap...

SVT

 

[krazykracker]

Normally I'd say go V8. But with your given donor, you will have no more power than what you have now. If you come across a 96-97 V8 explorer, then I'd say yeah. The power the f150 makes is minimal (165 hp vs the 4.0 160 hp) due to it being a non HO motor. If you step down to 35" tires, the 4.88s will be happy towing a trailer to the offroad parks. My 96 4.0 auto with 4.56 gears and 37's pulled trailers all the time, and got about 17 mpg on any given day. I upgraded to V8 for the stronger tranny and more available power via boltons available for the V8. If you stay with the 4.0, don't go with too big a cam, it will hurt you big time. Go with an rv type cam designed for low to mid range power. 4.0's were never really a high revving engine, they make they're torque down low where its needed. If you go V8, find an explorer setup. If you do decide to V8, read my ranger swap thread, first post. It will give you a real good idea of what is involved and needed. I can help you out on the wiring end if needed, its not as bad as you think it would be...

SVT

Yea I was gonna go with the 410 cam ,I think I'll be happy w the rebuilt 4.0 it's been an awesome motor so far and hasn't led an easy life

 

[krazykracker]

How about a 351efi zf 5spd out of a f250, I'm going to buy the whole truck

 

[RangerSVT]

Tranny is great, but motor is real thirsty, and most likely worn...

SVT

 

[krazykracker]

Its a nothern truck,body is rotted, has 79000 original miles. All stock 4x4 , haven't went and looked at it yet

Been reading that the headers/exhaust manifolds are the trickiest on that swap