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4.0 vs 3.0 handling


jackman454

Active Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2012
Messages
25
City
CT
Vehicle Year
1997
Transmission
Manual
I have a 97 3.0 5 speed regular cab ranger, but my family is looking to get another ranger. The one we are looking at is a 5 speed splash 4.0 . I was wondering how the handling will differ between the two. I have found my 3.0 to be easy to slide in the rain. Will the 4.0 under-steer more with the heavier engine?
 
How much more does the 4.0 weigh? A hundred pounds?
 
You won't notice a difference between one v6 and another.
 
My experience.

Back when I was a young single guy, I bought a brand new 96 ranger xlt ext cab 2x4 with the 4.0. It was special, as it had the regular bed but it had the splash package (wheels/suspension/seats). It handled very well, and was a really sweet truck.

A couple months ago, I purchased a 95 ranger xlt ext cab 2x4 with the 4.0. None of the splash additions though.

My thoughts on the differences.

They handle totally different. My 96 absorbed bumps and didn't care. The 95 moves all over the place in the back end (new shocks and good tires on all four corners). The splash seats were awesome! The standard seats leave alot to be desired. The splash wheels/tires (wider) held the road much better.

Hope this helps.
 
That's interesting. I didn't know the splash had different suspension.
 
Because of the extra torque the 4.0 trucks tend to be more "Tail happy" in wet conditions.

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That's interesting. I didn't know the splash had different suspension.

And I only know that something was different because of the difference in ride height, and the handling of course. BTW - the ride height difference was noticed at the dealer lot, prior to purchase, with splash and standard trucks sitting side by side. Whats different? No idea.
 
I can never remember, I think the SOHC had aluminum heads, but did the OHV 4.0 have iron ones or were they also aluminum? I KNOW for a fact the 3.0 had iron heads. Point being, if the OHV 4.0 had alum heads, it could very well weigh less than a 3.0.
 
The internet told me (I can't remember which site) that the 2wd models had different suspension, but not the 4wd models.
 
I can never remember, I think the SOHC had aluminum heads, but did the OHV 4.0 have iron ones or were they also aluminum? I KNOW for a fact the 3.0 had iron heads. Point being, if the OHV 4.0 had alum heads, it could very well weigh less than a 3.0.

4.0OHV heads are cast iron.

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