4.0L HP boost

[Jake1]

Hopefully sometime in the near future im going to buy a 93+ 4.0L 4x4 ranger. Would it be unreasonable to try and get into the mid 200`s for HP keep in mind im a high schooler looking for a job which will probably be minimum wage. So far this is what im thinking:
K&N air intake
JBA headers and exhaust
iridium spark plugs(not sure how much this will help)
BBK throttle body's

Hows that look for stuff and what else should I be lookin into?

 

[daniel3507]

I think the only way to make serious power out of a 4.0 is pretty much a full build up of the motor. you will get a lot of mixed reviews about a cold air intake and especially K&N filters.

 

[Jake1]

hmmm is there a difrent more high output motor Rangers use?

 

[Rangersrule91]

I think the only way to make serious power out of a 4.0 is pretty much a full build up of the motor. you will get a lot of mixed reviews about a cold air intake and especially K&N filters.

What do you mean by a full build up of the motor, like a swap to a larger motor or like a supercharger or chip? Just curious.

 

[daniel3507]

hmmm is there a difrent more high output motor Rangers use?

The SOHC motors have more power than the OHV. I think they started with the SOHC in 2001 which have 207hp i believe. The OHV motors are rated at 160 though so i suppose you may be able to reach 200.

What do you mean by a full build up of the motor, like a swap to a larger motor or like a supercharger or chip? Just curious.

Not a full swap but more things dealing with internals. From what I have read port and polished heads make a good difference. Again though, this is just from things I have read on here and other places. I have no claims or anything to back it all up so Im not 100% positive on it. Just trying to help out with the knowledge I have.

 

[Jake1]

The SOHC motors have more power than the OHV. I think they started with the SOHC in 2001 which have 207hp i believe. The OHV motors are rated at 160 though so i suppose you may be able to reach 200.

Ahh ok thanks I would really like to get the 4th gen rangers with the SOHC but im not sure I can afford one. I have been doing research on ranger motor outputs and the SOHC and OHC 4.0l are the most powerful really what ever I can afford.

 

[Nhaz]

My only take on Iridium plugs is I think they are supposed to be super durable, good for 100,000 miles or something.

Unless you plan on changing how much air the engine is capable of moving. changing the intake and exhaust really doesn't do much other then waste your money.

So you have a 4.0 with lots of widened intakes and exhaust. Its still a 4.0 though. which means. its still only moves 4.0 liters of air and fuel mixture.

Lots of bolted on stuff. With very little to show for it but some nice sounds.

Only things that bolt(sorta) on that increases the amount of air the the engine moves are super chargers and turbos. after that you are talking cams pistons heads. Say maybe another engine => ?

Yes its possible to build up a 4.0 The thing is. This isn't a racing engine. Its a truck engine designed for a truck to do truck things =>. If you are looking for a muscle car put a 5.0 from a mustang into it and save yourself lots of wasted time and money.

 

[TheBeast]

Just throw in an explorer drivetrain. They'll last up into 200k miles by the time it starts to knock/smoke. 4.0's can last alot longer though, and have a good torque setup for trucks. I'd play with forced induction though. If mine goes ever on me, then I'll have to sit down and decide whether I want a serious 5.0 or just a stock 4.0 back in the truck.

 

[AllanD]

Q: How much do you want?
A: More!

If you want a truck that performs like a Mustang GT put a 5.8 engine in a Ranger.

OR

If you want a Mustang GT buy a Mustang GT!

A 4x4 ranger pretty much "is what it is" and while you can talk and think about "improvement" to the performance EVERY change in mechanical engineering is about compromises.

Frankly I think the engineers who built the 4.0OHV did a DAMNED GOOD JOB

The engine produces more than adequate torque (>200ft/lb)
right off of idle and produces that torque through 4000rpm.

It's an engine that really doesn't car what rpm it's turning, you open
the throttle and the thrust is right there.

Seat of the pants "Oomph!" is much more about torque than it is about "power"

"Power" requires rpm building an engine that will rev means building an engine that's gutless down low.

And Low end torque is what the 4.0 is all about.

If I wanted more than my 4.0 could provide (yeah, I'll admit that I do)
I'd go for forced induction.

My prefered form of "forced induction" is a turbocharger.

But I've never met a V-engine with a turbo that I liked
so if I'm going to turbo something it'll be an inline...

Golly gee gosh... that MIGHT be why there's an
'88 Thunderbird 2.3 Turbocoupe sitting under overhead
engine hoist in my garage..

I'm going to be putting that engine in a Gen3 body
(aerodynamics), but with a Gen4 frame under it.


If you really want to go FAST witha 4.0 OHV my advice would be either to track down one of the Ford Motorsport Paxton kits
or one of the ever rarer magnacharger kits and gear the truck tall
and give that engine something to push against...

 

[turbo cat]

You can build a turbo kit for cheap if your willing to research and learn

 

[TheBeast]

The best way to describe a 4.0 is the 5.4 vs 4.6 in f150's. The 5.4 trucks dont necessarily feel like they are hauling ass. A 4.6 truck will. But the 5.4 truck rips stumps out of the ground without breaking a sweat. 4.0's at like the 5.4, in that you don't feel like your really ever hauling ass, but your moving without much problem. My 3.0 in the 99, I did the composite intake swap, duratec TB swap, modified maf, full exhaust, couple of other things in a 3.0 4x4 XLT on 31's with 4.10s. That truck would smoke the tire off and move pretty well for a 3.0. It's all about what you want. If your mudding/offroading, the 4.0 will serve you well

 

[lvwill]

Best bang for the buck on the street is gears. You have 3.55 gears switch to 4.10 feels like 100 hp in the ass.