4.0L V6 vs 200 6L

[grsjax]

I have seen some threads here about swapping a Ford inline 6 into a ranger and was wondering if in the end it would make more since than going to a 4.0 V6. The 200 6L probably has more potential low end torque than the 4.0L and it is just about indestructable with the 7 main bearing caps. The 250 6L might even be a better idea with its longer stroke. Were the 200 and 250 ever equipped with EFI from the factory and if not can it be retrofited without major fabbing/wiring?

 

[Psychopete]

I have seen some threads here about swapping a Ford inline 6 into a ranger and was wondering if in the end it would make more since than going to a 4.0 V6.

In my opinion, it does not make more sense to go the I6 route, but what ever you feel is the best - go with that.

 

[TheTopher]

In my opinion, it does not make more sense to go the I6 route, but what ever you feel is the best - go with that.

I concur. The biggest thing the i6 motors have going for them is low end torque and reliability but the 4.0 actually makes really good low end torque for what it is, and when you swap from stock you always lose a certain level of reliability so both of the main reasons for an i6 aren't really that huge of an improvement over the 4.0 and when you factor in the improvement versus the hassle of making an inline 6 fit a truck that barely fits an inline 4, it just isn't worth it in my opinion.

 

[my80chevette]

I have owned a 200 equiped Ranger. It was a blast to drive and with a modern overdrive it would have even been better. Mine had a single barrel carb and three speed auto. The fit wasnt that bad but just required moving the radiator forward and putting a remote reservore on it. It could be done even easier now with a electric pusher fan and the original fan removed and shorter bolts holding the fan belt pulley. There is a Straight 6 forum somewhere with lots of info on these motors and upgrades for them. I loved mine but was short money and ended up selling it when a brake line blew on it one summer. The hardest part of the having a straight 6 was the throttle hookup. It has to be a full custom job. If you do this conversion keep us updated!!!

 

[cody93]

ive always wondered wat it would be like with a I6 200, stick one in a 1st gen 2wd single cab and would make a nice daily driver. id like something like that mainly for the extreme reliability and simplicity.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

4.0's are not notoriously unreliable, and will keep up with the "average" 302. I don't see what there really is to gain by going to a old 1bbl I6.

 

[adsm08]

The 200 stayed in service in Australia into the 2000's. It was FI in the Aussie's. There is a WC head that is setup out of the box for a carbed intake, but has provisions for injector ports to be machined in. I think painless makes a wiring conversion kit. The only thing I'm not 100% on is where to get injectors.

 

[trail B2]

The 200 is no power house and carbed it's not going to get off road consistency.There is a lot of 4.0 conversions out there something different would be nice too.

 

[my80chevette]

The 200 stayed in service in Australia into the 2000's. It was FI in the Aussie's. There is a WC head that is setup out of the box for a carbed intake, but has provisions for injector ports to be machined in. I think painless makes a wiring conversion kit. The only thing I'm not 100% on is where to get injectors.

Yeah I saw that head but the easier one is from south America. It is very similar to ours here and has a seperate intake from the head. I have seen some neat work done with these. The aussies are nice but the shipping is huge!!!

PS. heres a link to an aluminum head for the 200. Also a intake can be had there. Might be able to help with injection too http://classicinlines.com/proddetail.asp?prod=FSP-250-AHP

 

[AllanD]

I have seen some threads here about swapping a Ford inline 6 into a ranger and was wondering if in the end it would make more since than going to a 4.0 V6. The 200 6L probably has more potential low end torque than the 4.0L and it is just about indestructable with the 7 main bearing caps. The 250 6L might even be a better idea with its longer stroke. Were the 200 and 250 ever equipped with EFI from the factory and if not can it be retrofited without major fabbing/wiring?

The Ford "Small Block" inline 6 has one major problem... they are very prone to having the rocker arms chew the tips off the valve stems while at the same time the side loading this causes destroy the valve guides.

And I really doubt any carb with that cast-to-the-head intake manifold will out torque a 4.0 engine with it's EFI and long torque building intake runners.


But if you have cubic dollars to add to your cubic inches....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Straight-6_engine#200

Read the section on the aftermarket head available from classic inlines...

but after all that work you'll discover that what you get for you money doesn't produce ANY additional power or torque over a 4.0OHV engine.
and actually needs to rev more to produce peak torque.


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[racsan]

i thought the 200 was a 4 main bearing, and the 250 had seven mains. if i was going to go to the effort of putting a straght-6 in a ranger chassis, id go with the 300. 4" bore by 4" stroke, back it with the creeper 1st 4speed manual. really though, the 4.0 will do just about anything you need to do with the ranger chassis, and weigh alot less then a old cast iron inline.

 

[gwaii]

i thought the 200 was a 4 main bearing, and the 250 had seven mains. if i was going to go to the effort of putting a straght-6 in a ranger chassis, id go with the 300. 4" bore by 4" stroke, back it with the creeper 1st 4speed manual. really though, the 4.0 will do just about anything you need to do with the ranger chassis, and weigh alot less then a old cast iron inline.

4 main bearing was on the early(60-63i think)144 and 170 engines.by the time the 200 came about they were all 7 main.

 

[4.0B2]

4.0's have plenty of torque, if you need more you gear it down. i have the 4.0 in my b2, and its amazing the power and torque it has.. i wouldn't do the trouble of swapping in the I6, but that's me... guess it depends on what your rig is you are swapping it into.

but never NEVER never underestimate the 4.0.

 

[my80chevette]

I wouldnt swap out a perfectly good motor for the 200 but if the original engine was blown..... It would also make sense if like me you had the 200 and tranny sitting around in a rust bucket in your yard at the time. Was fun and no one else I ever met had one like it. Besides its great for the freak factor alone!!

 

[gwaii]

a little performance mod we used to do on the 200s was to grind a flat on each end of the intake manifold and bore a hole so two more carbs could be mounted.it evened out the intake charge and increased the power,but by no means made it a race motor.

looked cool,though.