Buying new prerunner want some advice

[DanjaRanger]

hey guys Happy New Year!! anyways im looking to buy a prerunner i found and want to know about a 3.0 motor and a manual tranny in a prerunner want some advice thanks

 

[Bennybooster]

I would go for a 4.0 with a manual if at all possible, the 4.0 is far superior and has more potential for more powa!!

 

[AaronC]

hey guys Happy New Year!! anyways im looking to buy a prerunner i found and want to know about a 3.0 motor and a manual tranny in a prerunner want some advice thanks

I've done it... To be honest, I couldn't tell much a difference of power in the dirt from the 3.0 and the 4.0.


But a 4.0/C4 combo is the way to go in my opinion..

 

[rickf92592]

Or a 5.0/C6 if you're serious.

 

[3.0ranger1227]

What year? My 3.0 does fine, its more about knowing the characteristics of your rig than raw power. I would prefer a stick, but I get away with the auto. regear the rear and you'll be fine. motor and trans should last a while, and some simple mods will make that truck a fair bit better with not a lot of effort or money.

 

[AaronC]

Or a 5.0/C6 if you're serious.

Really? lol

 

[rickf92592]

Really? lol

Sure!
Full tube frame, 9" spooled four-link rear, 24" travel...............c'mon!!!


There's just the money part................damn!

 

[ES894x4]

4.0 is better for power obv, but a runner is gonna be on 33's at the least and once your that big gearing in the axle is way more important then the motors power output. think of it like a ford 300 in the old f-series, its not the best motor for the application, its out dated and underpowered by engine standards even a few years after its intoduction, but it does what its told when its told too and its hard to catastrophically kill one when maintained.

the Achilles heal of the motor is the plastic cam syncro gear/bearings that tends to give way around 100k if not replaced as preventative maintenance.

 

[3.0ranger1227]

runner doesn't necessarily need to be on 33s. 31s on 15s give more than enough sidewall to allow for any hits. I know guys running 4 cylinders that have more than enough power with the right gearing.

hell a taco with a stock 22re made it up oldsmobile at glamis not to long ago. Any motor will work, but go for the manual if at all possible

 

[DanjaRanger]

well its a 3.0 93 manual with 2-4 inch over beams cant tell but it does have a full cage justa bed so im torn on weather i want that one or the other one with a 4.0 5 speed and full cage for 5k the 3.0 is 2250 so im leaning towards it

 

[3.0ranger1227]

what year is the 4.0?

Also(NOTE: I haven't browsed much on the 4.0s, this is what I've heard from other people. Please correct if wrong, don't just flame) I have heard that the 4.0s have a slight tendency to suck valves. Know a guy who's company owned a 4.0 and it sucked the valves in 6 months. However IDK if it was a SOHC or a OHV.

 

[AaronC]

Sure!
Full tube frame, 9" spooled four-link rear, 24" travel...............c'mon!!!


There's just the money part................damn!

That's what I am setting up for..

All I have is the cab rear end, engine (stock 5.0) C-6 transmission.. and material oh and fiberglass..

I just need to get done with the beater so I can start it..

Oh what a pipe dream...

 

[charlie brown]

you want a prerunner, you can buy mine. 4.0 sohc, 5 speed auto, full cage = length beams, 9" full floater with spool. much more.

 

[DanjaRanger]

How much you want for the truck Charlie Brown?

 

[charlie brown]

haha, haven’t really thought much about it since i am the original owner from 88.
if i was to sell it, i would get a 67-75 F-100 hopefully already built or i will build it the same way as this ranger.

i have more then 70K in this truck with all the little extra sh1t i have done. i might let it go for 50K (as long as i can have visitation rights).