Considering: 3.0 to 3.8 (1995)

[ratdude747]

Question:

Sooner or later, I'm going to need to pull the motor from my 1995 with a Vulcan 3.0. Mainly to replace the oil pan and gasket (and any other seals and the like). However, the motor has 120K on it and the oil pressure is kinda low at idle (bouncy too, already converted to a real oil gauge), so I'm wondering if I'd be better off replacing it.

I personally find that the 3.0 is a bit lacking in the bottom end... and IIRC a 3.8 out of a windstar would be the same bellhousing pattern? Aside from swapping the ECU and the exhaust manifolds, what else would need to change? IIRC there also is a clearance issue with the HVAC system (due to it being 90 degrees instead of 60).

FYI, my truck has a 4r44e tranny, which was rebuilt last fall.

Just curious... since if it's not a whole lot more work, I figure I might as well have a little fun with things. The 3.0 is OK and all... but in this truck, it's a little bit of a dog (unlike in my wife's 2003 Taurus, her Vulcan 3.0 has a lot more pep to it).

 

[SenorNoob]

Wasn't the Windstar FWD? That would make for some interesting intake/exhaust problems. And I doubt they ever came with a 4R44E..

 

[ratdude747]

Wasn't the Windstar FWD? That would make for some interesting intake/exhaust problems. And I doubt they ever came with a 4R44E..

Exactly. The FWD ones have the vulcan bellhousing pattern (which my 4r44e also has, obviously), which is why I ask. I see lots of people running RWD ones with the windsor pattern and swapping trannies but nothing on using an FWD block. Since the windstar could have either a 3.0 vulcan or a 3.8 on the same tranny (hence why fwd 3.8's have vulcan bellhosing patterns), I'd think that I could swap the flexplate over and mate them just fine.

I'd think one could transplant the intake and/or exhaust manifolds from an RWD to a FWD block?

 

[ratdude747]

After some thought, I realized that this may not be a good idea... putting a bigger motor on a lighter duty tranny could be trouble... going to all that work only to blow a tranny could be trouble... I also forgot that the tranny is ECU controlled so that could be an issue (assuming the FWD windstar trannies are not cross-compatible ECU wise).

 

[RonD]

If you want a little more bottom end power why not change the axle gearing.
Have a look here to see what you have now: http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/axle_codes.shtml

The most common is a 3.73 ratio
But you could have a lower ratio which would make starting off seem sluggish but would give better MPG at 65MPH because of lower RPMs
4.10 will give you more pep starting off.

 

[Noflers]

So would 4.10 gears get better mpg going around town, and 3.73 get better mpg on the highway?

 

[adsm08]

So would 4.10 gears get better mpg going around town, and 3.73 get better mpg on the highway?

Yes.

 

[Noflers]

Question:

Sooner or later, I'm going to need to pull the motor from my 1995 with a Vulcan 3.0. Mainly to replace the oil pan and gasket (and any other seals and the like). However, the motor has 120K on it and the oil pressure is kinda low at idle (bouncy too, already converted to a real oil gauge), so I'm wondering if I'd be better off replacing it.

I personally find that the 3.0 is a bit lacking in the bottom end... and IIRC a 3.8 out of a windstar would be the same bellhousing pattern? Aside from swapping the ECU and the exhaust manifolds, what else would need to change? IIRC there also is a clearance issue with the HVAC system (due to it being 90 degrees instead of 60).

FYI, my truck has a 4r44e tranny, which was rebuilt last fall.

Just curious... since if it's not a whole lot more work, I figure I might as well have a little fun with things. The 3.0 is OK and all... but in this truck, it's a little bit of a dog (unlike in my wife's 2003 Taurus, her Vulcan 3.0 has a lot more pep to it).

Just curious, what is it that makes the Taurus so much peppier?

 

[ratdude747]

Sorry for bumping an old thread, but I wasn't aware of these replies... FYI, when I pulled the motor, I didn't swap it (and my oil pressure is still intermittently bouncy).

If you want a little more bottom end power why not change the axle gearing.
Have a look here to see what you have now: http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/axle_codes.shtml

The most common is a 3.73 ratio
But you could have a lower ratio which would make starting off seem sluggish but would give better MPG at 65MPH because of lower RPMs
4.10 will give you more pep starting off.

I have an open 3.73.

Just curious, what is it that makes the Taurus so much peppier?

Probably a combo of a better stock tune (IIRC the ranger tune was optimized for longevity, not performance or efficiency), newer engine (there were a few updates between 95 and 03), less weight (and rotating weight), better aerodynamics, and higher compression (the VIN tells me the taurus is flex fuel).


That said, due to some meh head repairs (backing nuts on some of the exhaust studs due to thread wallowing from rust) and having seen how much junk I had to clean out of the motor (1/2" of sludge in the valve covers, etc.), This particular motor doesn't do a lot for me. If I had a Stick, I'd be looking to v8 swap... but since I have an automatic, looks like I'll be stuck with a 3.0 unless I did find a way to make an FWD 3.8 block (with RWD parts swapped) work (ECU, etc.).