Help for a new comer in the ranger market???

[RangerRocker]

Hey fellow trs members. I am 17 and looking to get into the off-road ranger scene. I'm thinking of going with a 2000 to 2003 ranger extended cab with the 3.0 v6. My plans are to lift it and upgrade the power for now. Any suggestions on what type of lift I should go with? Also, what are the best bang for the buck power add-ons?

 

[KELLY88]

If you're looking for stock strength then go for a pre-98 4x4 with the 4.0 engine if you can find them. The 4.0 is better for power than the 3.0 and the mileage is pretty much the same. Also all 4.0s came with the 8.8 rear axle vs. the 7.5 that most of the the 3.0s and 4bangers came with. 1998 was when the Gen. 4s started and they began the SLA front suspension in the Rangers. Pre-98 have the twin tracting bream front axles which are typically stronger and easier to lift.

As for your upgrades it all depends on preference. What type of lift kit and tires you should get are all dependent on what kind of off road terrain you expect to get into and how much the mix is of daily driving/offroading. Good luck. Welcome to TRS.

 

[lil red]

probably getting a 4.o will be the first thing youll regret not doing, past that, do the throttle cable/kickdown cable mod, mabe if you want do a cold airand exaust,
honestly for a first wheeling rig, go older and ttb, so you arent destroying cv axels

and for a lift id go with a 4 inch witl 31s or 33s go for a skyjacker or camburg setup(noot cheap, but lifts arent something to cheap out on)
o and the best bang for your buck is dffinatly staying away from the 3.slow, and getting a 4.0, and the throttle cable mod, the best 12 cents youll ever spend(look in the tech section to find it, basically its a couple zip ties but it works like a charm)

and just so you know, dont think im some old guy trying to think safe on the lift thing, im 17 too, stay away from cheap lifts, there bad news bears

 

[RangerRocker]

Alright thanks. That helps a lot. I live in the desert but i am near forest area as well. So it will be mostly that type of terrain with a good amount of around town driving. I am thinking either fabtech or superlift. With around 31 or 33s.

 

[BlackBII]

The lift kits for SLA trucks are rather expensive...

You could run 31's stock and 33's with a body lift, maybe a slight torsion crank.

 

[KELLY88]

Alright thanks. That helps a lot. I live in the desert but i am near forest area as well. So it will be mostly that type of terrain with a good amount of around town driving. I am thinking either fabtech or superlift. With around 31 or 33s.

Fair warning with superlift is that they are a good lift but don't give a lot of flex in the springs. They are incredibly stiff. I've got them on my 97 and am in the process of swapping out for some softer skyjacker coils. Make the on road ride more comforatable.

 

[RangerRocker]

My next question is about the gearing. What is the biggest upside to different gear ratios? Will it improve mileage? Or what? Sorry for sounding dumb, but i dont want to put on something i dont need.

 

[BlackBII]

My next question is about the gearing. What is the biggest upside to different gear ratios? Will it improve mileage? Or what? Sorry for sounding dumb, but i dont want to put on something i dont need.

It really depends on the gearing you have right now, along with the tire size you will be running. For a larger tire, say 33's or 35's, 4.88 gearing would work well. 4.10 gearing would work well with 31's....

You install lower gearing to compensate for the larger tires, otherwise the motor is working overtime trying to push around the big heavy tires

Looky here:
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/gearandtirechart.html
http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/Feb 06/tech.htm

 

[RangerRocker]

Alright sweet! Im starting to get a grasp of the concept now. Another question and gunna seem obvious to the more experienced. Where can I find a good set of 4.10 gears? Junkyards? What should I look for?

 

[canyoncritter]

how off road worthy of a truck do you want?......

the 98 and newer trucks you reallllly have to poor some money in to them to get them up to par.And if your thinking high speed desert at all with a 98 newer 4x4 your realllllyyyyyyy going to have to pour out some loot.

the 97 and older trucks you can do at a rather decent price and still pull daily driver duty.

ditch the 3.0L ideal. It really wont get you any better millage and will be giving up power vs the 4.OL

IF you put large tires on the truck and dotn regear, you will lose millage and power over stock.IF you regear the truck to compensate for the larger tires you can get you millage back along with your power.

 

[RangerRocker]

Basically I want to build a truck that I can use as my daily driver but be able to take it off-road on the weekends and not worry about it. Nothing extreme yet, maybe later on.

 

[canyoncritter]

Alright sweet! Im starting to get a grasp of the concept now. Another question and gunna seem obvious to the more experienced. Where can I find a good set of 4.10 gears? Junkyards? What should I look for?

for a 98 newer truck


at the junk yards you might get lucky and find a 95-02 exploer that has 4;10's in it.....but those gears are really only good up to 31's with a 3.0L truck.

you could get by with 4;10 and the 4.0L sohc(singe over-head cam) with 33's
the shoc's make their power higher in the power band than a ohv(over head valve) 4.0l

 

[RangerRocker]

OK. So, 4.10s will work with 31s, but should i go 4.27 or bigger for 33's. And, would adding a jet performance module along with a new intake and exhaust work to make-up for the lack of power with the 3.0, or am i being ignorant? K&N intake, and a magnaflow exhaust.