How reliable is the 2001 3.0 with the v6?

[lil_Blue_Ford]

It was years ago when I did my first all synthetic motor oil change. Cars didn't have computers then. I cranked up the engine. Lo and behold, the engine idled a hundred RPM faster. It may not have been "torquier" but it was a little bit peppier across the entire RPM range. It might have given me better mileage too. I didn't really measure or care. I do the same for the Vulcan today. It's still not fast, but it's one of many small changes that help.

I think I will try your "trick" when my automatic needs a rebuild.

My 92 Ranger with the A4LD, I threw a TransGo shift kit and everything else I could come up with at it. With the shift kit I drilled everything out to either the maximum or close to it. Doing it again, I’ll drill everything to the max. It wasn’t harsh shifting and that was some of my hesitation to go completely full bore. Took about a month of driving to work out all the little air pockets even doing the purge procedure twice. After that it was an animal. Smashing the gas from a stop with an empty bed would light up the back tires and if you were really on it you could sometimes get a little chirp out of second. Granted it’s a 4.0, but I’ve never had an automatic RBV do that. All the slushy shifts were gone, it had nice crisp shifts. I’m kinda bummed I did all the work and was just starting to enjoy it when someone smashed into me.

 

[Lefty]

My 92 Ranger with the A4LD, I threw a TransGo shift kit and everything else I could come up with at it. With the shift kit I drilled everything out to either the maximum or close to it. Doing it again, I’ll drill everything to the max. It wasn’t harsh shifting and that was some of my hesitation to go completely full bore. Took about a month of driving to work out all the little air pockets even doing the purge procedure twice. After that it was an animal. Smashing the gas from a stop with an empty bed would light up the back tires and if you were really on it you could sometimes get a little chirp out of second. Granted it’s a 4.0, but I’ve never had an automatic RBV do that. All the slushy shifts were gone, it had nice crisp shifts. I’m kinda bummed I did all the work and was just starting to enjoy it when someone smashed into me.

Bummer

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

I have Lakewood traction bars that were specifically meant for the Ranger. View attachment 140828

You think they're worth it for a 2.3? I will tow a little bit with it.

 

[Lefty]

You think they're worth it for a 2.3? I will tow a little bit with it.

I couldn't really say. I don't do a lot of towing, but traction bars of any kind will elimate axle wrap which certainly is worse when pulling heavy loads.