Looking to convert.

[gungfudan]

I have a few questions but first I know that I am going to have to change the motor mounts get a new transmission and among other things. My Truck is an 88' Ranger. What I need to know is what vehicle I need to look for to pull one from? What year vehicle? Should I look for a crate motor and what year?

Thanks in advance.

 

[alaskan155]

I have a few questions but first I know that I am going to have to change the motor mounts get a new transmission and among other things. My Truck is an 88' Ranger. What I need to know is what vehicle I need to look for to pull one from? What year vehicle? Should I look for a crate motor and what year?

Thanks in advance.

be easier to do a 4.0 swap.....

but a 3.0, just find a 91-94 ranger and take everything off of it..(can even use the newer dash(gen 2) and wiring harness in your 88 a donor ranger will also have the right engine mounts(same crossmember, just match 4wd to 4wd and 2wd to 2wd(not sure what yours is)

only reason i say a 4.0 is easier is because you can use your 2.9l trans behind it. and the engine mounts are the same. the 2.9l a4ld wont work on a 3.0.

 

[gungfudan]

Unfortunately I don't have a 2.9L currently I have a 2.0L 4cyl. So would it still be easier? Also mine is 2 wheel drive.

 

[adsm08]

Dude the 3.0 is a crap engine for a truck. It's great if you are looking for a mid-80s midsize sedan, but it has no place in a pickup. Spend your money better and buy something that you might be happy with after the fact, like meth, or AIDS tainted hypodermic needles.

They are reliable, but that is where the good parts end, not unlike meth, or AIDS tainted hypodermic needles. The 3.0 is low on power, low of fuel economy, the oil filter is hard to get at in a Ranger because it was designed to be in a FWD car, not a RWD pickup. The oil pan gaskets have issues, and the oil filter drains into the starter and that causes issues.

If you are going to spend that kind of money, and go to all that trouble to do an engine swap at least put a 4.0 in it. The 4.0 won't be any easier in your case. In fact it will be almost exactly the same amount of work, but the bang/buck ratio is going to be much higher.

 

[alaskan155]

Dude the 3.0 is a crap engine for a truck. It's great if you are looking for a mid-80s midsize sedan, but it has no place in a pickup. Spend your money better and buy something that you might be happy with after the fact, like meth, or AIDS tainted hypodermic needles.

They are reliable, but that is where the good parts end, not unlike meth, or AIDS tainted hypodermic needles. The 3.0 is low on power, low of fuel economy, the oil filter is hard to get at in a Ranger because it was designed to be in a FWD car, not a RWD pickup. The oil pan gaskets have issues, and the oil filter drains into the starter and that causes issues.

If you are going to spend that kind of money, and go to all that trouble to do an engine swap at least put a 4.0 in it. The 4.0 won't be any easier in your case. In fact it will be almost exactly the same amount of work, but the bang/buck ratio is going to be much higher.

i wasn't trying not to flame him.... but yeah a 4.0 is a ton of alot better than a 3.0 for the same amount of work. it is easier to come by to... tons of explorer with bad autos for under $1000 that have all the parts he needs.

 

[gungfudan]

Dude the 3.0 is a crap engine for a truck. It's great if you are looking for a mid-80s midsize sedan, but it has no place in a pickup. Spend your money better and buy something that you might be happy with after the fact, like meth, or AIDS tainted hypodermic needles.

They are reliable, but that is where the good parts end, not unlike meth, or AIDS tainted hypodermic needles. The 3.0 is low on power, low of fuel economy, the oil filter is hard to get at in a Ranger because it was designed to be in a FWD car, not a RWD pickup. The oil pan gaskets have issues, and the oil filter drains into the starter and that causes issues.

If you are going to spend that kind of money, and go to all that trouble to do an engine swap at least put a 4.0 in it. The 4.0 won't be any easier in your case. In fact it will be almost exactly the same amount of work, but the bang/buck ratio is going to be much higher.

This is exactly what the info I was looking for. Except the meth part
Thanks for the info. Now do I need to jump pages for more info on the 4.0L or can I continue to ask on this page?

 

[hoosier1104]

You only picked up on the meth part.

Continue to ask here or good to the Tech library above. This site has a wealth of info at your disposal.

 

[gungfudan]

You only picked up on the meth part.

Continue to ask here or good to the Tech library above. This site has a wealth of info at your disposal.

No I picked up on the AIDS as well I just forgot to mention it earlier.

 

[gungfudan]

On the 4.0L will my trans match up? I have the 5 speed trans that takes ATF.

 

[adsm08]

i wasn't trying not to flame him.... but yeah a 4.0 is a ton of alot better than a 3.0 for the same amount of work. it is easier to come by to... tons of explorer with bad autos for under $1000 that have all the parts he needs.

I wasn't trying to flame him, or anyone on the forum. stmitch usually takes offense at my opinions on the 3.0. If anyone was a target for flaming there it was the marketing/engineering idiots that decided to use the 3.0 to replace the 2.9 in the Ranger's engine line up.

On the 4.0L will my trans match up? I have the 5 speed trans that takes ATF.

No, unfortunately it won't. The 4-cylinder engine bell doesn't match up to any of the V6 engines. That is a huge driving factor in my recommendation against the 3.0. Since you want a bigger engine, you will need a different trans, and at that point you might as well get the better of the two.

 

[gungfudan]

thank you for the reply. I have been reading about the 4.0L in the tech articles and i am a little confused on the front axle part. I have the twin I beam as you know. I am wondering if the Rangers/Explorers have a heavier duty front axle or is it a solid straight axle?

 

[stmitch]

stmitch usually takes offense at my opinions on the 3.0.

Please don't worry about me getting offended. No bad blood here. I feel like you're one of the loudest 3.0 critics around here, just as I am usually one of the more vocal supporters. You see the 3.0 in a pretty negative light, and I see it less so. The truth is probably somewhere in between as usual. Everybody has their opinions and I'm cool with that.

The 3.0 gets bagged on quite a bit, usually by people with little or no experience with the engine (I know that's not you)and that's due mostly to it's reputation. The 3.0 obviously isn't your favorite, but that also doesn't mean it's without it's merits. The 2.8s and 2.9s had their flaws too. Just as all engines do.

All that being said, there's no way I'd go through the trouble of an engine swap just to put a 3.0 into a Ranger. There are way better options. But, if you have a 3.0 to begin with, I see nothing wrong with keeping it and trying to improve it either.

 

[alaskan155]

thank you for the reply. I have been reading about the 4.0L in the tech articles and i am a little confused on the front axle part. I have the twin I beam as you know. I am wondering if the Rangers/Explorers have a heavier duty front axle or is it a solid straight axle?

dosent matter... you can't use any of it, your truck is 2wd.... i recommended the explorer(91-94) for the engine wiring, engine,dash, seats.. if you are wanting to use the explorer frontend you are going to be cutting alot of rivets to remove the engine cradle.

2wd rangers are the odd ball of all RBV up till 97. they are the only ones that use a 2wd cross-member.

the rest of the RBVs, bronco ii and explorer, weather 2wd or 4wd use the 4wd engine cross-member....

also if you want to use your trans. you can swap in a 2.3l lima over your 2.0 lima or a 2.3l turbo coupe motor.
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Turbos.html

 

[gungfudan]

dosent matter... you can't use any of it, your truck is 2wd.... i recommended the explorer(91-94) for the engine wiring, engine,dash, seats.. if you are wanting to use the explorer frontend you are going to be cutting alot of rivets to remove the engine cradle.

2wd rangers are the odd ball of all RBV up till 97. they are the only ones that use a 2wd cross-member.

the rest of the RBVs, bronco ii and explorer, weather 2wd or 4wd use the 4wd engine cross-member....

also if you want to use your trans. you can swap in a 2.3l lima over your 2.0 lima or a 2.3l turbo coupe motor.
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/Turbos.html

What is the easiest way to do this my 2.0 crapped out after the second rebuild and I am kind of fed up with the Lima.

 

[alaskan155]

I wasn't trying to flame him, or anyone on the forum. stmitch usually takes offense at my opinions on the 3.0. If anyone was a target for flaming there it was the marketing/engineering idiots that decided to use the 3.0 to replace the 2.9 in the Ranger's engine line up.

i would honestly take a 2.9l over a 3.0 any day..... throw a nice 4.0 radiator and beefier 4.0 a4ld behind it with a colder thermostat to keep it cool and that is a reliable engine... worst case scenario the heads crack and a 4.0 will bolt right into its place...

about the only thing i will say about the 3.0 is it is reliable... gutless but reliable... i have seen a few abused over the years by other people that just couldn't kill them. last guy i knew took his stock ranger out offroading and blew 1st gear out of it(automatic) and ran that thing another year or 2 with no 1st gear.(would start it in second). and he was one of those people that wouldn't maintain it, the rear brakes exploded on it, and he just capped them off at the brake booster and ran front brakes everywhere.


anther nice thing with the 4.0, is the OHV ecu will Run the 4.0 SOHC.....
so you can run the newer 4.0 with 205hp(not recommended with the A4ld) with a m50d manual and have a pretty stout/quick truck....