New here and first swap/engine build for my 3.0 Vulcan Ranger

[rs_tlvh@yahoo.com]

I'll do my best to give a good account (pics and all) to you guys as I've gotten a whole heap of good info on your site before even trying to accomplish this task.
My daily driver is an '04 Super Cab Ranger 3.0 AT I believe I've spun a bearing and have picked up a '06 Taurus motor with 41k miles on it ($150!) to try and do a long block swap with. I figured it would be cheaper then a rebuild on mine not knowing if I would need to replace a piston and rod, and get the block machined, and then bearing, . . and so on. My son "messes around" with rice burners with his friends and has offered to help me complete this project since he's pulled a few motors and has the tools (engine hoist, stand, etc.) to do it.
I think this forum has given me a good list of parts to retain from my Ranger and what I will need from the nearest auto parts store. From my search through the 3.0 Forum I have gathered that what I will need is:
From my Ranger -
- crank pulley - do I need to switch out the harmonic balancer? I thought one thread mentioned this
- and all attachments like power steering,compressor, alternator, pullies, and tensioners w/ brackets
- upper and lower intake manifolds and exhaust manifolds
- timing cover - (? one post said no to this)
- water pump
- cam ? (will I be able to use the Taurus heads if I change the cam to my Ranger's?)
- valve covers
- oil pan

Need to Buy
- complete gasket set ('04 Ranger)
- timing chain - my truck only had 59k on it can I use my old one?
- main seals won't these come in a complete gasket set?
- oil pump (Is the Taurus pump different then the Ranger's? and what about the oil pick up? with a possible spun bearing can I clean out my Ranger's well enough of possible metal and shards or if the pan looks the same can I just use the Taurus's?)
- Oh, and as a side note could someone tell me which year Fords (Rangers or Explorers I guess?) had an instrument cluster with an actual gauge in it that would fit my truck - mine has a little light that came on when my motor was already clacking up a storm and I only had 1 quart of oil left!!

You guys are great! Keep up the great work y'all are doing!

 

[locovaca]

I don't know that you need to change your cam, but even if you did I believe the heads are the same.

http://www.enginebuildermag.com/Article/2179/rebuilding_the_ford_30l_v6.aspx

That only goes up to 2003 but there weren't any huge changes after that point in time either.

As for the Crank Pulley, Rock Auto lists the same part number for both the Taurus and Ranger so I'd say no. The only time you'd need to change it out is if you were going back to a pre-95 truck that was running a distributor still.

For the timing cover, I'd just swap unless they looked identical. The oil pumps are not interchangeable per Rock Auto and you'd probably want to swap your Ranger one over, but I don't know any more detail than that.

Lastly, for the cluster, clusters that had an oil pressure gauge didn't really, it's a dummy light. Ford never put a real oil pressure gauge on any Ranger or Explorer. I don't know how the 2004 gauges work but I'd say just get an add-on gauge.

 

[volrath]

when i swapped the Taurus 3.0 into my 94 ranger i didn't have to change the timing cover. i did install a new water pump though. my Taurus motor was complete when i got it.

the ranger does has a different pick up tube. so a new oil pump would be needed

i never took the Taurus heads off. same heads but the head gaskets are a little different and the water passages in the gaskets differ in size. (like how the water passage port only has a small hole in the gasket for water to pass through.) I would probably put on the ranger head gaskets next time but ive put on 100k miles on this motor now and have no problems with it yet. The truck currently has 298,xxx miles on it.

the valve covers were also the same. the taurus ones were just flip flopped on them. i also used them cause they were better looking the my current ranger ones.

the lower intake is a must. as is the oil pan. I'm not to sure on the upper for you newer trucks though. 94 has egr in a different location then the Taurus intake( if i recall correct).

all in all i changed bare minimum and have been happy. All though if i had a newer ranger i would spend the extra money and swap head gaskets and get the heads at least check if not a valve job while they are off. (i didn't even replace oil pump. just switched the pick-up tube. and reused my water pump, only had like 20k on it really tight budget )

 

[stmitch]

The cams are the same, so there's no reason to switch.
There are a few guys with 2wd 98 and up trucks that are using the Taurus oil pan without any problems. It does get very close to the engine crossmember, but shouldn't make contact with it. Not sure if the Taurus pan would fit a 4wd truck though. If you want to be absolutely certain that there will be no issue, I'd switch the pan to a Ranger unit.
I would only switch oil pumps if you're going to switch the oil pan as well.
The difference between the accessory pullies is the depth. Ranger accessories are deeper than the Taurus ones, so you can keep the Taurus stuff and run all Taurus accessories, or switch to all Ranger accessories, but you can't mix and match.
Front cover, heads, and valve covers should be interchangeable, so you can run whichever ones you want.

 

[Metro_Medic_One]

Taurus ranger swap

I just pulled my first engine today on my 3.0 liter v6 94 4WD ranger xlt. I am looking for a replacement engine. What year and model taurus uses the vulcan engine?

 

[volrath]

I believe Taurus' witht the Vin number U for engine model are the vulcan models

 

[wr250rdr]

This is just my personal belief but when it comes to stuff like timing chains if the cost is under 100 or so bucks I replace it, 100 bucks up front is better then a grand or more if something lets go