Old man's Ranger needs your help!

[joldtown]

Just bought a 2002 Ranger 4.0, 4x4, 4 door, XLT. I am looking to do some upgrades to this truck. I need you guys to point me in the right direction. As I stated in the intro, money isn't really all that tight, but I want to start with a good base and build up. So any tips to get the ball rolling? I don't need a mudder, just the fastest, baddest Ranger in town! Help the Old Man.

 

[metalmacguyver]

Gearing would be the best way to make your ranger quick. I would say 4.10s or 4.56s.

 

[4x4fun]

thomas knight makes a turbo charger thats a super easy install for like 2 grand

 

[joldtown]

2 grand is not a starting base, but thanks. I'm more inclined to do intake/exhaust, removal of unnecessary crap, general retooling to start with. Bolt-on's are great, but let's start a little smaller. Keep'em coming, this truck belongs to you all, I just pay the bills!

 

[joldtown]

An NO you can't drive it, neither can my wife!

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

you already have a SOHC 4.0, which puts you at the upper end of the power-to-weight ratio of mid-sized pickups with 207HP stock. there are very few bolt-on upgrades that will make a noticeable difference in your acceleration. different gearing or a programmer are about it. you arent going to get any serious improvement without putting in some serious time, eg, forced induction or a v8.

 

[joldtown]

I have an ASE Ford Mech. as a great friend, and he did some programming on my wife's 3.0 Escape. This made a huge difference. I was just wondering about anything a little above and beyond. What about intake/exhaust, throttle body spacers, the thing that goes into air intake tube that "spins" intake air? Mfg's of any of the above mentioned items.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

so called "cold air" intakes do not help. your factory intake is already a true cold air system. the stock panel filter has nearly the same surface area as the filter used on the 300 HP 5.4L used in the f-150's. likewise, the factory 2" exhaust is sized properly to provide decent bottom-end torque without sacrificing top-end power. there are no improvements to be had with an intake kit or cat-back exhaust system.

a tuner can make a bit of a difference, as i said. particularly so if the truck is an automatic as a tuner can be used to firm up the shift points. changing the differential gearing also gives a percieved gain in power.

 

[joldtown]

So basically I'm left to just the "looks" of the truck?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

aside from a tuner and gearing, and until your ready to pony up cash for real mods, there isnt much you can do performance wise to the engine.

you can always turn your focus towards the suspension to improve the trucks on road handling or off road performance. does the truck have a limited slip differential yet? that makes a world of difference both on road and off.

 

[joldtown]

Real mods? let's begin

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

forced induction or a larger displacement motor.

 

[joldtown]

I hope to God not to need a new motor any time soon, so I guess I'll buy some leather seats, a new radio, and some wheels and tires. Oh well, I guess I'm fast enough... Can I make the other compact trucks have second thoughts on their purchase? I mean have I bought the best that I could?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

a SOHC 4.0 ranger is no slouch. your right up at the top of the heat. your faster than a 4.3L s-10 and a 5.4 F-150. your about even with a v6 mustang (its the same engine after all). your running in the 15's in the 1/4 mile. the only production pickups that are likely to be faster are "racing" versions, like the cyclone/typhoon, supercharged frontier, and the like.

 

[tpking]

Nitrous would be a basic bolt on that would give ya more get up when needed