What's your favorite RBV engine?

[bullitt]

This is pretty interesting, i expected there to be a small group of diehard 3.0 dudes, or gals, fighting for our beloved mill, but we are actually in the "race" here so to speak, cool.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

im surprised as well. i thought the 2.9 guys would have the 3.0 guys beat by now. its still early yet though.

ive driven several examples of all the options and im going with the general consensus that pretty much all of them are decent. im just a little biased towards the 3.0 though

 

[jubangy]

I don't believe the lima is beating the duratech and the 3.0 is beating the 4.0 from all that I read in the forums. That is pretty weird most of what I read on trs is how the 3.0 was pretty weak compared to the 4.0 and how the duratech was hands-down stronger then the lima. I also read on this poll that someone like how moddable the lima is but on the forums I seem to recall most saying the lima is not really that moddable without ripping it apart and dumping a ton of money into porting and what not.

 

[Totalled]

You forgot the 5.0...

 

[zuki]

this in interesting. i guess i just assumed the 4.0 either ohv, or ohc was the best motor. never thought so many people loved the 3.0. not that there is anything wrong with that, just suprised me.

i of couse voted for the 4.0 ohv, as that is what i am running in my little zuki. i use to run the 2.8, and liked that as well, but more hp and fuel injection is hard to argue with.

 

[Will]

A bunch of apologists around here for the lesser engines.

The 4.0 pushrod motor is clearly the superior powerplant. None of the smaller motors come close to it in the truck-grunt department. It feels the same as the SOHC 4.0 at lower to medium revs--which is where I drive, but it is a hell of a lot more compact and easier to work on, has a lot fewer things to go wrong and you can work on it yourself without a PhD in camshaft timing and a bunch of special tools.

 

[Simple_serf]

Lima pride....

THe 2.0, 2.3, and 2.5 feel different though.... just compare a 2.0 to a 2.5.....

I like both but I admit it's night and day.

I am also a 3.0 guy.

 

[ZSK]

You forgot the 5.0...

5.0 in the Ex's are the best RBV engine out there.

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

5.0 in the Ex's are the best RBV engine out there.

See option No. 8

 

[4Banger]

I can't decide I had a Lima for years and I loved it. Did nothing major to it and it ran great. Decent power for what it was too. Not that i have my sohc 4.0 man I like the power difference.

 

[Jaymz9350]

i voted fot the Lima even though i currently have a 4.0.

my first ranger was a 2.3 and though underpowered i ran the crap out of it and it never let me down.

i think i've spent more on my 4.0 in 1.5 yrs and 20,000 miles than i did on my 2.3 over 4 yrs and 85,000 miles

 

[Nutz-N-Boltz]

A 4.0 in a sammi, I want some pics!!! That sounds very interesting. I often thought of a 2.9 in one would work nice.

i of couse voted for the 4.0 ohv, as that is what i am running in my little zuki. i use to run the 2.8, and liked that as well, but more hp and fuel injection is hard to argue with.

 

[4x4RangerGuy]

3.0 hands down.

Enough grunt to move my truck and get me where I am going, and NEVER fails. This motor has been through hell since I've owned the truck and still does not tick, burn ANY oil, or rattle. The 3.0 gets my vote!

 

[AgPete139]

4.0 FTW...

But why did Ford use paper gaskets in the '95-2000 OHV blocks? I still need to fix my "bank lean"...

Lower revs, more fuel efficient/easier if running much larger tires, bulletproof, and compact.

 

[MAKG]

I really do like OHCs -- especially direct acting OHCs -- as a point of design. It's nice not to have all those rockers, though I don't think any of the engines on the list really qualify (you would need a DOHC unless somehow you managed to get all the valves in a line -- this is certainly possible, but geometrically challenging).

But if you really have to pick among pushrods, I have to agree with the 2.9L folks. Even though I have a 4.0L, a 2.9L driven correctly (harder than it sounds) works almost as well, and is significantly nicer in the fuel mileage dept. They do have the head cracking issue, especially in the earlier castings, but that just means frequent cooling system inspections. It's a more temperamental engine (2.9Ls SUCK at 1500 RPM), but I like the way it behaves in its sweet spot.