Found a broken truck, input needed. Ford Ranger

Got a friend that has a late 90s Ford Ranger with the 3.0 V6 in it. The motor is supposedly blown on it so I can possibly get it dirt cheap.

Now I have replaced an LT1 in a firebird before in my gravel driveway and it was not fun. No clearance and not much room in the engine bay. What I am wondering is if this would be a bit more simple?


I would be using this as my work truck and I live in Illinois. I would got to get the motor swapped or repaired within 30 days before it starts snowing. I have access to a cherry picker but not sure how much effort something like this on a ranger would be.



Id really like to throw a 4 banger in it but not sure if the trans would bolt up nor the electronics. Also how hard would it be to find a 3.0L? The truck body is in great condition and is an extended cab so it would be worth more than junking it.

pickups are generally more roomy under the hood than cars, still, no mechanic work is going to be a piece of cake until you know it blindfolded. A 4 banger will never have the power of a v6, the 4.0 v6's aren't extremely hard on the gas if you'll drive it responsibly, the 3.0 should be even better, but less HP. I'd recommend you start with a repair manual of that model, maybe a google search of acceptable engines, and a possible visit to the ford ranger forum to discuss specifics.

On any later model vehicle with computer controlled everything (fuel, ignition, etc...) it is always easier to replace with an exact replacement engine. Sometimes even one year off on the same engine can make a world of difference as far as parts go. As mentioned, a well tuned V6 should still give you good mileage along with much better power than the four cylinder.

I am a die hard FORD man. To swap a 3.0 for a 2300 you have to change everything. Including the ECM. The 3.0 is the only engine that will fit the trans thats in it. However it is a very much easier job then a LT1 swap. Took me a day to change mine useing a tree and comealong. Hardest part is pushing the truck around lol. Buy a haynes manuel tho. It will save you ALOT of phone calls and head aches. Also before you buy a 3.0 from a salvage yard make sure and check the oil. The 3.0 is notorious for blowing head gaskets and busting heads. Good luck.

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Originally Posted by joebob49

Took me a day to change mine using a tree and comealong.

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Been there...Done that...LOL

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Originally Posted by joebob49

I am a die hard FORD man. To swap a 3.0 for a 2300 you have to change everything. Including the ECM. The 3.0 is the only engine that will fit the trans thats in it. However it is a very much easier job then a LT1 swap. Took me a day to change mine useing a tree and comealong. Hardest part is pushing the truck around lol. Buy a haynes manuel tho. It will save you ALOT of phone calls and head aches. Also before you buy a 3.0 from a salvage yard make sure and check the oil. The 3.0 is notorious for blowing head gaskets and busting heads. Good luck.

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Ah I see. I may have to see what these engines are running for around here then. I know it was a pain putting a Bbody LT1 into an Fbody and the small changes even though they were both from the same year.

hey joebob, are you on the ford ranger forum ?

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Originally Posted by Bear

hey joebob, are you on the ford ranger forum ?

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Not anymore. All the guys dropping chevy engines in them made me sick to my stomache. I used to run a turbo 4cyl ranger and braged on it in a forum. Then guys started cross breeding them.

i see. I'm not either but I started to once. When I googled ford ranger forum, I found there was one major one, with at least a dozen others. Do you know which one is the best, or know one you would recommend?

Here's a couple good Ford truck sites that I frequent:

Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - Ford truck and SUV owners and enthusiasts Community And Information Source.

Ford Truck Fanatics

3.0 really wont be to hard to go in and out with i can usually to them in a day at the shop, they should be easy to find lots of rangers and mazda trucks had the 3.0, if you had to im pretty sure you can use a tarus 3.0 as long as it is the OHV (VIN X) not DOHC we did one in college, lots has to be changed if i remember right, oil pan, flywheel;flexplate, harmonic balancer, and front accesory brackets. good luck

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Originally Posted by Bear

i see. I'm not either but I started to once. When I googled ford ranger forum, I found there was one major one, with at least a dozen others. Do you know which one is the best, or know one you would recommend?

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Not really its been awhile. Try them till you find the one you like best i recon. The one I used there was some rude guys/gals on there but it made things interesting lol. I want to take a S10 and put a 4.6 in it just to do it. Still be not so good but hey.
Sorry for the break of subject. No disrespect intended.

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Originally Posted by joef1812

3.0 really wont be to hard to go in and out with i can usually to them in a day at the shop, they should be easy to find lots of rangers and mazda trucks had the 3.0, if you had to im pretty sure you can use a tarus 3.0 as long as it is the OHV (VIN X) not DOHC we did one in college, lots has to be changed if i remember right, oil pan, flywheel;flexplate, harmonic balancer, and front accesory brackets. good luck

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Dont forget the oil pump and injecters. The taurus and ranger are programed differently. But yes the engines are interchangeable. Just gobs more work.
Also depends on the year of the vehicle. I think the change from in block cam to OHC was in 98 or 99 not sure.

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Originally Posted by joebob49

Sorry for the break of subject. No disrespect intended.

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I don't think it's too far off subject, he's asking for information on ford rangers, i'd expect a ford or ranger forum to be the most likely place to find the information he needs, although I have been impressed with the answers he's getting here

5.0 Swap!:D

All these complications are why I run pre obama gm trucks. My dad and I took a 1988 2.5L 4 banger motor and put it in a 1986 S10 that oringally had a 2.8L v6, only had to change motor mounts, ECM, and wiring harness from the firewall out only with was a piece of cake really. If a different motor than the 3.0 was in the works, why not put a 4.0 in ? I'm not a ford man by any means but that 4.0 is a beast, probably the best gas motor ford made, besides maybe the 300 straight 6.

Don't forget some Explorer's have the same motor layout also, increases your chances of finding a good one.

I had an Aerostar that had a 3. liter, I wonder if it was the same motor??

Use to drive a aerostar van with that 4.0L V6 and it was a freaking beast, minivan or not that van was a pulling machine

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Originally Posted by Mechanic688

Don't forget some Explorer's have the same motor layout also, increases your chances of finding a good one.

I had an Aerostar that had a 3. liter, I wonder if it was the same motor??

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Yes the aerostar in the same year range would be the same engine. However they are a humdinger to remove the engine from. Best way is turn it on its side and drop from the bottom. Well easiest anyhow..

ranger station https://www.google.com/search?q=rang...w=1280&bih=663

Just bought it! $200 and gonna drive it home this weekend. Its actually a 2.3L Ranger with a bad bearing in it. I should be able to make it the 15 or so miles to my storage and then I can hunt down a motor.

Worst case scenario is I scrap it and get $350-400 for it.

You mean someone actually managed to blow up a 2.3? How? I have had 2 rangers and 1 mustang all with the 2.3 and tried blowing them up. Never was sucessful

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Originally Posted by CarolinaEwaste

You mean someone actually managed to blow up a 2.3? How? I have had 2 rangers and 1 mustang all with the 2.3 and tried blowing them up. Never was sucessful

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I believe they ran it low on oil.

I had an 89 ranger 2.3, that i drove around for 3 months with a bad oil pump, knocking and clanging everywhere i went. I put a new oil pump in it and it has ran great ever since. (sold it a couple of months ago)
I would check the oil pressure before i started trying to find another engine, oil pump was less than $30 at pep boys.
the truck had bad fuel economy, i believe a v6 would get better economy.

part it out between ebay /craigslist sales you can move 90% of the parts, usually the bed the cab and the frame will also sell to a buyer for 2-3 times scrap value if theres no damage

I drove an 87 Ranger for years that had the 2.3. It was a very dependable truck, but had very little power left for overdrive(5th gear).
Unless I was going downhill with a tailwind no point even shifting into 5th. It got a steady 17-18 MPG, but I think I drove it harder than the one I have now, a 4x4 4.0, which has plenty of power, even for pulling loaded truck with trailer. I drive @55, and get a steady 20MPG