What is the best fuel injected Ford V6 based on strength, power, and hop up potential? I want to stuff a F.I. Ford V6 in my 65 Ranchero. Some options are the 2.6, 2.8, 2.9, 3.8, 4.0, and 4.2L. What V6 would you guys put in my car? I want power and mileage. Right now I'm at 100hp and 156tq with 25mpg. Hoping for at least 150hp and 200tq with 20mpg. Hey, wouldn't a polished up flathead look way cool in my car?Anyways, Thanks in advance.

79 F150 4x4 410m Built Ford Tough!(9.1:1,KB pistons,custom Comp Cams X-Treme 210/218-.508/.524,roller rockers)/c6/3.5:1 gears,4.11:1 soon, Demon 4bbl, 285/75R16 BFG Mudders on alumn. mags with New Drk. Blue paint.
65 Ranchero 170-6, 3on the tree, solid mags, New Bright Yellow paint

 

>What is the best fuel injected Ford V6 based on strength,
>power, and hop up potential? I want to stuff a F.I. Ford V6
>in my 65 Ranchero. Some options are the 2.6, 2.8, 2.9, 3.8,
>4.0, and 4.2L. What V6 would you guys put in my car? I want
>power and mileage. Right now I'm at 100hp and 156tq with
>25mpg. Hoping for at least 150hp and 200tq with 20mpg. Hey,
>wouldn't a polished up flathead look way cool in my
>car?Anyways, Thanks in advance.
>
>79 F150 4x4 410m Built Ford Tough!(9.1:1,KB pistons,custom
>Comp Cams X-Treme 210/218-.508/.524,roller rockers)/c6/3.5:1
>gears,4.11:1 soon, Demon 4bbl, 285/75R16 BFG Mudders on
>alumn. mags with New Drk. Blue paint.
>65 Ranchero 170-6, 3on the tree, solid mags, New Bright
>Yellow paint

4.0L

Most dependable, easiest to fix, easiest find parts....

If you looking for that kind of mpg, gonna be hard with that tranny and that heavy of a car, you might not have enough forward gears.

my .02

super

 

You'd prolly be better off with a 302...

super

 

>You'd prolly be better off with a 302...

Money wise, maybe.

But No, never in my liftime will a 302 or 5.0 be in my engine compartment. Maybe if I wimp out, I could see a rare 289ho, but 302, NO.
I feel the same way about the 302 as I do the ch*vy 350. They're so typical they make me sick. They have been done to death. I want something that has never been put in a 65 ranchero, like a fuel injected Ford V6. The problem is just which one? If you guys could tell me some of the pros and cons of of each one, that would help a lot. Thanks.

By the way, I will be using the tranny that fits the motor that will be used. My ranchero only ways about 2600lbs. Comparable to an early nova.

79 F150 4x4 410m Built Ford Tough!(9.1:1,KB pistons,custom Comp Cams X-Treme 210/218-.508/.524,roller rockers)/c6/3.5:1 gears,4.11:1 soon, Edelbrock 750, 285/75R16 BFG Mudders on alumn. mags with New Drk. Blue paint.
65 Ranchero 170-6, 3on the tree, solid mags, New Bright Yellow paint

 

>4.0L
>
>Most dependable, easiest to fix, easiest find parts....
>
>If you looking for that kind of mpg, gonna be hard with that
>tranny and that heavy of a car, you might not have enough
>forward gears.
>
>my .02

Yeah, that's what I was thinking until I read this article. Kind of scared me away from them.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 24-Jul-02 AT 06:35 PM (EST)]Ah heck, why don't you go ahead and splurge and go with a Boss 429 SOHC ? Now there's a motor that's not real typical. I think you'd have to be a millionaire, though. And probably, a genius to keep it running right.

Seriously, how about one of those SHO V-8's. You'd be monkeying around with putting in a computer and everything, but might be cool if you did it. Might only take 2 or 3 years, think of the fun you'll have.

 

My choice for a V6 would be the
3.0L 24V SHO engine, you can get them
fairly cheap these days, they have the
same bell housing pattern as the
Aerostar 2.8L(?), and make the power
you're asking for, thew intake manifold
can be swapped end for end, pls they
look really cool...


Steve & the Rockette
'63 F100
'68 F100
'72 Capri 2L
'73 Capri 2.6L V6
'73 MG B GT 2.6L V6(Ford)
'98 Contour SVT 2.5L V6 (Mods)
'01 ZX2 (No Mods yet)

 

Since you specifically inquired about V-6 engines, I'll confine my input to those. I've had some experience with all except the 2.9. The 2.8 always seemed to offer the best performance and had the most potential for extracting additional HP gain via modifications. The 4.0 is a tractor in terms of available torque but the block/heads are maxed out in the present configuration, limiting any mods. The 3.0 and sister 3.8 are fine sedan engines, but they never endeared themselves as potential performance engines, without lots of expensive internal swaps. Even then I would question their reliability if beefed up much beyond normal specs.

 

I've also wondered which was the "best" engine, the 4.0, or the 3.8-4.2. Why does Ford use the 4.0's in the Explorers, and the 4.2's in the F150 trucks?

78 Bronco Ranger XLT, 351M, 4-sp, Trailer Special

 

Wow, if I had this info available 4 years ago, I would never have bought my 91 explorer 4.0 5 spd 4x4. It only had 121K miles on it then. Now it has 193K and uses less than a pint of oil in 3000 miles.

I also would not have known how badly it performed, as I can stay up with most traffic, although I admit it would flop on a drag strip. (but I can burn rubber on takeoff).


Seriously I have 5 Fords now, 4 of them are 5.0's two HO's one F150 and one Explorer, the other is my 91 4.0. It is by far the smoothest running, idling engine of the 5.


Winford

 

In terms of the weight of a Ranchero I would go with the 4.0. You can add a turbo later if it lags too much. This would be my choice for computer controlled engines V-6 wise. I have 187K on my 4.0 Aerostar and it probably still has another 100K left.

Non-CPU V-6 would be a 2.8 since there are many Pinto mods out there that will work with the 2.8 engine.

I would stay away from the 2.9 because the TFI module is very unreliable. I know, I have owned two 2.9 BIIs.

Best setup would be a
4.0L/5 Speed T-5/4:10 to 4:56 8.8/9.0 rear end

Late model Ranger 5 speed would work fine too. They are hard to find but an early Explorer 4.0/5 spd/8.8 would be a good buy since you might be able to pick one up in good condition for less than $2000. Part it out and break almost even.

 

>I've also wondered which was the "best" engine, the 4.0, or
>the 3.8-4.2. Why does Ford use the 4.0's in the Explorers,
>and the 4.2's in the F150 trucks?

Torque, the 4.0L doesn't make as much torque
as the 3.8L...

Steve & the Rockette
'63 F100
'68 F100
'72 Capri 2L
'73 Capri 2.6L V6
'73 MG B GT 2.6L V6(Ford)
'98 Contour SVT 2.5L V6 (Mods)
'01 ZX2 (No Mods yet)

 

I'd have to go with the 4.2l V6 out of the new F150s over the 4.0l. I've driven/ridden in several extended cab trucks with that motor and they run surprisingly well. Also, have you considered the 300 inline 6? It will give you gobs of torque ,around 275 with the EFI. They last forever. And it should be easy to find one out of a pre-97 F150.

Neither of these are mileage monsters, but with your weight and the right gearing, you should see 20MPG.

My 2 cents!

 

Having worked in a Ford garage I would say steer well clear of the 3.8L engine. Though if you are willing to look at inline engines I think the 300 would be a great choice too!

They are kind of tall and kind of long, but, you have to work really hard to kill one and at low RPMs they have plenty of torque to get you moving. Not to mention it would be a one of a kind, which is what you want!

 

The 300-6 F.I. would be my choice for sure, if it would fit. But I'll have to do a lot of hacking and chopping to get it in there, and that's not going to happen.
The 4.2L sounds tempting except for all of the stories of the blown head gaskets and failed rods. Is the 4.2L V6 any bigger than a 5.0L V8? I know a 5.0L will fit, so I figure that a 4.2L will fit if it is the same size or smaller.
I've looked at inline engines, and the only one able to produce an easy 175hp N/A would be the aussie 250-I6. Rare and expensive in the US.

79 F150 4x4 410m Built Ford Tough!(9.1:1,KB pistons,custom Comp Cams X-Treme 210/218-.508/.524,roller rockers)/c6/3.5:1 gears,4.11:1 soon, Edelbrock 750, 285/75R16 BFG Mudders on alumn. mags with New Drk. Blue paint.
65 Ranchero 170-6, 3on the tree, solid mags, New Bright Yellow paint