I have a 98 ranger with 3.0 with a lot of mods like 3"lift 33" tires 4:10 gears,and I'm trying to get some power and mpg back! I have installed a cold air intake with K&N filter,throtlebody spacer, underdrive pulleys, electric fan,and high flow catyltic coverter with Y pipe to 2.25 straight pipe exhaust with no muffler! I was wondering which tuner or chip would work best for more mpg,and power! HELP PLEASE!!

 

If you get a chip your gonna get a power increase, but not sure about miles per gallon. The point of the chip isn't to increase mpg but power. I haven't used all chips except the superchip microtuner. I love it so I have no need to try anything else. What tranny do you have? The superchip changes shift points on an auto and if you wanted you can put in your own custom shift points to better work with your tires. Also unless you've done it the superchip can change your computer to read the correct speedo and odometer readings for your truck. I've also heard that jets are good modules but those you just plug in and 1 setting that its. Hypertech seems nice but only works at wide open throttle. How often do you put it on the floor?

 

With both the Jet and Hypertech you're only going to get power tuning at wide open throttle.

As to mileage, forget it. While a SCT (Superchips Custom Tuning) or DiabloSport may give you a mileage increase you'll need to run premium fuel to do so. The plain fact of the matter is you have too much tire and lift for that engine (a 4.0L would have been best). A chip will help but it will not overcome the added weight of the tires, the extra rolling resistance and the added wind resistance. Look for about an 8-10% gain in HP over stock. For your year the chip cannot recalibrate the speedo.

 

The 4.0 only has 10 more hp than the 3.0 and I have already put enuf mods to make up for that. I know that tunners and chips are made for more power not mpg but with the engine having more power to turn the bigger tires it shouldn't be lugging the motor as much meaning less fuel! I just want to know which one will help the mpg even if it is only 1 or 2 mpg. I have gained about 4 mpg with all my mods so far a few more would be great!

 

The 4.0 has 35 more foot/lbs of torque than the 3.0 and torque is the most important thing with getting all that extra mass moving. Yes, you'll gain 1-2 mpg on average but you will be required to run a premium fuel program to get it --- meaning your fuel costs will stay about the same, at best.

 

What about the custom program for 87 octane would you still get 1-2 mpg and the same hp or would it be less!!

 

A lot less.

 

Well I have added all of these performance parts ( Headers,dual straight pipe exhaust,K&N cold air intake with tornado, throtle body spacer,underdrive pulleys,electric fan, MAC mass air flow sensor, and diablo sport tunner) I had it tested on G-Tech and it is now pushing almost 200 hp but I don't know the torque increase do you have any ideas about how much torque I gained! I can burn rubber now even with the 33" tires so it must have increased some!!

 

Torque with the chip alone is about half again what the horsepower is. For instance, if a chip gains 10HP the torque is about 15 ft/lbs. If a chip gains 20HP the torque is about 30 ft/lbs., etc.

 

What is the most hp and torque that a 3.0 can produce with all the performance upgrades available except nos of course! I have heard their is a supercharger for the 3.0 does anyone no what years they will fit!

 

That is a question that cannot be accurately answered without putting each and every combination on a dyno and measuring the results. There is a point of demishing returns. The cost difference when new between a 3.0 and 4.0 is about $600. If you spend more than that to gain back the horsepower difference its a waste and would have been better to start out with the larger engine. I suggest using the 3.0 section of this site for 3.0 questions... but I can answer the computer tuning questions, including what is needed if you add NOS or chargers.