Hey I'm new to this and hoping to find some answers...to start I have a 1991 Ford Ranger 4x4 with 6 inches of lift pushing 33x12.50R15's and I have a 5-speed manual tranny but i only have the 2.3L so it lacks on power horribly...I was hoping to see what my best route to go to achieve the power I am looking for...Thanks for looking
-Ryan

 

I prefere 3.0 for manual tranny. 3.0 with T5 runs like 4.0 SOHC with 5r55e.
To swap to 4.0 is difficult becouse this engine is big and there is no enought space under the hood to work on it. Mechanics hate to work on 4.0.

The other issue. 2.3 tranny fits 4cyl engines only. Yes, M5OD is used with 1.6-2.5, 3.0 Vulcane, 2.9-4.0 cologne engines, but bolt patterns differ. So look for tranny for 3.0 ore 2.9-4.0 V6 engine ore relevant bellhousing on junkyards (people say, that not only bellhousing differ, but gear ratios too, but I used to swap bellhousings only).

Starters are different too. 2.9 and 4.0 starters are with permanent magnets, 3.0 starter fits 3.0 only, flightwheel and clutch of 3.0 fit 3.0 only, but 2.9 and 4.0 flywheels, starters, clutches do not differ.

All the engines have different wiering, different ECUs parametrized for relevant engines (see http://fordfuelinjection.com). Look carefully to sticker on ECU, but better try to get all parts from one truck ore van.

I swaped A4LD to MT5 on my aero and found cruise contoll working agressively. This problem may appere if you will get ECU from truck with auto tranny.

Well, I think you will manage all.

BTW, so Ranger with 5.0 V8 from wrecked '06 explorer in Moscow. They installed all the powerline from explorer, welded something, installed wiering and electronics from explorer too.....

 

To add onto what Pablo said, the 4.0L SOHC swap would be a nightmare, but the 4.0L OHV is a much more compact engine, and would be pretty easy (comparatively) to drop in the truck, since it came stock. As he mentioned, you need the transmission from the 4.0L, since the bellhousing bolt patterns are engine specific.

The 4.0L has pretty good low end torque, and is quite a good driver with an M5OD in a Ranger. What rear end gearing do you have? You could always go V8 swap, but then you get into the world of making lots of things for it to fit.

 

4.0 OHV is not much faster 3.0 Vulcan, but has lower fuel milage. There is only reason to use 4.0: I dont know why but to find used tranny for Cologne engines is much easier (2.8, 2.9, 4.0 OHV and 4.0 SOHC). But, IMHO, 3.0 is more reliable and easier to fix and maintane then german cologne engines. 4.0 SOHC has the same fuel milage as 3.0 but much faster. Torq. of 4.0SOHC destrois weak M5OD. M5OD is light duty tranny designed for 4cyl engines, and it was modified for V6 engines, but it is not good tranny for 4.0 SOHC.

 

The M5OD that came with the 4.0L SOHC is quite capable of sustaining it's power, and more than strong enough for lesser engines. I'd feel comfortable with it behind even a stock 302.

As Pablo said, the 4.0L OHV isn't exactly a powerhouse, but both it and the 3.0L are good low-end torque engines. Though I've seen 4.0L OHVs actually get better fuel mileage than 3.0Ls (I got 18/22 in my 4.0L, I had a friend with a 3.0L that got 16/19). I would definetly say the 3.0L is more reliable, it's built like a tank. But either will be plenty good with normal maintenance.

In what state do you live and how mechanically apt are you?

 

I live in NE Pennsylvania and I am pretty mechanically apt i have helped with engine swaps and such before and i have my neighbor who is a mechanic so that is not a problem but i didnt know if i really wanted to go that big but i also heard that if i went for the 2.9L V6 that i would need to get a new transfer case and transmission and such is this a true statement i dont know that much about the smaller fords..