Looking at the streangths/ weaknesses of both motors.
Obviously the 4.0 makes more power but it also weighs more and uses more fuel. For daily driving stock or with light mods which is better?
The afetermarket for the 2.3 is strong, it is a dependable, proven motor. Can make decent power good fuel economy, light, simple.
The 4.0 has the power advantage, but the aftermarket isn't as strong, it's a V6 and inherently more complicated, heavier not as good mileage.
Can the 4.0 compete with the 2.3 as far as dependablity? Can it make enough power to make it worth the while?

 

From being in the Focus world (some of the 03-07s used the 2.3L from the Ranger) there is a strong backing to it and it is a decent motor. There are decent turbo setups for it and it does seem to be really reliable from what I have seen. I used to have the ability to flog on a 03 2.3L Focus (stock) and it still got 30+ mpg. This particular 03 was also able to keep up with the SVT version of the Focus. Even took on a Mustang (didn't notice if it was a 6 or 8) but at 100 the Mustang was gone and the Focus hit the speed limiter.

I have heard of problems with the 4.0SOHC and not being able to handle a lot of boost. I have not really looked to much into it but that's the gist of what I get.

I have the 4.0 in my 07 Ranger and like it but also like the 2.3 in the Focus. Sadly my Focus ('01) is a 2.0. From 1/4 mile times I have heard from people with the 4.0 Ranger it is about the same as my 2.0 Focus.

Buddy of mine had a 01 2.3 Ranger and it seemed to do fine. He didn't like it in the snow due to the 2wd but liked it. He got rid of it due to new child and finding the ZR2 Blazer he's wanted for a while.

 

It depends on which 2.3L you're talking about, the SOHC that started production in '74, or
the DOHC that began in '03...

 

2.3 Lima, sorry to not be clear.

 

I was talking about the 2.3DOHC (01+).

I don't know anything about the Lima motor other than it exists.

 

If you want enough power, combined with fuel economy, it's tough to beat the
2.3L Turbo engines that were available in the T-birds, Mustangs, and Merkurs,
backed up with a 5 speed...

 

Yeah the turbos were great, I was really looking at NA apps though.

 

The 4.0L OHV doesn't put out as much hp as the SOHC version, but it is durable and extremely long-lived. At my shop, we see them all the time (in Rangers and Explorers) with well over 200,000 miles on them, and typically, they aren't using excessive oil.

Our '95 Explorer has 146,000 miles on it and runs great. Not too powerful in the heavy Explorer, but in a Ranger the OHV is pretty good.

These engines are made in Cologne, Germany and are descended from the V6's used in the German-made Capris sold in the U.S. during the '70's. Then, these engines were known for being able to cruise at top speed on the Autobahn all day.

Great engine!

 

Tom Morana has a 2.5 stroker kit fot the 4.0 and super six motorsports has a lot of upgrade parts. You should start to see a lot of speed parts for the 4.0 now that the mustang uses it.