Witch Engine
Witch Engine
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,978
Likes: 1
From: Alvin, Texas.
Could you have thought about that when you bought the truck and saw 2.3L I4 on the spec sheet? Speed costs money either way!
One way to help yourself out is to find the powerband with the shift points for the engine. A lot of the "The 2.3L is gutless" crud comes from drivers shifting the truck like the engine will blow up over 2000rpms. My x-cab 2.3L is quite acceptable. Not a 4.0L, of course, but I can peg the speedometer if the need arises.
With what Ken pointed out, the 3.0 and 4.0 were factory options for 1994 models. You really need a donor truck and compare what is in the donor and move that stuff over to the truck you have. Radiator, engine with harness (93-94 will plug into firewall dash harness), tranny in any case, clutch for 4.0L (if you get a donor with said engine), and you can keep 7.5 rear in place unless you tow a lot or may otherwise strain the rear.
Back to the point. If you bought an XL to trick out, that's one thing, but odds are you didn't and you might spend as much with a 3.0 or 4.0L swap as you did buying the truck in current form. I doubt a 94 3.0 or 4.0 truck would cost twice what a 2.3L model does.
One way to help yourself out is to find the powerband with the shift points for the engine. A lot of the "The 2.3L is gutless" crud comes from drivers shifting the truck like the engine will blow up over 2000rpms. My x-cab 2.3L is quite acceptable. Not a 4.0L, of course, but I can peg the speedometer if the need arises.
With what Ken pointed out, the 3.0 and 4.0 were factory options for 1994 models. You really need a donor truck and compare what is in the donor and move that stuff over to the truck you have. Radiator, engine with harness (93-94 will plug into firewall dash harness), tranny in any case, clutch for 4.0L (if you get a donor with said engine), and you can keep 7.5 rear in place unless you tow a lot or may otherwise strain the rear.
Back to the point. If you bought an XL to trick out, that's one thing, but odds are you didn't and you might spend as much with a 3.0 or 4.0L swap as you did buying the truck in current form. I doubt a 94 3.0 or 4.0 truck would cost twice what a 2.3L model does.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,873
Likes: 0
From: St. Peter
If your gonna do a swap go 351 or 302, those are sooo sweet, v8 rangers rock. Theres alot of information and sources on it too, advanced adapters, james duff, and others make parts for the swap and books.
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: FL
I have the same truck and yes it lacks power, but I must say that it has been a bullit proof engine with no problems at all and I have 118K mile on it. Shifting at higher RPM's helps a little but I have to be carefull becasue my gas peddal will stick into the carpet when pushed all the way down. That aside, at full throttle, level road, no wind and just me in the truck it will do 82 mph period. With a head wind it drops accordingly etc. My 302 is in the machine shop now and I hope to have in and running by spring.
AB
AB
