ford has a new 3.5 liter, do you guys think it will be seen in a ranger anytime soon if ever. it's said to have 265 hp and 250 Lbs ft of torque. I'd like that in my ranger how about you?

 

Next year a long with the crewcab, the 2.5 and 3.0 comonrail diesels and the 4.6 v8 dohc cobra motor, "YEAH, RIGHT" !! The mustangs supost get the 3.5 by 09, so maybe, I'ld rather see a revised 4.0, with 3 valve heads and vct.

 

Well who knows what lurkes in the hearts of Ford's upper echelon, with regard to future Ranger powerplants.

I mean the numbers look nice, but I'd like to see some fuel consumption numbers first!!!!

Down sizing the engine, then having it produce more HP & Torque, means you have to work it harder, by revving it higher & that usually means a drop in MPG!!!!!

SO, the present 4.0L has a decent weight to power ratio, but not very impressive MPG, imo.
I'd like to see Ford work on improving the SHOC's 4.0L's mpg substantially.

Right now I like my old pushrod 4.0L, it has a good low down RPM Torque & MPG ratio.

It does most things I need done, very well.
I really don't need a high rpm engine, I want good MPG & low down GRUNT, off the line & to haul & tow with, in the mountains, without having to run around with the engine RPM's at piston, hole swapping levels, to get the grunt & HP & in the process beat my oil, torque converter, tranny & nerves to death!!!!

Now if they want to tinker around with the SOHC 4.0L & get it's MPG up there, or bring on this new 3.5L & have it yield at least as good MPG as my old pushrod 4.0L, then maybe I'd be interested!!!!!

Otherwise I'll just keep what I have & GRIN every time I start er up!!!!! lol

 

Thats a good point, dohc engines tend to make power high in the rpm range, where as trucks need lowend torque. They got away with it with the 2.3 dohc duratec with a different cam profile, but 4 bangers aren't noted torque monsters anyway. I can't complain to much about my 4.0 sohc's mpg, I get over 20 mpg with a 4x4, but it's not the rule, it's the exception. To have a true 4x4 system with t-case and all, mileage will have to suffer, due to drag and weight. The new 4 banger rangers get around 30 mpg. I wish they would just ring all they can out of the 4.0 and lets us keep the cubes and torque.

 

I agree...I'd enjoy the 4.0L revised more than the 3.5L. However, I believe the 3.5L is to be seen in the cars only? However, with the supposed redesigning of the Ranger...a new engine wouldn't be out of the question. I definetly would prefer a low-down grunt engine versus the revving 3.5L.

Now...that would be a fun little Ranger sport sort of version. But the guys who use it for work aren't going to be too thrilled. 265 horsepower is awesome from a 3.5L V6...but the 250 ft lbs doesn't blow by the old 4.0L OHV by too much...much less the 4.0L SOHC.

Either way...we dun get to make the decisions, but it'll definetly make news around here if we get the 3.5L.

 

Anyone who's familiar with either European or Japanese engine design would be rolling on the floor at that comment! They've proven for years that just isn't true, since they get that performance by making the engine more efficient.

The 3.5 at 265 hp and 250 torque means it has its peak torque at a higher rpm than the 4.0 sohc, but without seeing the actual torque curve, we don't know what the torque would be at cruising speed. If the torque curve is no lower than the 4.0 sohc, the resulting vehicle could have the same or better mileage and of course would have better acceleration since the torque curve stays up to higher rpms. That's nothing to complain about.

 

I'm with wendell on this one, I would love to see them do to the 4.0L SOHC what they did to the 4.6, 5.4 and the 6.8 and go to a 3 valve head, variable cam timing, and add the charge motion control valves to make it a dual path intake and have more grunt down low and still have good high rpm HP. Now with all those goodies, if they could squeeze say.....4-5 more mpg out of that engine.....that would be a winner for Ford. Put the power numbers similar to the new 3.5L at around say.....260-270 hp and about 250-270 lbs ft. of torque.....man what a runner that would be.

 

I'd be VERY suprised if they put a 265 hp engine in anything this size, save a sport model of some sort. That is a lot of power in a small truck. I'm just not so sure that Ford will jump into that, since we've been denied a high-power engine for some time. The 4.0L SOHC can hardly be called high-powered, though at 207 ponies, it'll scoot the Ranger quite nicely. I can't imagine them wanting to put something with MORE power into the Ranger.

 

It's the keep up with the Jones thing, the ranger doesn't need more power, but people want more because toyota has more or chevy, it's a numbers game. My ranger had plenty of power for what I do, but I still spent a boat load of money to squeeze out a little more and if it would of had 300 hp I would of still done the same thing. Mostly because it's fun. The point being, ford will have to up the ponies to compete, but it will come with the redesign I would think. If you think about it, the 4.0 sohc has as much hp as the 5.0 mustang gt and allmost as much torque, it's not lacking for power by no means, but nissan has more so we need more, thats just the way it is.

 

Wendell, I can't believe you actually wrote that! Of course it needs more power - some is good, more is better, and too much is just right!

 

Quote:
"... have more grunt down low and still have good high rpm HP. Now with all those goodies, if they could squeeze say.....4-5 more mpg out of that engine ...."

How about a 2.3 or 2.5 litre Diesel?? That would give the low down grunt and better fuel economy. It might still be short on high end HP, but it would sure do things for those of us with Lima 2.3's and 2.5's. If I knew how to do it not, I'd love to make the exchange in my '91, std cab, long bed, 5 spd manual, 3.45 gears. I love that truck and with more torque, it would be great. The only time I notice limited power is on a grade and a downshift to 4th usually takes care of that. A 4 cyl. Diesel would be a hoot!!!

 

Quote:
"... have more grunt down low and still have good high rpm HP. Now with all those goodies, if they could squeeze say.....4-5 more mpg out of that engine ...."

How about a 2.3 or 2.5 litre Diesel?? That would give the low down grunt and better fuel economy. It might still be short on high end HP, but it would sure do things for those of us with Lima 2.3's and 2.5's. If I knew how to do it, I'd love to make the exchange in my '91, std cab, long bed, 5 spd manual, 3.45 gears. I love that truck and with more torque, it would be great. The only time I notice limited power is on a grade and a downshift to 4th usually takes care of that. A 4 cyl. Diesel would be a hoot!!!

 

I really like what I see downunder at Ford Australia. I think this does a good job to match you criteria. A new 2.5L turbo diesel, with 140HP and 28.3mpg. There's a 3.0L diesel also. Don't know why we can't have those engines here....I suppose emission issues.


http://www.ford.com.au/servlet/Conte...idth&c=DFYPage

 

HA HA RUBYDIST, you know better than that, it couldn't have enough power for me, thats why I tinker so much, if it had 300 hp, it would need 350 ha ha. I ment for the average Joe, it has plenty. At it's current size, it could stand to have 250 hp or so and if gets bigger, then it will need 280 -300 hp. If they would make a regularcab, shortbed, 2-wheel drive with the 4.0 sohc, 5-speed manual and 4:10 gears, that would be a quick little truck. My SC 4x4 wasn't no sloutch, even before the mods. I would like to play with it with one of those 4.5 stroker kits installed. That should get me around 250 with my mods and gobs of lowend torque. I haven't seen the numbers on the ohv stroker, Alan said that it was wicked. I guess Morana is still working on the kit for the sohc. Hows that super charger comming along ?

 

The weather isn't cooperating - its snowed almost 4' here already and winter just started, supposed to snow again this weekend. I need a weekend of good weather to get this install done.

Actually, I'm not quite ready yet. I found a 94 supercoupe M90, which has a different inlet opening, but is significantly more efficient, so I'm reworking the inlet elbow to work on that. Should be ready within the week. So, now I just need a decent weekend and we'll be installing the blower!