• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

4.0L V6 to Ecoboost 3.5L


Bakerm1

New Member
Joined
Oct 18, 2011
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Ellensburg Washington
Vehicle Year
1995
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0L V6
Transmission
Manual
I have a 1995 ranger with the 4.0L in it and it has about two hundred thousand miles on it, this is my first car that i ever bought so it has a lot of sentimental value to me and i want to keep this thing around for a long time but a engine swap will be needed sooner or later. I was wondering if swapping over to the ecoboost motor would be possible, I know that ford uses the durtec 3.5L V6 for the block so that is about the same size. Just thinking and would love some input
 


backroad101

New Member
Joined
Dec 26, 2009
Messages
961
Reaction score
4
Points
0
Vehicle Year
1999
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0L OHV
Transmission
Automatic
Anything I possible with time, money, custom fab work and wiring, etc, but I am willing to bet most will suggest a 5.0L swap
 

stmitch

March 2011 STOTM Winner
MTOTM Winner
2011 Truck of The Year
Joined
Jan 29, 2010
Messages
2,259
Reaction score
615
Points
113
Location
Central Indiana
Vehicle Year
2000
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
3.0
Transmission
Manual
There's very little chance your trans would bolt up to the ecoboost, so you'd need to swap the trans, or fab up an adaptor plate. You'd also need all of the wiring harness, electronics, and the ECU for the ecoboost motor. I haven't seen it done yet, so you'd be the guinea pig.
 

Ozwynn

Well-Known Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
6,505
Reaction score
200
Points
63
Age
47
Location
Berrien Springs, MI
Vehicle Year
2022
Make / Model
RE Interceptor
Transmission
Manual
My credo
If you can't go through it or around it, then go over it.
Sooner or later I knew this would come up......... Where is my popcorn
 

escort_gts

02/2012 04/2013 04/2014 OTOTM Winner
OTOTM Winner
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Oct 27, 2007
Messages
3,387
Reaction score
16
Points
38
Location
Fort Wayne, IN
Vehicle Year
1993, 2001
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0, 5.0
Transmission
Manual
Interesting.....but, I would just get another 4.0

Sent from my HTC using Tapatalk
 

Gotta_gofast

New Member
RBV's on Boost
Joined
Dec 28, 2008
Messages
1,454
Reaction score
33
Points
0
Location
Wisconsin
Vehicle Year
2006
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
6.0L Powerstroke
Transmission
Automatic
You'd better be damn sure how to do the swap cuz thats a lot of coin to drop onto a brand new drivetrain.
 

Ozwynn

Well-Known Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
6,505
Reaction score
200
Points
63
Age
47
Location
Berrien Springs, MI
Vehicle Year
2022
Make / Model
RE Interceptor
Transmission
Manual
My credo
If you can't go through it or around it, then go over it.
There is already 3 of them in my local boneyard
 

Gotta_gofast

New Member
RBV's on Boost
Joined
Dec 28, 2008
Messages
1,454
Reaction score
33
Points
0
Location
Wisconsin
Vehicle Year
2006
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
6.0L Powerstroke
Transmission
Automatic
Wow, I'm lucky to see a 3v triton in my area! lol. If it were possible for me to get ahold of a rolled doner truck for a reasonable price I would take on the swap. But I would only do it if I had all the pieces. Sourcing out all the small stuff takes too much time and trial and error.
 

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,192
Reaction score
17,487
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
You'd better be damn sure how to do the swap cuz thats a lot of coin to drop onto a brand new drivetrain.
This is pretty cutting edge, there will be a learning curve. If everybody waited until they knew for sure something would work nothing would happen. And different things arise even on mundane swaps.

I think it is a worthy project, that 3.5 would be a riot in a Ranger. Even a 4cyl would be pretty cool.

Just looking at pics, the oil pan looks all wrong for a RBV, and I really don't know about the oil filter housing. Maybe they could be switched something off of an older engine... maybe not. I have never claimed to be or planned to be a Vulcan/Duratec expert. :dunno:

 

89Ranger5.0

New Member
V8 Engine Swap
Joined
Apr 8, 2009
Messages
210
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Age
32
Location
Upstate NY
Vehicle Year
1989
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
5.0 302
Transmission
Manual
There's no rules in custom. None. Just certain things take more, time, effort, and $$$$.

Be an awesome swap.
 

Gotta_gofast

New Member
RBV's on Boost
Joined
Dec 28, 2008
Messages
1,454
Reaction score
33
Points
0
Location
Wisconsin
Vehicle Year
2006
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
6.0L Powerstroke
Transmission
Automatic
This is pretty cutting edge, there will be a learning curve. If everybody waited until they knew for sure something would work nothing would happen. And different things arise even on mundane swaps.


I more meant you'd better have your ducks in a row. Planning and research and the availability of tooling to fabricate custom parts. Just going balls deep without a direction usually ends in $200 ranger shells for sale (at least around here lol).

Just from that picture, the issues (as I see it) would be...

Oil pan as stated
HVAC assembly on firewall would obstruct the DOHC head (see 302 swaps for solution I think)
It appears the steering shaft would run right through the turbo. Have to relocate turbo or possibly use knuckles and carrier bearing to get the shaft around the turbo
Alternator and oil filter relocated
The torqueshift 6 speed auto (the only rear wheel trans I know of for this engine) is a big sombich. Since the 3.5L ecoboost shares history with the ecotec lines, maybe there are more compact transmissions that will bolt to it? The 6 speed trans seems to have perfect shift points and gearing btw.

Are these babies air to air intercooled or liquid to air intercooled? A liquid to air heat exchanger would fit better in the front of a ranger.

I'm in no way stating this cannot be done, its just words of wisdom to have a plan and be sure you know what you're going to be doing to your truck.
 

85_Ranger4x4

Forum Staff Member
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
OTOTM Winner
TRS Banner 2010-2011
TRS 20th Anniversary
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 7, 2007
Messages
32,192
Reaction score
17,487
Points
113
Location
SW Iowa
Vehicle Year
1985
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
A lot of this is scale of things.

I know on a V8 the DS turbo would be in the way of the steering, and on my longer 302 the power steering pump happily lives where the alternator is on the ecoboost. Pushing for all the forward room I could get my 302 is farther back than the 2.8 was too. If the engine would be long enough to dodge the steering gear the alternator would be ok on the EB.

Since it is a 60 degree engine it would be more forgiving than say a 90 degree V8, how much is anybody's guess.

It is a twin turbo, so proximity of the PS turbo to the plastic HVAC box would be important too. A heat gun can be used to reshape it for the valve cover if you need to, it is commonly done for V8 swaps (or you can swap to a non-AC box to open up a ton more room and don't want AC anymore)

A lot of this IMO is going to be in the air until somobody actually tries it. Even a tape measure can lie (it did on the length of my 302 and radiator clearance) and so far we don't even have that to go by.

The 3.7 is another runner that might have fewer complications. I watched one in a Mustang (automatic with 2.xx gears) pound the snot out of two new (LS1 or LS2) GTO's at the local 1/8th mile track a year and a half ago. Since the Ecoboost is only something like $500 more, my local dealer has had enough interest to even order any 3.7 F-150's though. Just Ecoboosts and 5.0's... so they may not be as available in JY's.
 
Last edited:

Hahnsb2

New Member
TRS Banner 2010-2011
Joined
Aug 8, 2007
Messages
4,416
Reaction score
36
Points
0
Age
35
Location
Battle Ground WA
Vehicle Year
88-95
Make / Model
Ford-Dodge
Engine Size
4.0-5.2 Turbo
Transmission
Manual
While it would be cool, you can accomplish the same thing with a turbo V8, except fuel mileage.
 

ronclark

Active Member
Supporting Member
Ham Radio Operator
GMRS Radio License
Joined
Oct 22, 2008
Messages
919
Reaction score
25
Points
28
Location
Woodland, WA
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
95 4.0 with 93 ECU
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
2
Tire Size
30
I would the to see the swap.
As much as i love my 4.0L, i just wish it had better fuel mileage
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Members online

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Truck of The Month


Kirby N.
March Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top