Lefty
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2022
- Messages
- 1,691
- Reaction score
- 1,847
- Points
- 113
- Location
- Saint Paul, MN
- Vehicle Year
- 2003
- Make / Model
- Ranger Edge
- Transmission
- Automatic
A lot of us have complained about the 3.0. Maybe I'm one of them. I drove a Buick 3.0 Fireball Six which was considerably faster.
I've gotten used to the Ranger now. My little reg cab is really not that bad. Yes I made a few small improvements: dual exhaust, K&N intake, E Fan. These do not make a lot of horsepower either, certainly nothing noticeable. It does 0-60 in about 9.1 secs, gets about 20 MPG. It keeps up with traffic. It's not a street rod. It's a truck. Yes, the 4.0 is faster, but doesn't get the mileage.
I spent a little bit of mad restomod money on handling and traction instead: new shocks, bigger sway bars, James Duff traction bars, bigger tires on slightly offset wheels, limited slip. Mine is an Edge. I lowered it about an inch, still leaving it about an inch higher than stock. Now, it really sticks to the road. The steering is tight. I don't spin the tires on wet or snowy roads. Now, if I had to swap engines, I would certainly not put more weight in the front. I'm far more concerned with all around performance.
There is something of a moral to my own story. It is not be the answer some are looking for. I found that it is more fun to work with what you have rather than making it into something it's not. Of course, if some day there is a new bolt-on engine mod at the parts store, I will be the first in line.
I've gotten used to the Ranger now. My little reg cab is really not that bad. Yes I made a few small improvements: dual exhaust, K&N intake, E Fan. These do not make a lot of horsepower either, certainly nothing noticeable. It does 0-60 in about 9.1 secs, gets about 20 MPG. It keeps up with traffic. It's not a street rod. It's a truck. Yes, the 4.0 is faster, but doesn't get the mileage.
I spent a little bit of mad restomod money on handling and traction instead: new shocks, bigger sway bars, James Duff traction bars, bigger tires on slightly offset wheels, limited slip. Mine is an Edge. I lowered it about an inch, still leaving it about an inch higher than stock. Now, it really sticks to the road. The steering is tight. I don't spin the tires on wet or snowy roads. Now, if I had to swap engines, I would certainly not put more weight in the front. I'm far more concerned with all around performance.
There is something of a moral to my own story. It is not be the answer some are looking for. I found that it is more fun to work with what you have rather than making it into something it's not. Of course, if some day there is a new bolt-on engine mod at the parts store, I will be the first in line.
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