Hi I was wondering what parts are interchangeable with the 3.0 and the 4.0 because I'm looking for some headers and the only thing I keep finding is headers for the 4.0
Having owned both at once (wife wrecked the 3.0, new one was a 4.0), here's what will interchange:
- DFPE sensor
- Oil Pressure sending unit
- EGR valve
- Coil pack
- Crank sensor (I think)
Otherwise, not much else. They're two completely different engines from two different sets of designers with two different goals in mind. The Vulcan 3.0 was an engine all it's own with no other engines in it's family (no relation to the 3.0 duratec or any other V6 or V8 ever made).
3.0 parts are hard to find. Headers? Forget about it, unless you know a good welder and are doing custom. Tom morana has some 3.0 parts but they're very expensive and honestly underwhelming from the looks of things. 99 is a better year to find parts for; my 1995 was an odd transition year for the ranger 3.0 (1995-1997) and the exhaust manifolds (stock) and EGR tube were a b**** to find. By 99 most of those parts were unchanged until the engine was discontinued around 2009 IIRC. Still, the 3.0 was mostly a low-end taurus and windstar engine that was sold more for low cost and reliablity in such vehicles, not performance (as opposed to the 3.8L Essex and later the 3.0L Duratec). In the ranger, they were even less common as they were neither particularly fuel efficient or powerful. Honestly a lackluster truck engine, if I'm honest.
If you want performance in a 3.0, not to be a dick, but your best bet is a V8 swap if you can at all. That will open up so many other options and with a 302, the sky's the limit (the only better motor for mods IMHO are the Chevy small block and LS, but that's purely based on aftermarket part selection).
Otherwise, good luck.