Anyone Swapped A 3.7 Into A 3rd Gen Ranger?

[ekrampitzjr]

That engine is wider and taller than a 302. Even the most basic 302 can make 300+ horsepower and deliver for torque.

Engine swaps for fuel economy is a fools errand IMO. The cost to complete the swap will buy A LOT of fuel instead. Engine swaps are for more power. Be honest with yourself and you'll agree. More power is always more fuel. It takes a certain amount of fuel and a certain amount of air to make a give HP. Be it a turbo 4, V6 or V8 they will consume the same amount of fuel and air to make the same power. Only off power throttle can offer gains in economy.

Yes, this, and don't forget the headaches and hassle of getting the electronics to work. That's probably worse than the physical swap.

 

[Thanks47]

That engine is wider and taller than a 302. Even the most basic 302 can make 300+ horsepower and deliver for torque.

Engine swaps for fuel economy is a fools errand IMO. The cost to complete the swap will buy A LOT of fuel instead. Engine swaps are for more power. Be honest with yourself and you'll agree. More power is always more fuel. It takes a certain amount of fuel and a certain amount of air to make a give HP. Be it a turbo 4, V6 or V8 they will consume the same amount of fuel and air to make the same power. Only off power throttle can offer gains in economy.

I don't mean to sound like an ass but I disagree completely from a drivability standpoint. I prefer fuel injection, variable valve timing and the 10 speed transmission. If a 302 boat anchor was better then that's what would have come in newer vehicles since they're cheaper to produce. I've built lots of engines and quite a few 302s in my day and I've had enough of those dinosaurs to do me for the rest of my life.
I wouldn't take a brand new 302 if someone were going to install it free of charge but that's just me. We're all free to spend our money on whatever makes us happy and that's all that matters at the end of the day. Life is a journey and building the thing in our head can be as much fun as owning it once it's done. I'm a retired old man with a fab shop full of everything I need to build stuff so why not. I'm just trying to entertain myself.
Keep smiling my friend and don't forget to have fun.

 

[rumblecloud]

Love this response and I did not take it the wrong way. If you've got the goods, go for it...after all..."What's the worst that could happen?"

 

[tjm73]

302 went out of production for a number of reasons. Chief among the was NHV and emissions. Could Ford have solved those problems? Yes. But they wanted to be seen as a forward technology power train company so the 4.6 was born. Anyone that can set aside a bias will admit that the 4.6 SOHC was a step forward by almost every measure over the 302. The DOHC was a major step forward from the 302. In stock form. The 302 is more highly regarded because it responds to mods favorably. But nobody realizes the 302 responds so well because it's so behind the times. The basic SBF arrived in 1962 and improved slightly year over year until peaking in the Explorer and then bowing out.

If Ford had focused on modernizing the 5.0 and backing with that 10 speed, we'd be in a very difficult world.

The 3.7 is a great engine. 300hp, 280ft-lbs and around 30 mpgs is an accomplishment. The 2.3EB is also a feat of engineering. And I'd argue it's not only way better than the 3.7 it's better than the 5.0. Expect for sound. It sounds terrible. But everything else about it is very good.

But all that technology brings complication, more parts, more places where something can go wrong, more real estate requirements. And all the "extra" brings more cost.

Everyone builds what twists their crank. I value simplicity. And it's damn hard to beat the 5.0 if it's built right IMO.

 

[Jim Oaks]

I like the idea of using a stock engine that makes 300 horsepower and gets 30 MPG versus building up an engine with aftermarket parts. Plus, if you're going to go through the trouble of doing an engine swap, be unique.

When you consider the 4.0 OHV made 160 horsepower and the 4.0 SOHC made 207 horsepower, the fact that the 3.7 makes 300 horsepower without the use of a turbo or supercharger is pretty damn impressive.

 

[tjm73]

If I look at what engines Ford is building now with a " what would I swap" eye the obvious choices are 2.3EB because they are widely available, the 3.5EB because they are in tons and tins of F150's, the 5.0 DOHC because they are awesome, and the 7.3 Godzilla engine because it is a camshaft away from 600+ hp.

But to the OP's question, if you are only looking for another 100 hp you can get that with a turbo on the existing engine. The fabrication to do so is on par or less than what would be needed to pull off a 3.7 swap.

To each their own.

 

[Snoranger]

If I look at what engines Ford is building now with a " what would I swap" eye the obvious choices are 2.3EB because they are widely available, the 3.5EB because they are in tons and tins of F150's, the 5.0 DOHC because they are awesome, and the 7.3 Godzilla engine because it is a camshaft away from 600+ hp.

But to the OP's question, if you are only looking for another 100 hp you can get that with a turbo on the existing engine. The fabrication to do so is on par or less than what would be needed to pull off a 3.7 swap.

To each their own.

So you’re saying that the best idea is to force enough air into an engine with almost no aftermarket support, to:

If it’s an OHV - double its output.
If it’s a SOHC - a 50% increase in power.

Those engines, while good for their time, weren’t designed to live that harsh of a life. They won’t last as long as a 3.7 that was designed with boost in mind. Ford designed this family of engines knowing that they were going to stuff tons of air down its throat. The block is stronger, the internals are better designed to live a happy life being tortured.

 

[tjm73]

So you’re saying that the best idea is to force enough air into an engine with almost no aftermarket support, to:

If it’s an OHV - double its output.
If it’s a SOHC - a 50% increase in power.

Those engines, while good for their time, weren’t designed to live that harsh of a life. They won’t last as long as a 3.7 that was designed with boost in mind. Ford designed this family of engines knowing that they were going to stuff tons of air down its throat. The block is stronger, the internals are better designed to live a happy life being tortured.

Yes. That's what I am saying. Maybe not the OHV 4.0 because it'll need14psi, but the 4.0 SOHC can handle 8psi. Every Ford engine made in the last 40 years can handle 8 psi. And 8 psi will add 54% power give or take. And that'll be nearly 320hp and 400 ft-lbs.