Eccentric
Mister Wizard
Well, sonofagun...
Rangers seem to be pretty popular with AS members...
Useful for hauling stuff, but if you get one with the 4 banger or the 3.0, the gas mileage doesn't kill you. The 4.0 however is said to be real thirsty, plus I've read of more problems with them as well. Another thing with the 4.0 is that it's a ##### to change the plugs on it. It's tricky in the pass. side rear cylinder, but if you look at the 4.0, good luck getting to that one without taking the heater box out or tearing something apart.
They're real easy to park...
I have found a 302 that I want to swap into mine... guy wants 650 for it with the trans, and both the engine and trans are rebuilt. Swap headers are only 150 bucks from Summit Racing...
OP, you have one sweet truck there. I have an idea... I'll pull the 3.0 in my Ranger, and go to your place and swap them, and then put the ecoboost in the Danger Ranger... I think you'll like the 3.0 Vulcan... I know I'll like the ecoboost... :jester:
As for the Aussies, they got the coolest Nissan utes that make the Titan look like a weakling... I'd take the Nissan Patrol over a Toyota ute. That's if I had a choice. If not, I'd be happy with a solid axle equipped Toyota ute...
The 3.0L was a good engine (I had one in my '99 4WD Ranger) but was dropped from the lineup years ago. Simple, robust pushrod V6. Toyota dropped their 3.0L six too. I get about the same mileage with my MUCH heavier 4-Door 4.0L Ranger now that I got with my 3.0L Ranger. Both had/have 3.73 gears. The earlier pushrod 4.0L engines were thirstier, but seemed to have more grunt. The one I test drove before buying my 3.0L (both new on the lot in '99) had MUCH more on the bottom than my 2011 4.0L (although less on top). I only got a tad better mileage out of my 2.3L I4 2003 Mazda B2300 (Ranger in disguise). It was actually pretty quick when I revved the piss out of it. EXTREMELY problematic, and NO bottom end however. That was a lightweight, strippy 2-door regular cab 2WD too. Same 3.73 gears.
Plugs on 4.0L engines are a bit tough to change. On my wife's Explorer, they were all relatively easy, except for the #4 (DS front) plug. Because of the location of the AC compressor and the odd angle of that plug hole, it's a BEAR to get a plug threaded in right. Had to put a steel insert in that bore after buggering up the threads. Damn alluminum cylinder heads...