4.0 Question

[CoachW73]

I'm coming from the Ranger world and love my Ranger, but one of the issues I have with a 33" tire is maintaining speed on the highway, especially in the mountains. Are the Sport Tracs with the 4.0 and over size tires (33"/35") any better with keeping up with traffic on the interstate, or should I only look at the V8 Sport Trac?

 

[410Fortune]

What gears are in your ranger? Maybe time for a gear swap

Your door tag should have an axle code
That code will tell you what ring and pinion ratio your ranger has.
Many sohc explorers and sport tracs came with 4.1 gears which helps them with their larger 265 tires (31” factory)

Most rangers are 3.55 or 3.73 gears let’s see what your truck has. With 33” tires 4.1’or 4.56 ratio work well

 

[CoachW73]

What gears are in your ranger? Maybe time for a gear swap

Your door tag should have an axle code
That code will tell you what ring and pinion ratio your ranger has.
Many sohc explorers and sport tracs came with 4.1 gears which helps them with their larger 265 tires (31” factory)

Most rangers are 3.55 or 3.73 gears let’s see what your truck has. With 33” tires 4.1’or 4.56 ratio work well

I've regeared my Ranger to 4.56, but I have the 3.0 in my Ranger. I'm also looking for a little more room so I think the Sport Trac would be a good fit!

 

[410Fortune]

Oh boy you came to the right place for that. I build rangers and ranger based vehicles. I drive a sport trac, they are the best! 4 full doors, power back window, small composite
Bed, tons of features available, and they ride like an suv not a pickup truck.
I had 6 tracs at the shop this summer, we love them here

You can find good deals on them as they are now 20+ years old, however most of them are high miles. They only came with sohc engines

Depending on your abilities you could also convert your ranger to a better v6. The 3.0 is gutless compared to the sohc

 

[CoachW73]

Oh boy you came to the right place for that. I build rangers and ranger based vehicles. I drive a sport trac, they are the best! 4 full doors, power back window, small composite
Bed, tons of features available, and they ride like an suv not a pickup truck.
I had 6 tracs at the shop this summer, we love them here

You can find good deals on them as they are now 20+ years old, however most of them are high miles. They only came with sohc engines

Depending on your abilities you could also convert your ranger to a better v6. The 3.0 is gutless compared to the sohc

I thought about an engine swap for a little bit, but having the little bit larger interior is a big plus for family/camping. I am just not sure if the 4.0 in the Sport Tracs and Rangers are the same, or if the ones in the Sport Tracs are a little different, since it's a little different/bigger platform? Knowing that they ride better is a plus! I'll be putting my RTT on it and will more than likely leave it there at all times.

 

[410Fortune]

Rtt? Oh roof top tent

Well there are two 4.0 v6 engines the 89-2000 4.0 pushrod (overhead valve) and the 97-2014 sohc 4.0 ( single overhead cam)

The 01-05 sport tracs came with the sohc only
The sohc engine makes 235 hp and 265 ft lbs of torque, plenty for a sport trac

The ranger also used the sohc v6 from 2001-11
The last year of the ohv was 2000

Big difference in power between the two 4.0
The sohc in the sport trax makes more power from the factory then the 5.0 v8 found in 96-01 explorers

 

[410Fortune]

A 3.0 ranger on 33’s with a roof top tent would be “power challenged” to say the least… the sohc 4.0 is a big leap in power over that setup

 

[CoachW73]

Ok, this is great information! So a Sport Trac with a roof top tent and 4.0 and 33's should be no problem! I appreciate you guys! It seems like the 4.0's are more readily available than the 4.6's.

 

[Josh P]

If I was looking for a sport trac, I'd be looking for one with a 4.6 and 6R80 transmission.

 

[410Fortune]

07+ they are pretty neat
They are based on the gen iii explorer and they have irs no more
Leaf springs and solid axle. They are larger and have more room. The 4.6 can be a very good engine
I’m still partial to the 01-05 trucks myself but that is because I v8 them

 

[Fix4Dirt]

07+ they are pretty neat
They are based on the gen iii explorer and they have irs no more
Leaf springs and solid axle. They are larger and have more room. The 4.6 can be a very good engine
I’m still partial to the 01-05 trucks myself but that is because I v8 them

wish 4.6 2v came with the 6r80, since the 3v has phaser issues and the 5r55w behind the 2v is nowhere near the 6r!

most comparable to your ranger would be the v6 01-05 ones, but the v8 ones are the creme de la creme if you are willing to put up with IRS, less flex, basically what you give up offroad, you gain in those being very potent and stout powertrain.