SOHC V6 vs. V8?

[Jet Ski Puller]

I'm looking at an upgrade...my 94 is just gutless...lower gearing, high-flo cat, exhaust, chip...still not enough.

Is there a big difference btwn the SOHC V6 and the V8? I think maybe only 10hp?

If I could get low range in a V8, it would be a no-brainer...

Any feedback?

Thanks.

 

[section525]

There are a couple lengthy threads about SOHC VS V8. You can search for them if you want but I'll tell out the outcome of the threads right here.

The V8 kicks the SOHCs ass.

 

[Jet Ski Puller]

What about no low range, do you miss it?

I use mine all the time to yank the jet skis out of the lake on a sandy beach...

 

[blue_97_v8]

go with the v8 i had a soprt trac with the sohc and i have a 94 and a 97 v8 and i love driving the 97 cuz of all the tork and my 94 is pretty much gutless so go with the v8

 

[Majisto]

The SOHC V-6 is faster stock. As much as the V-8 guys hate to admit it, the SOHC will beat a stock V-8. Unforunately for us SOHC owners, the V-8 can be modded to hell and back, and we are lucky enough to have a working CAI The V-8 really is the better motor. Gas mileage isn't much worse either, and the transmission is much stronger (Although I prefer having a 5-speed auto)

 

[section525]

With the V8 you won't need low range to tow your ski out. I had no probs towing my Nautique out with my 2WD V8.

 

[Jet Ski Puller]

525, you were pulling your boat out on a sandy/muddy beach, or up a ramp?

Have you spent much time 4-wheeling in it?

Thanks.

 

[james t]

Originally posted by Majisto
The SOHC V-6 is faster stock. As much as the V-8 guys hate to admit it, the SOHC will beat a stock V-8.

says who? the only way a SOHC would beat a 5 liter is if they both were stock, and the SOHC were a sport (500lbs. less weight). slap an exhaust on the 5 liter and its all over with. the 5 liter has a very, very, very restrictive exhaust.

also, hp doesnt matter much in a truck. torque is what you want for day to day driving. if you use the low range for the boat ramps, you wont need it with a V8 with minor mods.

 

[John_Rock]

V8? Why would you want one of those pieces of crap?
V8's are highly overrated.
They sound like crap.
It's just a myth that V8's are better than V6's.
V8











LOL - Just joking. I wish I had a V8.
Pisses me off to see the Ford SVT team put a 5.4L v8 in a Ranger.
Anyway, someday if I have enough money I will put a v8 in my Sport Trac.

 

[section525]

I'm pulling it up a wet ramp. (Which I've seen V6 4WD Rangers have trouble going up in 4WD).

 

[Robert]

Several magazines have recorded times that were approximately 1/2 second quicker in the 1/4 mile for a 4-door 2WD SOHC Explorer versus a 4-door V8 2WD Explorer. Stock for stock, everything else being as equal as possible the SOHC will edge out the V8 in the 1/4. It is a combination of the 5-speed auto and high revving motor that does it. The 5-speed auto helps the SOHC keep up at the lower speeds and the high revving helps it to walk away in the upper speeds. When it comes to modifications, the V8 can be easily made to go much faster than the SOHC.

When it comes to 4 wheeling and needing low end grunt, the SOHC with a low range transfer case will have much more useable torque than the V8. Using a '97 as an example: Put the SOHC in 1st gear low and run it at 3000 RPM. You'll have 250 ft/lbs of torque available at about 12 MPH. Now running the same speed in the V8, you'll be turning about 1300 RPM. The V8 torque peak (in '97) is 274 ft/lbs at 3200 RPM. You'll have a lot less than that at barely off idle.

Both engine choices have their advantages and both have thier disadvantages. If you stick to paved roads and boat ramps the V8 is the better choice. People have been pulling boats up concrete boat ramps with 2WD cars and trucks for years and they don't have a low range either. If you want to launch your boat from a sandy beach or be able to tackle rougher terrain than you can in the V8 (or at least make it easier) then the SOHC with the 2-speed transfer case is the better choice.

 

[hrbib21]

Get the V8. You won't regret it.

 

[plrs x45]

you wont need the low with a V8. If you are towing, you WILL notice the difference. I tow a 3800 Ebbtide and a pair of Polaris watercraft. My brothers SOHC chokes pulling up the ramp.

 

[Scormunch]

I haven't found a problem with having no low-range at all... we use my AWD to pull the family boat around. No problems to report coming into our third season. Not to mention it already has a much better tranny and all V8's have a factory tranny cooler. This is the boat and the X before any mods... plus the V8 sounds cooler IMHO Its a 22ft SeaRay ExpressCruiser weighing in at approx. 4500 lbs. Steep, sandy or slippery ramps are a piece of cake.

 

[Rob_B]

This is just a question, but if he swapped the V-8 w/ tranny in to replace the V-6, would he need to go w/ the AWD transfer Case?

 

[Scormunch]

Well yeah, either put in the AWD case or go with 2wd... there are only 2 choices.

 

[Rob_B]

My question was if he could just keep the 4WD transfer case from his V-6. I thought there was a thread of a guy putting a regular 4wd transfer case behind his V-8, so if he was putting a V-8 in it he could keep his transfer case so he oculd have 4 Lo.

 

[Scormunch]

Oops sorry Rob_B, my bad but yeah, it should all be covered by V8BoatBuilder in here: Transfer Case

 

[Jet Ski Puller]

I really appreciate all of the feedback, but there seems to be some misunderstanding about this whole "pulling up the ramp" scenario. I never have problems pulling up a ramp...even without 4wd or a t-case shift. I'm talking about when I camp down on the beach at my favorite lake and launch my trailer from there. I've had to shift into low range a few times to get myself unstuck from the sand/mud.

Also, I have a sloped driveway and a gravel pad on which on park my trailer along the side of the garage. When I'm backing up the slope in 2wd, all I do is dig holes in the gravel and spew dirt all over my nice gravel parking pad...no matter how I approach it. If I shift into low range, backs right up...no mess.

 

[james t]

go with the V8 and use "limited" throttle in low traction towing situations. if i can get this setup out of Barnwell Mt., then you can get out of your driveway... i promise