Hello All,

I've been a Ranger-lover for quite some time and am now on my 3rd one. My dream Ranger, I don't think exists. If I were to have the ranger of choice, it would be a '98+ ranger, 4 cylinder, 5sp manual, extended cab, and a 4x4. If it does exist, I have yet to see one. Being 6'3", the extended cab is a must.

I currently own a '97 2.3L ext cab 5sp. (rust free!!)

I saw a recent ad on Craigslist recently that got me thinking. It's a rare '98 3.0V6 extended cab with a 5sp manual and 4x4.

I had a thought, "what if I got that truck, and swapped out the 3.0 V6 with a 2.5L 4 cyl?"

Has anyone done that before? Does the 5sp manual on a 3.0V6 bolt up to a 2.5L? Does it bolt up to a 2.3L? Looking for some knowledgeable input.

If someone has done this, what were the main notable hurdles / challenges? Or maybe, it's just a baaaaaaad idea (with regard to the scope of the project...not just because of the decrease in power by going to a 4cyl)

(Please leave all the controversy of 4cyl vs 6cyl aside. Let's keep this result-oriented please. The 4 cylinder is my personal preference as I've had great reliability with them over people that I know of that have had v6's. You're welcome to your preferences as I am mine )

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'97 Ranger, Extended Cab, 2.3L, 5sp

You'd have to swap engine, transmission, wire harnesses, maybe some other stiff I'm forgetting.

They didn't make one, because it would be so under powered you couldn't hardly drive it on the highway. With a duratec it may not be that bad. Mileage wouldn't even be great with that little lima trying to keep it moving.

Not trying to get into the "controversy", but that's why you don't see them around.

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97 xlt stepside
2.3 m5od
210,000
6/6 drop

The manual transmissions used on most Rangers were mazda M5ODs, and the internals for the 4 cyl and the 3.0 I believe are the same. However, they did not make a 4x4 4cyl that new and the transmissions do not interchange.

So, I believe your best bet would be to get a 4x2 4cyl trans and use the 3.0 trans you would have in the 99 to convert it to a 4x4 trans. The only parts you need to do this (at least on a 4x2 v6 trans) would be the main shaft (output shaft) and the tail housing.

If you do that, you'll have a wiring nightmare. Sure, you'll need an engine swap and a new engine harness, but you'll also need to figure out how to make the transfer case shifter work (keeping it auto will be a huge wiring nightmare if the control computer is the same as the one for the engine, and a manual one can get pricey) and do something with your cluster wiring so the tachometer reads correctly.

Overall, you'll have a slight decline in mpg but more power (you know, for the 4x4) if you leave it as a V6.

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Baby Girl: 2006 White Ranger XL with many memories. R.I.P. 1/26/15

Thanks for the input fellas! Much appreciated.
I'm sure if it was a popular 'easy' swap, I would have found plenty of threads already and maybe some DIY guides.
I'd love the power of the V6, but I've just seen too many V6's of friends of mine that have problem after problem after problem as compared to the 4cyl's that I used to beat the crap out of in high school and college, with arguably no problems.

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'97 Ranger, Extended Cab, 2.3L, 5sp

I will stand by the 3.0 myself. I've had 3 (or I guess you could say 4)

First truck (2006) I beat to crap pretending I could race and at 177k miles and crashing at 70mph, it still ran like a dream.

Truck 2 (2002) I had a shop mess up an oil change and ran it with no oil pressure for 10+ miles and knowing that the engine would die eventually because of it, I beat it harder than I would ever beat a junker (took it offroading, gunning it into jumps and all) and it still lasted 4k+ miles (didn't keep track but went past the 3k mile oil change interval and then some) until it finally froze. Miles: 170 or 180ish

This truck is now on engine 2, pulled out of the junkyard with 80k on it, now it has 90k and runs fine. (Both were flex fuel)

Truck 3: (2003) is at 136k miles and I have put 31k on it. Only issue I've had is the cam synchronizer squealing at 110k miles but I replaced that (biggest killer of the 3.0) and have been doing great. This is the only manual of the 3 trucks and because of that I commonly Rev up to 3500 and 4000 rpm. (Only other killer of these engines is due to overheating issues)

After my first truck, I have searched out only the 3.0 because it is familiar and (to me) bulletproof as long as you take care of it.

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Baby Girl: 2006 White Ranger XL with many memories. R.I.P. 1/26/15