1999 flex fuel motor swap with 2000 ranger 3.0L regular fuel motor

20

Asked by Jeff Feb 10, 2017 at 08:51 PM about the 1999 Ford Ranger XLT Extended Cab Stepside 4WD SB

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

Will these swap over and work?

11 Answers

224,175

I myself never thought of what would happen or problems you'd run into about this...this is a good question. Just thinking about it I know there is a flex fuel sensor in the fuel delivery system, but what would that matter? I just wonder if you were to leave the fuel system alone and just hook it up to the regular unleaded gas motor, why wouldn't you be fine? You burn regular unleaded in a flex fuel vehicle anyway, right? So I don't see why it would not work. There are electrical wires running to the flex fuel sensor, that I assume run to the computer so it can adjust the engines sensors to run 14.7 optimum air fuel ratio and would do so for the E85 gasoline. I would think just not to run the E85 gas. Why wouldn't it work...I kinda think it would. One would have to research this to be sure.

5 people found this helpful.
20

fuel pressure is different between the flex and normal fuel. the tank fittings are different, easiest is to change tank with engine.

2 people found this helpful.
20

Not true you can boost fuel pressure with a inline electric an do away with tank pump or run both

1 people found this helpful.
20

How can flex fuel have a different pressure if it runs on regular gas also.pressure isnt the problem.the issue is going to be wireing harness and ecm.i have a 3.0 Vulcan flex fuel 155 hp an a 3.0 durotec Taurus 200 hp.the durotec is faster but less reliable than the vulcan 3.0.me personally won't put ethanol in any car.to much water in it.93 octane only.its the water.all cars can run on ethanol but only for a limited time because of corrosion.a flex fuel system last longer in any car using regular gas.dont take system out.you would only need to change tank,fuel pump an fuel lines if you were going to run ethanol.i wish I could put my durotec heads an intake on my Vulcan motor. Durotec aluminum block,Vulcan cast iron.so I'm stuck buying a bunch offer market parts trying to make the Vulcan faster.if anyone has tried an true info on OEM parts from different engines that make the Vulcan faster.please email me.performance parts are expensive.waiting on the chip now for 60 hp.but that means I need more Air in (bigger intake) an more Air out.no problem on the out part.converters come off.duel exsost instead of single. Got the fuel figured out.an going to get msd plugs.or E3s can I get a hotter coil pack off a different engine. it's learning curve an I'm finding problems with Ford parts.i wish I could take the ecm completely off.but that's a whole other monster.info.the more the better.an sumthing mechanics don't like to share for free often.iff I could get to the 270hp out of the Vulcan for under 500 or 600$ I would be very happy the car with the vulcan has 8000 miles on it.the durotec 170000....only outher option put the durotec an trans in it with wireing harness an ecm.but I loose a car then..any info would be appreciated neilslife72@gmail.com

1 people found this helpful.
30

I did this swap on my 1999 ranger flex fuel. I only used the code u block and heads. Heads are different in design and a little higher compression. Very easy swap, fuel mileage the same . I believe I could burn alcohol, but mileage is so bad it does not pay to do so. I am going to use e15 should work fine as all flex fuel components still work.

3 people found this helpful.
60

I have a 2000 ford ranger with flex fuel, the head gasket blew on it, I was thinking about just changing the motor, I have found that the flex fuel motor used is still about 650-1100$ and the non flex fuel or u code is only 300- 500$ if I have a flex fuel truck already, I could use just the regular u code non flex fuel motor couldn’t I? Even if I wanted to use e85 I think I would just need to swap over my injectors and fuel rail I think. Does anyone know for sure?

6 people found this helpful.

I am havimg oppisit issues. have 98 reg gas 3.0 ranger. put 2000 flex fuel moter in bank 1 and 2 running rich. changed injectors now running lean, changed fuel rail now it is better still fuel trim creeps up to 22% after 25 miles i guess need to change heads out next i dont know.

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