Actually the 4.0 isn't all that bad...definitely hard to work on though. I would rather take a 2.9l over a 4.0 though. Since I did own one, and it was quite peppy. I honestly don't recommend this swap. However, if you get the engine for cheap, just sell it and make some money and buy a toyota engine

 

I am a nissan tech, and the vq35 is a really good motor, but I dont think it would be that good in one of our trucks, its a somewhat complicated motor! A lot of electronics involved.

Now for the 4.0, its not that bad of a motor, but honestly there are easier swaps out there!!

 

Yeah, the newer they get, the more complicated they are. Do companies make replacement Computers that do away with all of the emissions and other associated nonsense that goes along with these new engines? Probably not a huge market for it...

 

YEah, the 4.0 v-6 is crap. THey could never get the head castings right on them and they kept either blowing head gaskets or more commonly, cracking the cylinder heads. Trust me, i had one. When it ran, it ran great. really torquey. Could roast the tires as long as there was no water in it.

 

my dads got a ford ranger with a 4.0 it has 325,000 miles on the original engine. try telling HIM its a junker...

 

I know there are a lot that don't care for the 4.0 SOHC (came about around 96 or 97), but the 4.0 OHV was a quite the little beast. I've owned a couple of the ohv motors with little no problems with the motor. To say that they are junk motors is just untrue; hell I believe they make a roots type blower to give it the little extra. My experience is limited with the sohc motors so this may be where the majority of the complaints are coming from.

The swap for the 4.3 would no doubt be easier with more access to parts, as well as open up your options.

 

That's why it entered my mind! I had a '91 Ranger with a 4 liter and until I traded it in at 188,000, all I ever did to it was a battery, alternator, and starter. I just didn't want to start another thread about "this engine sucks, and that one doesn't". But since it's out in the open, I think the Chevy 4.3 liter is a piece of . I would never own another Chevy. I bought my first, an '04 Silverado pickup, and was disappointed beyond belief.

 

No, but really, I just wanted to see if it had been done. The engine is free, sitting under my brother's carport, so I'll probably do it eventually. For now, seeing how much work needs to be done to make it work, I'm just going to rebuild the 22R and put a weber setup and header/exhaust on there. A cam, then Ill be good to go while I work out what I'm going to do with the rest of the drivetrain. I think the damn thing has a 7.5" rearend. Common sense is telling me that an 8" would be better. Correct?

 

I don't know about that. the one that i had had 197,000 miles on it before the head cracked. When i called the junk yard for parts, they said that they had no good heads and 75% of the explores and rangers with that motor that were there, were there because of the cylinder heads.

If the motor runs good, I say why not? Like i said, really torquey motor. Mine moved pretty good when it ran right. Plus you could get it with a 5-speed so that might make it easier to do a swap.

 

I think the cracked heads are because of a imperfection or some sort of manufacturing problem/defect. I heard it only happens on certain years.