need better mpg and power

I am new to fords. I just recently bought a 94 ranger xlt 5spd I think it has the v6 3.6l (145k miles). It is completely stock and the only thing I have done to it is change the oil and air filter. I noticed this truck gets horrible gas milage and has no power what so ever... Is this normal for these kinds of trucks... I drive 30 miles to work (all hihway miles) and it uses about 1/4 tank of gas just one way.. What can I do or is this normal. Should I change the spark plugs, wires and cap, what else can I do. Oh by the way it does have big mud tires, wich I know it's not helping my mpg but it shoudent make that much of a difference.. Why is this truck so slow... Hell my 1.6l civic is proprably 3 times faster and 3 times the gas milage..

That's either a 3.0L or 4.0L.

3.0L's have a longer stroke and smaller pistons than it's predecessor, the 2.9L. It makes power at higher RPM bands, but they screwed up by giving the 3.0L Rangers an awful rear end gear ratio.

If you took a 2.9L stock off the lot and compared it to the 3.0L, the 2.9L would out do the 3.0L. Had they geared it higher, that wouldn't be true. Though ironically, the 3.0L makes less torque and a little more h.p. (5) The gears are not helping any either. I'm guessing that it's taking a ton of fuel to make enough power to turn those mudders.

For each rotation, the wheel needs to travel a greater circumference. So over all, as far as the transmission is conserned, the amount it would need to turn the rear end is much less to go the same distance, but it's much more difficult, in turn causing the engine to work harder.

Scan the codes as well, there may be other issues contributing to the bad air/fuel mixture!

Pete