Suping up a ranger engine??

Hey everyone. I was wondering if anyone could tell me the best possible way to upgrade my Ford 2003 ranger's engine. I don't know much about engine's and I would like to learn and I also want my engine to get more power. I know I need a new exhaust/muffler and that's where I would like to start. So what kind of exhaust system should I get for better power? And what parts should I get in order after that?
Thanks in advance.

I don't personally go for souping up your engine but for those who like to do that You might let them know what engine you have in your truck. good luck

I'm pretty sure its a 2.3L 4-cylinder

I have an 86 Ranger and found the original equipment muffler to be very restrictive. I changed it to a turbo muffler which is shorter and needs a short extension pipe to fit a standard exhaust pipe set up after the catalytic converter. This is usually called a Cat-Back system because you are only changing the system after the converter and it will remain emission legal. I have a V6 and I noticed more torgue and a bit better pick up, plus most people like the sound better than a stock muffler. Lots of companies make turbo mufflers. Turbo mufflers came about when they started putting turbochargers on car engines, they need less resistance so the turbos could spin freely, thats where the name comes from. This won't cost much to do and is satifying for the cost. Souping up a 2.3 engine is a completly different ballgame and expensive plus it will no doubt have trouble passing the emission test. It is more trouble that its worth. A V8 is the way to go for power, and then you pay the gasoline bill.
Hope this helps, good luck with what you decide.

Okay, so I want to know if a 4.0L will still go straight into a single cab '03 Ranger.
The right place to start for power in this truck seems to be a engine swap for a 4.0 or a 302, anyone think any different??
Also, for either engine what all parts would I have to get if to make it work, like what else needs to be replace as far as trannies and such.

O.K., You seem to really be determined with souping up your Ranger. Your four cylinder engine has a transmission and differential that are not going to be able to handle the power of a V8 for long and the 4.0L could be a bit too much for them also, depending on how you drive it.

Whatever you do could change a lot as far as emission inspection requirements in your area. You won't be able to drive it, if it doesn't pass.

What others have done is to buy a wrecked vehicle that has the engine etc. they want and then use the wrecked vhehicle as a donor vehicle for all of the parts they need. Of course you need a donor vehicle in reasonable shape as far as the components go. In this case the donor body parts are not important.

I think you would be better off on this topic to do a search for Ranger performance and engine swapping forums. They exist, I have seen these forums, I can't give you a link from memory, but Google will help you find them easy enough.