is a 4.9L straight 6 a strong motor in the f150?

Asked by coastguard2020 Mar 28, 2007 at 09:47 PM about the 1991 Ford F-150

Question type: General

94 Answers

Depends on what you men by strong Coastguard (Thank You for your service!) ... It's rated at 170 hp and a long run as the primary power plant of the truck line indicating it's reliability, strength of design and reputation. That is echoed by the fact that it is the engine of choice with most manufacturers of ground transport and support vehicles you see servicing the airline industry at the airport. Good luck

76 people found this helpful.

Yes the 300 is a very strong motor, i have heard story's of people having up to 500,000KM on a 300 and it still runs great, i personally have 237,000 on my 4.9 and it runs like a charm, doesnt burn any oil or skip a beat. Id swear it was new

102 people found this helpful.
2,865

The 4.9l, otherwise known as the Inline 6 or 300 6 is a very reliable motor. You keep thick oil in it and it'll run forever. I've got a 67 F100 with the inline six and I will admit, I do burn around in it every now and again. But not alot. As long as you give it an oil change and don't put it above 3,000 RPM's, it'll run forever. Mine has 200,000 miles on it so far.

80 people found this helpful.
3,545

Those Ford inline 6 (300) were one of the best engines built by ford, they go for ever with minimum to now trouble as long as you change the oil when supposed to. I had one (1981) that went 500,000kms and never smoked before the frame rotted and sold it for parts, two other people I know had one they had real good luck with.

52 people found this helpful.
500

I just bought a 1994 ford F150 ext. Cab for 2,500.I was really paranoid considering it has 314275 miles on it.but the thing purrs like a kitten.I didn't think to ask the previouse owner but is it possible this thing could have been rebuilt?if not,its the toughest engine I've ever had.

50 people found this helpful.
1,595

they are great engines we have an f250 with one in it and it can pull about anything... we have never had a problem with the truck

40 people found this helpful.
355

My 92 f150 has the 300 in it and I have pulled anything and everything I've needed it to and the fact that it does need to be rebuilt it pulls like no tomorrow.

34 people found this helpful.
410

I've had a F150 (Northland Edition) since it was new in 1991 with a 4.9L I6 and I have NEVER had an engine problem with it! Brakes, Tires, Oil and filters are the maintenance items needed. It has 460 thousand miles on it and it still purrs like a kitten. These days I mostly use it to push snow off my driveway and yard. This truck and my Jeep GC (Laredo) have been the most reliable vehicles I have ever owned. I wish I could say that for the myriad cars I've owned.

41 people found this helpful.
760

it is a torque engine, not a speed/horsepower engine. It's VERY STRONG in pulling trailers,etc, but not so "strong" if you're going 60 mph and want to hit the gas to go 70 mph.

76 people found this helpful.
1,100

Yea I burn oil and over heated why am I burning oil I got 912932 miles on er

110 people found this helpful.
360

I've got a 91 f 150 and its got 280.000 or so and I'd swear by that truck no oil burning or overheating I fixed the overheating problem and it runs like a top good 4 letter word (FORD) I love it

36 people found this helpful.
325

Holy crap....years have gone by and the joys of the straight 6 have gone by and few can appreciate how great these engines are! Bottom line - enjoy your 300 & revel in the hp and mileage you get!!!!; I'm reveling in the V8 joys of the 57 Chevy. One of my best friends has a 91 F150....what an awesome truck!!!!!

30 people found this helpful.
600

This past Thanksgiving, I purchased a 94 Ford F150 with a 300 L6 inline 6 cylinder engine and a 5 speed manual transmission. The truck had sat for 8 years after the owner had a stroke and passed away. His widow sold it to me for $650. After replacing the battery, fuel tanks, fuel pumps, sending units, belts, hoses, and tires, cleaning the injectors and lines, and tuning the engine, I turned it over and with the help of some starting fluid, crankedit up. It runs like a dream. I have put almost 4000 miles on it since then. I change the oil and filter every 3000 miles.

60 people found this helpful.
350

I owned my 1994 E-150 300 since brand new, and I have 386,000 on it. The only thing that went kaput was my distributor rotor, It kept blowin due to a bad upper bushing in the distrib. Other than that I agree with every post, IT WILL OUTLIVE YOU.

26 people found this helpful.
680

Mine is a 1995 F-150 XL has 163,500 miles on it. Runs like a charm. No problems with it after 20 years in South Carolina.

43 people found this helpful.
430

I turned 16 about 5 months ago and i asked my dad what kind of truck wed be tryin to get ahold of. He told me itd be a toughn. Whatever kid it might be. Well we stumbled by a silver 94 300 inline 6cylinder 4WD automatic without a dent in her. It had one previous owner and it had prolly been sittin for close to a year. Well me and my dad have always been fond of a straight stick so we tore out the automatic and put a few manual dudads and stuck a 5speed in the floor. It has around 154,560 miles on it and runs like a damn sewin machine. Doesnt use a lick of oil and i change it every 2000-3000 miles. Itll pull whatever you put behind it. Not much for squeelin tires though. Use it right and take care of her like shes your own and it will outlive you. Its the best truck a man can ask for.

43 people found this helpful.
460

I got a 92 f150 4x4 with the inline 6 last year. Just got a little over 99k miles on it. Looking to fix it up to get more up. Any suggestions? I'm thinking performance chip, updated exhaust system, k&n intake. To start with.

46 people found this helpful.
280

I had a 89 F150 with a straight six and the engine does its job well, but it has no freeway passing power, your pushing it to get through mountain passes and I once towed a newer VW Beetle on a dolly and that was its breaking limit, I was barely able to do over 60mph with it and the brakes were also at its limit and they were all in good shape. So if you going to be pulling more than 1 ton 2,000lb then you need a more powerful engine. The 6 in mine was rated at 145hp and I think 265 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm torque but it just runs out of breath fast. The v8 will give you a longer power band for towing and passing power. Other than that, the engine is awesome. And it still sucks fuel like a v8.

28 people found this helpful.
190

In terms of toughness, the 300l is the baddest engine on the planet. Keep the oil changed and never let it overheat and it'll outlive YOU.

19 people found this helpful.
390

Fellas after reading all that was said, I feel a lot better about my 1995 ford xlt automatic 6 cyl. short bed 216,000 on it I drive it maybe once a mo. 10 to 15 miles and was wanting to pull alight camper about 16 ft

23 people found this helpful.
390

Fellas after reading all that was said, I feel a lot better about my 1995 ford xlt automatic 6 cyl. short bed 216,000 on it I drive it maybe once a mo. 10 to 15 miles and was wanting to pull alight camper about 16 ft

16 people found this helpful.
460

I know this was asked many years ago, but other people ask the same questions, and a internet search leads them here, so answers are still relevant. I will echo some of the previous replies. I have owned 2 in the past, and just bought another one after a 10 year run without one. Is it a strong motor. Yes. It will pull what the OLD STOCK diesels of the late 80's and early 90's would. Don't get me wrong, in a 1/2 ton 2wd auto trans with 3.08 rear axle, NO, they wont. But in a 3/4 ton with manual trans & 3.73 axle, these trucks pull like a train! I can not stress enough how important gearing is for puling loads. So if that is what "strong" mans to you, check how the driveline is set up! "Strong" from 0-60. Um, not really. They are NOT bad by no means. Just no hot rod tire burner. Strong as in longevity? There are THREE engines in the truck world that are well known for super high mileage longevity ( 400,000 PLUSD miles before rebuild) They are the 4.0L Jeep, the 300 I6 Ford, and the 5.9 Cummins. Note all 3 are INLINE 6 syl. engines. The inline 6's have 7 main bearings. Making the bottom end incredibly strong. Just do the research. It is a flat fact. I will also stress keeping the RPM's down below 4000. Below 3000 even better. One must view the 300 I6 in the same light as driving a Cummins. Low RPM and fast shifts. But with the advantage of burning much cheaper gasoline. ( $0.75 / gal higher than gas everywhere around here at this time in 2015 ) And again I will echo, WATCH THE TEMP GAUGE! Happy rolling!

46 people found this helpful.
370

Strongest engine I've ever seen. By that I mean longevity. The LONG stroke provides scads of torque. Gear to gear timing, no chain means you don't have to worry about timing chains or belts. Agree with everyone else, Keep the oil changed, keep the RPMs low and NEVER let it (or any engine) overheat and these monsters KNOW no breaking point.

15 people found this helpful.
370

ddy said "they don't pull good". WRONG. Like ANY other piece of equipment you must have parts designed for the job it's doing. If you're running a high ratio rear end they don't pull good. Put the right gear behind it and they pull like a tank. If pulling loads you want at LEAST a 3.73 gear or lower. (Higher numerically) If not towing and fuel mileage is your thing go with a 3.08.

22 people found this helpful.
90

My 94 F150 is one tough truck it only has 128,000 miles on it. Never had the first engine issue, just the normal parts for the age, starter, radiator, etc. I just wished it was an automatic my knee is tired of the clutch. Other than some normal ford rust it is still in rather good shape.

9 people found this helpful.
2,435

Wait they need oil.....LMFAO jk....I have an 86 300 6 1bbl with a 3spd w/ "granny low" I have known these engines to be good n strong and to tell you the truth I was all for the gas guzzlin V8 never thought I could have a great 6 cyl if you want a " bullet proof set up the 300 6 hooked to a stick is the way to go the low end is 1600 rpm factory 4 in bore with 3.98 in stroke , and for those wondering the half ton in the 80's through 96 with 4x4 had the Dana axles

16 people found this helpful.
90

I have 1989 ford e250 I can tell you this is the best work van I ever had, motor and trans are all original I been around too zeros at least 5 or 6 times I'm the 2nd owner , straight 6 motor, extended body , just did body work and painted matt black , steal rims are high gloss white, you can't tell the van is 89 ...

4 people found this helpful.
250

I have a stock 1995 ford f-150 xl long bed ,automatic straight six 2wd and need to tow a flat bed trailer with a camaro. I have never towed anything with it , wondering if its possible?

25 people found this helpful.
350

Excellent motor,built for torque and will pull anything you have to, Keep an eye on the motor mounts and everything will speak for itself

6 people found this helpful.
60

I bought a 1979 straight from a guy that treats me like a son. Iam 19 it's the best starting out truck I believe. I love the truck and the motor plus the c6 transmission under it its a pulling machine.

6 people found this helpful.
60

I love my F150. It is so dependable. 1995 4.9 online 6 5 speed manual transmission. 139k miles.

6 people found this helpful.
30

Ive had numerous 4.9s. Ive kept one. A 1994 with the 300. Only has 110000. Shes a beauty..

3 people found this helpful.
60

I've got an 89 F-150 xlt. 4.9L I-6 300 5 speed. She's the BEST, STRONGEST, RELIABLE truck I've ever owned. 97k with the typical cab corner rust but otherwise she doesn't miss a beat. Always starts first crank. Had to realign my shifter shaft/wedge nut. Average oil changes and tune ups will allow that motor to surpass 500k+ LOTS of tourqe to pull whatever you need too. Take care of her and she'll take care of you! Simple!

6 people found this helpful.
160

Shopping 90s model F 150s and wondering; should I look for an inline 6 or go V8? Which has the best long lasting reputation considering I am buying an older used truck?

16 people found this helpful.
65

I just got a 1992 Ford E-150 with 80k miles for $1500 and i love this ting i'm going to convert in a camper van to travel all USA !!!

6 people found this helpful.
100

I just traded out my 96 Isuzu Rodeo/ 5 Speed/ 3.2 V6 with 122k miles/ AC/ Cruise/ Powered Everything and running fine for 1985 Ford F-150 Regular Cab/ Long Bed/ Inline 6 300/ 4 speed manual with true overdrive/ 271,000 miles/ leaf springs+add a leaf+ leaf spring stabilizer assembly. The owner before me had the entire engine and trans overhauled, it runs like it's new. Will do any and everything I need. You can't kill it.

6 people found this helpful.
100

It also has a 625 CFM demon cat carb, and racing intake. Just to give it a little more umph.

4 people found this helpful.
190

I have a1996 ford f 150 4.9 L straight 6 approx 183k miles I think it just needs a starter and battery how much u think it's worth body in good condition a little rust on top of tailgate

19 people found this helpful.
235

This is one of the best truck engines ever made. I drove big trucks for 28 years and there is good reason why every big diesel on the road is an inline 6. They are an inherently better design. This engine is naturally better balanced than almost any other, doesn't set up secondary harmonics like an I4 or any V6 or V8, the seven main bearings have already been mentioned which make it very strong on the bottom end where torque is applied and transferred through the crankshaft. The E4OD transmission does have a problem in the early years with being very long without an internal support which remanufacturers now upgrade and the newer ones have from the factory. The Mazda five is good but no granny gear. The Borg Warner T18 four speed manual is one of the best transmissions ever built and is an absolute tank, with a non synchronized first gear with a 6.32:1 ratio. It will pull anything. The New Process NP435 is a similarly superb four speed manual with a rock crawling granny of 6.68:1 ratio. It will pull a house. All the mentioned RPM considerations are correct, including NOT lugging this engine below 1600 rpms under load and keeping it under 3000 rpm, 2500 if you want to get decent fuel mileage. You will blow the skirts off the pistons lugging it, as a friend of mine did after bragging about how he could lug it like a diesel. Older diesels (except Detroits) couldn't be lugged below 1600 rpm either. I have had four 4.9's, three F150's and one E150 van, and currently am bringing back to life a badly neglected 1989 F150 with the Borg Warner four speed. It only has 92,000 miles but needs everything else replaced, but for $950? Fortunately, the previous owner changed the oil. Also, a very common problem with this motor is the pushrod cover gaskets slobber oil like a big ugly dog. Cooling system maintenance is paramount.

21 people found this helpful.
110

I bought a 95 f150 with the 300 IL6 back in November of 94...22 years ago. It's probably the last vehicle I will own, The one and only engine repair that has ever been made on it was replacing a lifter and pushrod. In 22 years.

11 people found this helpful.
160

I have a '91 F-150 that I've driven since I was 16 years old passed down from my great-grandfather then to my grandfather and to me. We never knew if it was at 90,000, 190,000, or 290,000 when they passed it down to me but I'm thinking it was around the 290,000 mark since it was 19 years old when I got it. It had the typical things needing replacement - master cylinder, starter, alternator, and THREE BLOWN RADIATORS. Those things would blow before the needle even got the the "M" of normal in the gauge. Other than that, the truck ran flawlessly for years up until about 4 months ago. I started hearing a faint knocking in the engine so I took it into my mechanic. He told me "Oh there's some pin that's probably just loose and that's what you're hearing" So I drove it in the 100+ degree Texas heat for the rest of the summer without an issue. Come December, my truck started SHAKING at idle and I was smelling some heavy exhaust fumes. Took it into my Uncle's shop since he's my Austin mechanic, we took the top of the block off, and I had a dropped valve in my second cylinder. I had just pulled trailers full to the brim from Houston to Austin and back again with a dropped valve and the truck didn't skip a beat...well... at least when I wasn't idling. These engines are soldiers. They do what they made to do. Even when they break THEY KEEP POUNDING ON. I must have put 2000 miles on this engine with a dropped valve. Besides worsened gas milage and a rumbling at idle, you would never have guessed. Long story short if you made it all the way through that post or if you just skipped down because you didn't want to read - you can't get a better engine for the price you'll pay for one of these.

16 people found this helpful.
60

I have a somewhat rusty 95 f150 with the 330 I 6. Great engine! Not a lot of horsepower but great low end torque. My engine has 305k miles and doesn't burn or leak oil. If my truck rusts away , I'm pulling this damn engine out of the truck! It's a Sherman tank! Rob

6 people found this helpful.
170

My father-in-law, who worked heavy construction machinery all over the country, often pulling a gooseneck trailer loaded to the gills with tools and equipment, had a 1978 F150 4x4 with 4 speed (1st was turtle gear) 300 6-inline, the Odometer stopped working at 386,000 miles, drove it for several years (6/7) after that, finally sold it to a farmer neighbor who used it to feed his cattle out in the field. It had started leaking oil due to the crank shaft having turned so many times in the rear seal the metal touching the seal was grooved, he tried to repair it several times but couldn't. If he had chosen to replace the crank it would had still been a trouble free daily driver. They just don,t make them like That anymore !

4 people found this helpful.

I have been looking around for an old F150/F250 and this engine would be my choice over the bigger V8's.

3 people found this helpful.
70

purchased this gem today. '95 f150 xlt 300/5 speed with only 83,000 miles. I'm looking forward to a long life for both me and my new 'baby'!

7 people found this helpful.
20

I've got a 93' f150 i6 with 340,000miles and it just finally burst the expansion plugs for weighing the truck down with a lot of wet sand bags.. now in a few days it will be back running better than before with a fix it myself cost of under $100

2 people found this helpful.
120

Any one had a 88 bronco with 300 six that had knock in bottom after changing oil? 10/30 platinum synthetic penzoil?

13 people found this helpful.
100

I bought a 95, 4.9 300i6 with 200k , the owner said it blew a spark plug, and needed a starter, i bought it for 400$ towed it 75 miles on a dolley, evidently someone could not thread a plug in and tried to epoxy it in, (failed) bought plug , screwed in, and the fender solinoid was failing , i cleaned it up dissasembled down to fender sanded the rust off all the connections put oxigaurd on the nuts and terminals , Fired it up , its a Dead Ringer , Sounds like she just dtove off the showroom floor, 10mpg maybe, but i,m not worried about getting around when i need to though, i,m thinking k&n filter , new fuel filter, change oil , and some other type of gas saving gadgets? Maybe injector clean? Or?

6 people found this helpful.
120

I purchased a '79 F150 from Cal Worthingto in December the same year. It was a 300ci which I installed a T18 4 speed Borg Warnier transmission. I drove my truck over a million miles with the original engine then changed it for a UPS. 100K take-out, which I drove another 100K before my 88th. Birthday. Now I drove. Kawasaki Mule side by side in my old age !

12 people found this helpful.
10

They are good trucks, had my 95 for 3 years started out with 197000 miles and now has 238646 miles. It may be slow but strong. Most I pulled so far was close to 8000lbs

1 people found this helpful.
190

Noticed that there is a lot of support for the in-line six. Yet nobody seems to know why... An in-six is naturally harmonically balanced. There is no special attention paid to the fly wheel, like there is in a in-line four, V-6, V-8, V-10, to keep the engine from vibrating itself to pieces—that is why they last. There are only three engine configurations that are naturally balanced. Flat four, in-line six, V-12. Step back and think about the car makers that have extra ordinary reputations for durability. BMW, Mercedes (In-line 6) Porshe, Subaru (Flat 4), Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini (V-12).

19 people found this helpful.
50

I had a 1990 I6 300. It's too bad that the body and other parts got out-lasted by this engine. Proper maintenance and that baby purred like a kitten and kicked A&& like a lion. It's just too bad Ford just can't make the rest of the truck parts last like that. I suppose that is on purpose.

5 people found this helpful.
70

I have a 1985 ford f150 with 300 6 which I bought in 2003. I don't drive it much but it is still in good mechanical shape including the auto transmission . I have to sell it soon how do I summon the courage to put the beast on the market.

7 people found this helpful.
30

I know what you mean. My truck has about 250 000 on it and stull runs great. I want to buried in it because I know it will out last me.

3 people found this helpful.
60

I just bought a 93 for 2500 and I want everyone here to know that yiur comments have made me very happy with my purchase! Its got 175000 miles so sounds like itll last forever!

6 people found this helpful.
30

i have a 1994 ford f150 xl strait 6 bought it for 60$ put a celanoid in it and it runs like a top needs cosmetics but other than than it is beautiful

3 people found this helpful.
235

Purchased a 93 F150 XL with 300L6, E4OD with a 3.08 rear end that sat idle for over 24 years in the corner of a warehouse in south FL. The vinyl interior was mint! The digital odometer read 291 miles on it when I dropped in a new battery. Replaced the injectors, fuel pump, fuel tank, changed the oil + filter...And it fired up after cranking for about 5 seconds!!! Original firestones with 100% tread were dry rotted to hell and squared off on the bottoms; but it held the inflation and felt like driving over bumpy railroad tracks the entire 2 miles as rubber chunks flew off during that rough wake-up trip to the nearest tire shop!! First good inspection there confirmed that it looked as new as a low- mileage an old maid could ever look underneath. After loading up with gallons of extra motor oil, tranny fluid, distilled water, and other extras, I took it 70 miles home on an interstate maiden voyage. The faster and longer I drove it, the smoother it ran, consistent with a vehicle that never got broken-in, and woke up with a 24-year hang-over. I stopped 4 times - expecting that all the seals would be ready to blow, with all kinds of other surprises that could occur after sitting idle for 24 years. During the first stop, I smelled burning rubber, and the worst fear lingered that it would catch fire at any second and die a fiery death. Not to worry- It was a little bit of over-sprayed undercoating smoldering on the exhaust system! Soon as I got that bad boy home, I replaced everything rubber and everything liquid I could think of to avoid any additional surprises, and went on an 8000 mile retirement celebration / break-in voyage where I decided to be an old fart and cruise around bothering everyone I knew from from Florida to Maine + lots of stops in-between! I knew better than to forget to change the coolant and brake hoses, along with the serpentine belt and tensioner (plastic bushing was cracked in 1,0000 places waiting to disintegrate. The one rubber thing I missed was the rubber hanging strap for the exhaust system, which dry-rotted apart around 500 miles into the trip. The only lingering fear that this old maid may have been "a pig with lipstick" was that the factory paint was totally chalked despite having lived an easy indoor life. Kirsopp Auto Body head classic car restoration foreman Jack Kirsopp in Pittsburgh, Pa had many answers and reassured me that the chalk issue was because the water based paints applied during the early years were not good quality and lacked durability. The other discovery besides reassuring that the paint was original was proof that the vehicle was never hit, because he sanded it down to the bare metal and discovered no surprise dings. After he primed it with DuPont epoxy based primer sealer, he painted it with PPG polyurethane truck paint that he assured me would be even more durable than the DuPont Imron truck paint. The odometer recently turned 10K miles, and I'm keeping it garaged, driving it every couple of weeks to prevent surprises. The truck completed the round trip and ran like a top. Every mechanic I talked with knew someone who had the 4.9L straight 6 running over 500K miles without an overhaul, and even more stories about how that engine could endure abuse that would have killed any other engine. I don't intend on selling unless someone knows a rich person who would pay a lot more for sentimental reasons- enough for me to get a brand new one! pjplackis@yahoo.com

11 people found this helpful.
235

Any babe that looks that good needs to be looked at from both sides!

12 people found this helpful.
80

1996 F150 5 speed manual. Drive it everywhere including towing a small boat, which on long hills it doesn't like that much. It's not a hot rod, it's a truck. Treat it good it'll get you where you need to go

5 people found this helpful.
10

I bought my 1993 F150 new with 300 6 and 5 speed floor shift and 2 speed 355 rears with 4 WD. In soon to be 25 years I've NEVER had ANY problems with the engine. With 83,000 miles on it has NEVER needed oil between oil changes. It's always ready when I am and NO it's not for sale. R.P. Bailey

1 people found this helpful.
290

Similar experience to all comments above. I have two of them fully restored (but no major engine work). My 1987 F-150 Lariat Supercab is a 4 speed manual with 307k miles and my 1994 F-150 XLT is a 4wd with 5 speed manual and 217k miles. Both are a joy to drive and I alternate driving them to work everyday. We live on a ranch and neither one has a problem pulling LoBoy trailers loaded with firewood, lumber, posts or whatever. I suspect they will both outlast me.

2 people found this helpful.
10

i have a 1993 ford f150 xlt 4wd 4speed with overdrive and with the 4.9l 300. this motor is a tank. never really had problems with motor. ive put used diesel oil in the truck and ran it for a couple months and itnever skipped a beat. only motor work i have ever done to it was a head gasket. i had a slow leak of coolant coming into oil still ran it for a couple months with coolant and oil. motors are fantastic. parents bitch cuz truck is a pos but ie beat the piss out of it and it still runs like when i bought it. has 180xxx miles and still chuggin. frame will rot before that motor goes bad. oh and while i did the head gasket i put inline 6 chevy rockers on hed insted and that trick actually works! gives a few more horseys.

1 people found this helpful.
500

I have an 89 F150 4X4 with the 300 inline 6 and love this thing. Yes the motor is strong as hell as far as torque and longevity are concerned. It is a stump puller, not a drag racer. It will darn near pull a house off it's foundation. It will tow just about anything but you wont be hitting 70 MPH uphill while doing it. Mine has about 260000 miles on the clock and it starts first time, every time. I live up in the mountains of North Carolina and it goes up and down these mountain roads just fine and with the 4X4 it will climb a tree. I have a 2010 Silverado so I got the Ford as my winter beater but find myself driving it most of the time. Do the maintenance and it will serve you well for a very long time.

2 people found this helpful.

just bought 1990 lariat four wheel,,,reg cab,8ft boxs,,,,90miles one owner from idaho,rust free waiting for delivery for 3300 dollars,,i have butterflies,but what a beaty,,,2tone butterscotch,beaty rims,factory moldings....the best ive seen on this puter,,,johny B,,,,inline sixs auto,,no air crank windows

70

After reading all these post I have to say I have a 1992 F-150 long bed with the 300, 6. I have no problem on the interstate passing up to 90 mph my 300 does not like running 55mph or even 65!!! It's not happy unless it's moving 70mph or better, and as far as Towing or driving in the mountains I just undo the electronic overdrive button and I will climb any Hill pulling Anything Could I wanted to with no problems. And it does it very smoothly

7 people found this helpful.
50

Just got a 1996 Ford F150 4.9 inline-6 today with 97,500 miles on it for $3,000. Hopefully she'll last me for years to come :)

2 people found this helpful.
50

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_straight- six_engine Produced at the Cleveland Engine plant in Brook Park, Ohio from 1964 through 1996, the 240 and 300 Sixes are well known for their durability. Simple design and rugged construction continue to endear these engines to a number of Ford enthusiasts to this day. The engine has earned the monikers "bulletproof" and "indestructible" by many. Popular legend holds that are numerous claims by owners who have purposely sought to destroy a Ford straight-six through intentionally abusive use, but who were unsuccessful in doing so.

1 people found this helpful.
50

https://jalopnik.com/heres-why-the-ford-300-inline- six-is-one-of-the-greates-1795351528 The Ford 300 cubic inch straight-six is a staple of American truck culture, having literally helped build this nation as we know it. Found in Ford F-Series trucks in the 1960s all the way until 1996, the big 560-pound iron-block powerhouse served valiantly for farmers, construction workers, and even lumberjacks. It almost cannot be killed, and that’s why you should know about it. Throughout its 31 years in service, the 300 inline-six has found its way into not only farm pickups, but also airline tugs, tractors, irrigation pumps, snow plows, wood chippers and even those big brown awkward UPS trucks that delivered you your car parts. The 300 CID even got its energy from various fuel types, including gasoline, LPG, and natural gas. http://www.onallcylinders.com/2014/01/22/top-10- engines-time-4-ford-300-i6/

2 people found this helpful.
90

I have had an afternoon of joy reading this page....about the f150. Being a widow on Soc. Sec. , have to watch my $s. From all I have read.... I can now feel my transportation is secured. I have had my Haully Dolly ,1991, since 2002, now at 180000 mi. strong. Am the second owner. In that time have changed battery, slave cylinder, alternator, and muffler. Reg. oil changes. She has sat for 2 years in extreme temps 100* to -10...started right up. Now in desert climate of 110* and no problems. Have wanted a trailer but not sure of what she can pull till now, manual 5 transmission. She and I take it easy on back roads treasure hunting.... nothing heavy duty. Minimum freeway.... lil now and then to blow out the pipes. Always starts up and we smile and wave to the shiny new fancies broken down on our favorite right of way called...".Keep on Trucking"!

9 people found this helpful.
40

One of the best engines ford ever produced. It will pull but you will not break any speed records with it. I have pulled about 10,000 pounds with it, just wont get you there fast

4 people found this helpful.
20

I have a 1985 F150 XL with the inline 6 and I have 125,000 on it and it has strength, I hear all the time about how strong they are but there slow, if you look at the design and fact on this motor you will find that it was built for power not speed. I love my old girl she has taking me many miles and got me out some jams, but like everyone else says in the comments as long as you keep thick oil in it, it'll run forever.

2 people found this helpful.
40

Put that 300 coupled to a C-6 tranny to an NP-205 transfer case, I figured that would last me a while..

2 people found this helpful.
30

I have a 1992 F-150 XLT with the 4.9L I6 300 4 speed manual transmission with only 61,000 miles on it. I bought this truck for only $400. I have gone over it and done all the maintenance work on it from fuel filter to radiator work. I just rented a radiator tool and found I hade a little leak and put leak sealer in it and its as good as new. As everyone is saying its slow and with a power full motor.

3 people found this helpful.
40

We love our truck, 1995 XL w/ 300/4.9, Mazda M5R2, rear end gearing 3.31 open diff. Bought it 3 years ago with 74K, just completed a relatively trouble free 3000 mile 6-state road trip pulling our 19RBS Vintage Cruiser. As loaded to go that trailer weighs in at 4200#, bed generally loaded with 400- 500# of gear and with up to 34 gallons of gas it pulls ok unless we encounter hills with headwinds especially at altitude then it's 3rd gear and sit back and enjoy the scenery. Only one issue this trip we stopped for a break in AZ after a long 65 MPH pull in upper 90's weather and it wouldn't start, on either tank. Let it sit for a few minutes and started right up, never did that before or since, maybe vapor locked at the rail, dunno. I've done a lot to this truck to enhance our trips, HD radiator, new water pump, all new hoses, added factory trailer tow electricals and stabilizer bars, HD Moog front springs, rear helper leafs, HD shocks, HD brakes, XLT bucket seats, built a platform in the back of the cab so the dog can see the scenery and we can still stow stuff below, it's a very enjoyable ride for us. I have a Small Block ZF5-42 transmission sitting in the garage waiting to go in soon because the M5's first and reverse gearing suck with our rig, especially in unpaved campgrounds. Will change the rear end gearing also, 3.55 or 3.73, we'll see. I religiously monitor the underhood items and regularly change the oil @ 3K with Delo 400LE 15w- 40, allowing plenty of warmup time in cooler weather. After replacing the dead pan gasket and pushrod cover gasket it remains pretty much leak free. Watch that pushrod cover gasket, if it's leaky simply tightening the bolts may do more harm than good and collapse the cover. Am looking into the possibility of some day swapping in a 351W/5.8, but we'll see how things go with the ZF and a gear change. If we weren't towing regularly I wouldn't even consider it, this engine is incredibly adept and easy as heck to work on. Just keep an eye on it and look out for vacuum leaks due to aged plastic lines, they can look ok but have hairline cracks. Love the OBS Fords.

4 people found this helpful.
10

Iv'e got a 1974 Ford F-250 Ranger Super Cab with that 4.9 Big 6, it has 23,000 miles on it. Yep, 23,000. My grandfather who just passed away left that truck to me. It wasn't driven much but started every day. When the title was in my name, I took the truck over tho the local gas station and filled him up with premium gas. The I worked through the gears, put him in 4th, and got on the throttle, just to see what it had, and the high octane gas made the truck backfire, cough, and smoke. Then it backfires one more time and it starts running like a Ford, not like a Chevy. That thing goes all the way up to 98 and it would not kick over to 100. But I'm never doing that speed again in that truck. When we got back to my grandfathers ranch, he also left me his 1974 International 464 Tractor. We hooked up the tractor and trailer to the truck. The ground was soft and muddy. I put the truck in 1st and the open diff spun the RR wheel and it jumped and coughed and pulled that 3 tones worth of farm equipment 750 miles and got 14 MPG! Burned NO oil. If you have one of these motors or trucks. Baby them, keep them forever.

1 people found this helpful.
20

96 300 6 with a 5 speed, only 112000 miles but man is it a tank. Only one I've seen with this paint so I'm hoping it's one of a kind, I know it's factory, if anyone sees one let me know if love to see another!

2 people found this helpful.
30

I got a 93 Ford 150 extra cab 4x4. I bought it five years ago with 118,000 miles it now has only 192,830 some of which I put on this day when I left my home in Greenville Fl. And drove to lake city V A then hopped on I 75 and went to Valdosta GA. I ran 70 miles per hour with the air and it drove like a champ. When I bought the truck I did a little research and the 4x4 came with Dana 44 front and rear end I believed I read the gear ratio was a 4:10. I had a five speed manual tranny with a borg Warner transfer case. I have got the most awesome 3004.9 liter in line 6 and have done the following mods, in-line turbofans K and N air filter MSD 54,000 volt pro street ignition coil double platinum plugs 8.9 mm accel plug wires cut to exact fit all new engine gaskets throughout I completely cut out the smog pump and gutted the emissions except what is essential I left the factory headers and married up a single in dual out flow master exhaust new brakes front and rear new rough country 4 inch lift with new springs all new gear and axle lubes for the pumpkins all new spicer bearings for the axles 15 x 10 aluminum rims with falken 33 x 12.50 wildpeak tires and lost the extra vacuum lines replaced oil breather with me gasket chrome one . I run mobile one high mileage full synthetic oil with a quart of Lucas at every 4000 mile change and on occasion I add a pint of sea foam engine cleaner to yes both fully operating gas tanks. It runs like a 302 and pulls like a Cummins. I plan to paint it this fall to storm gray with a matte finish and all black trim I have got the paint and tools I am just waiting on better weather I have also changed all the body can mount bushings with the high absorption polyethylene bushings which added a extra half inch to the cab hieght and it rides like a caddy as far as trucks of the era go and even some of the new ones I will post a pic as soon as I get it painted

3 people found this helpful.
40

I have 1988 F-150 w a manual transmission w 219k on my in-line 6 still runs very well it’s my daily driver I do 100 miles a day work an back especially in this Phoenix AZ heat AC blows icy cold I’ve heard a lot growing up about these motors They stand by every word

4 people found this helpful.
40

I’m looking at a 1988 Ford F-150 with the in line 6 the odometer quit working at 295k seller says it runs good and they stuck a 5 speed out of a mustang in it... they say all it needs is a smog pump front fuel tank and tires.. they are asking 1400 I can prolly get it for 900 it looks decent on the body and inside what do y’all think?

4 people found this helpful.
30

Me and my son bought a 1985 F150 that had been sitting for at least 10 years on a farm in rural GA. We stripped off all the EGR and electronics, installed dual exhaust, Holley 4 barrel, new intake, mad plugs, graneteli wires and high voltage distributor. Thing ran like a beast but we then swapped rear end from 3:08 to 3:50 LSD and it will still burn both tires. Son lost interest in the truck, so going to pull engine and transmission to stick in an old 1970 mustang FB I have. Loved this 4.9 so much, I built 2 more from ground up and have another on an engine stand now. Got one set in a 1950 Willys wagon and the other ready for next project. I have built 302 and 351 engines but don't feel same about those as I do the 4.9L/300 ci. Just all around great engines

3 people found this helpful.
10

Hello. I have a small problem with a truck I purchased fr my aunt after my uncle passed, so I had no involvement with this motor since the 75 300 6 cylinder. This one we started it and had it running a few times ( my young son was driving it for its first drive in about 5 years) he took it for a drive, said the starter seemed to be bad. So I purchased one and he put it on, starred it and took it 15 miles and returned with the trance week and didn’t seem to have much power. Later that day we tryed to start it and it wouldn’t turn over fast enough to start. New battery. But the starter was fairly hot for some reason. Unhooked the battery cable and left to cool. Put cable on and it draws power and starter starts to get hot! Then he tells me it seemed to do that with the last one!!!!! What??? Well ok, no sense getting upset when they are learning! I didn’t have time so it’s been sitting for awhile. Now it’s in my way and I should find the problem and move it! It’s a electrical problem sending constant power to the starter. Anyone with the same problem or experience with this? I do believe it’s a 1988 with the electronic fuel injection.

1 people found this helpful.
10

i have an 82 f-100 4.9 c-6 and a 9 inch rear im the second owner and paid 204 dollars for it as junk it had set for over 10 years ....i started it up and drove it onto a car trailer with 10+ year old gas in the tank bought it in giddings tx and have put 25000 miles on it in less than 3 years...keep oil and water in it and it will run FOREVER.....

1 people found this helpful.
40

1996 F150 300 4.9. Complete restoration except for the engine at 175k which runs perfectly... Owned it since new. Complete front end rebuild. New fuel pumps starter steering gear radiator water pump ...new everything interior out at 2200 parts total. Now soon a new paint job for 1600 so...3800 total for a show room F150 verse a new one at 45k.. Bought it new in 96 for 15k...Few more years and a antique plate lol...Cant beat a 4.9 F150. Best truck ever made..period.

4 people found this helpful.

I have an 86 4.9 F-150 with 72K miles on it. I'm 71 years old and It's going to out last me.

10

Without even trying.I've had my 92 f150 for 13 years, it has 240 thousand miles. I'm 80 and I know it will out last me. Try to keep it between 1600 and 3000 R's Don't lug it and don't turn over 3000 R's and change oil and filter around 3 to 4000 and don't over heat it. And one more thing, enjoy it for the rest of your life.

1 people found this helpful.
30

1985 F-150 Supercab. 4.9L 300. 1bbl. 162,400m. looks & runs like new.

3 people found this helpful.
350

I own a 1994 Ford e-150 cargo van. It has a 6 cylinder 4.9 and it just hit another milestone, it has 1,279,825 ( 1million 2hundred 79thousand 8hundred and 25 miles) miles on it. If the apocolypes ever happens, the only 2 thing that will survive are cockroaches and 4.9 6 cylinder engines.

1 people found this helpful.

i have a 1992 f150 flair side 531000 runs amazing ive had a few great motor also 4.6 seems good over 3 on a few never died just sold because of the age

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