F150 with a 300 inline 6

chaffinyo

Cadet
Joined
Feb 28, 2012
Messages
9
I just wanted to see of anybody has any exprience using an 80s f250 w with the 300, like mph and how well it does up hill and whatnot thanks in. advance
 

Thalasso

Commander
Joined
Jan 18, 2011
Messages
2,879
Re: F150 with a 300 inline 6

I just wanted to see of anybody has any exprience using an 80s f250 w with the 300, like mph and how well it does up hill and whatnot thanks in. advance

I had a F150 with the 300 six. Good motor never had any problems, but it was a gas hog. It would go as fast as you want and used it to tow my Aluminum 19 ft boat. Towing the boat i couldn't make a 240 mile (interstate) trip with the two fuel tanks filled. (35 gal ) I see why they put duel tanks on them.
 

mrdancer

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 21, 2008
Messages
235
Re: F150 with a 300 inline 6

I just wanted to see of anybody has any exprience using an 80s f250 w with the 300, like mph and how well it does up hill and whatnot thanks in. advance

I haven't driven one in about 20 years, so will not comment on experience.

Conventional automotive wisdom is that the inline six-cylinder engines are some of the best engines made, especially in regard to towing. Ford's 300 I-6 has an excellent reputation, as does Chrysler's long-gone 225 Slant Six. Even GM had some good inline engines. As for towing, most of the big rigs use straight-six diesel engines, regardless of make. They may not be the fastest or most economical, but they seem to be the most bulletproof. If you are into performance, it is easier to do things like mill the head for increased compression, intake/exhaust headers, extrude honing, etc.

Car manufacturers typically don't like inline sixes because they require more room under the hood, thus they (and especially their designers) tend to discourage their use.
 

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
Re: F150 with a 300 inline 6

Had a F150 with the 4.9L six for a while back in the early 80s. I considered it a torque monster. Did no towing or traveling in it. I bought it real cheap to move my "stuff" a few miles, then sold it for a bit more than I paid.
 

coolbri70

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Oct 6, 2011
Messages
1,554
Re: F150 with a 300 inline 6

i have killed many cars i tend to abuse machinery, i have an 81 f 150 with the 300 6 it is a gas hog but it takes my beating since 1999 that is one tough machine i would like to get something better on gas but the wife says i can only have 1 truck and can not part with the f150 its just too reliable, it has only ever let me down a couple of times because the gas gage wanders and i ran out of gas
 

bigdee

Commander
Joined
Jul 27, 2006
Messages
2,667
Re: F150 with a 300 inline 6

Had an F-150 with the 300 and and earlier F-150 with the 240 (same motor version). They are VERY torquey engines that run for a long time. They are noisy engines with piston slap,camshaft tingle and timing gear noise and a lot of them were traded in because the owners thought there was something wrong. The 240 that I owned started knocking at 200k and started to use a little oil so I used USED hydraulic oil in the crankcase because I was able to get it for free. Every day I was expecting it to blow up but I drove it for another 2 years and 50k miles and it was still running when I sold it. Never had an issue with towing horse trailers,car haulers or boats,maybe a little slow but so am I.
 

southkogs

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 7, 2010
Messages
14,968
Re: F150 with a 300 inline 6

Had a mid 80's E350 with a straight six 300, and my dad had a early 80's Bronco with the straight six 300. Neither would win any races, but both would tow a house or climb near about anything you put in front of 'em. Losta' torque.
 

LongLine

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Nov 2, 2008
Messages
494
Re: F150 with a 300 inline 6

I had a '77 F250m with a 300 inline 6. 4 speed manual. Miss that old beast. Couldn't fit the wife, 2 kids & pooch in it. (legally) Greatest engine ever built. Pulled a 4,000 Lb boat with it & never even knew it was there.

Tom B.
(LongLine)
 

rbh

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Mar 21, 2009
Messages
7,939
Re: F150 with a 300 inline 6

Straight 6 300 as was said torquey little beast (got 2 of them in my vans on propane)
Both have the c6 or is it c4??, it would have been nice to have the OD tranny though.
Buddy had one in his f250 4x4 with the manual OD tranny, alittle more work shifting but you can move the power around alot easier.
opt for a steel timing chain gears when yours goes.
 

rivermouse

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 16, 2011
Messages
661
Re: F150 with a 300 inline 6

I bought a new ford f100 in 1978 with a 300 6. I drove it for over 17 years until a wreck killed the truck. Best engine I have ever had. No problems that merit mentioning. This engine was one of the best ford has ever made. They even used them in large school buses.
 

mommicked

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Dec 15, 2009
Messages
1,700
Re: F150 with a 300 inline 6

Dad had a reg cab F100 or 150? 300-three on the tree tranny and pulled tons of firewood and a 19' Grady White all over the state along w a heavy, oldschool wood and aluminum campershell on the back. I remember he put a longblock in it after many years and sold the campershell and I was amazed how fast the new engine/3 spd combo was from a dead stop, that thing would fly!
 

sublauxation

Lieutenant
Joined
Oct 13, 2008
Messages
1,317
Re: F150 with a 300 inline 6

I had an 89 F150 with the I6. Great truck and I miss it. I strongly suspect gearing must have been the main problem with mine. It was a 5 speed manual. I don't remember mpg being terrible but when towing it would be screaming in 4th and dogging down in 5th when going uphill. I sold it at 130K miles and I'm confident it had another 100K in her. A family friend just put his F250 I6 to rest at about 225K miles and that truck was completely abused it's entire life. He towed many things much bigger than my boat with no problems. My brother had an 86 Bronco also with the 300 that would tow anything. He got about 8-10 mpg in all around driving. His died "prematurely" at about 170K miles. As comparison we had 2 79's with 302s that both blew up before 100K miles.
 

chaffinyo

Cadet
Joined
Feb 28, 2012
Messages
9
Re: F150 with a 300 inline 6

thanks for all the great replies, SO here is what i have ATM> this is my granpas truck( died about 5 years ago now) so it has been sitting, i need to go and pick it up this weekend, ( as the only grandson I pretty much am the only person who wants it, and its free) I believe that the bed is rusted out, ( its been a few months since i have looked at it) I think that I want a flat bed, or possibly a utility bed, (used from craigslist ??) Or I a different box,and then i was thinking a snow plow cause im a weirdo like that, with maybe some air bags and tons of other cool stuff. So sad news(depends on how you look at it) i talked tom uncle today, the truck is at his farm, its a v8, could not remember what one, just said that its small, but that is not the end of the world, as i will gladly use anything to tow besides my silly crossover
 
Last edited:

mommicked

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Dec 15, 2009
Messages
1,700
Re: F150 with a 300 inline 6

If it's a small V8 it might be a 351 Windsor, another great Ford engine.
 

AK_Chappy

Lieutenant
Joined
May 25, 2003
Messages
1,357
Re: F150 with a 300 inline 6

I would guess it is a 302 if it is a small V8. Not a bad motor. I had a '91 that I used to tow and "move" many things. It did great. Wish I still had it. :-(

AK Chappy
 
Top