Hey guys I am buying a 1996 Ford F-150 4x4 short bed 5 speed with a 300 straight six. I should be getting the truck Thursday and I would like to do some up grades to it. Like a header, exhaust, cold air intake, cam, slightly bigger injectors, new double roller timing gear/chain and I will prolly take the head off and look things over and possibly have a valve job done if it needs it and put some better valve springs in it. The truck just now rolled over 100,000 miles so hopefully the engine is still in good shape. My question is will a 1996 need a Mega squirt put on it or will the computer be able to read everything that's going on with the new cam and upgrades. If I remember correctly 1996 was the first year for the ford trucks to have a hook up to the BOB diagnostics tool and seems like someone told me they had better o2 censors and computer so upgrades isn't so difficult to do.

 

I cant answer your original question, but I will give some advice.

The headers, exhaust, and intake will be fine. Dual straights out the back would be sweet. But the injectors, cam, and timing stuff may require a little upgrade to the trans depending on how big you go. I notice you said slightly bigger injectors, so it doesnt sound like your going very big. Remember to post pics!

 

Your 300 six already has a cold air intake on it that picks up air from behind the grille. Those CAI kits for our year trucks are a downgrade, since they pick up hot underhood air and allow a butt-load of dust into your engine through the loose filter weave. Don't waste your money there.

Headers would be good but be careful of muffler choice. Some will make your truck sound like a farm tractor. Long Smitty's mufflers sound decent but they won't be real loud.

The ports on the 300 are the stumbling block to building big horsepower. They're poorly designed and there's not much you can do with them. Gasket matching and a general cleanup would be all I would do.

A mild RV cam would be a good addition and would not require an injector change. Something like a Comp Cams 252H or 260H. Keep in mind there is no timing chain. Use a set of Cloyes timing gears, metal ones.

No need to waste money on bigger injectors or a MegaSquirt. You can't spin that inline 6 tight enough to benefit from them. In fact, unless you're getting real wild, I think the factory injectors are just fine.

I believe there is a rev limiter in the PCM that governs the engine speed but I could be wrong. Maybe some inline expert will drop in with their thoughts. The Ford 300 inline engine was meant to slog along all day long, getting the job done. They weren't meant to get places fast, just get you there reliably.

You know, if you're going that far, just as well pull it, check cylinder wear, freshen the rings and bearing and replace the freeze plugs at the same time.

Just my 0.02 USD worth. YMMV.

Ray

 

^^^^^^What he said^^^^^^^

 

Thanks for all the info so far guys. And the air cleaner thing makes sense now that I think about it. And I'm not looking for huge horse power just some mild up grades to help the ole 300 out a lil. I have owned a few carb 300 six fords which is simple to hop up. But you never hear about anyone doing anything to the fuel injected ones. I plan on making this truck my daily driver so like I said I don't want to go to crazy. I have never done any upgrades to the 90's fords far as cams and things to no how the computer is gonna be able to read the change. I have seen one done to a 92 and it ran like crap and he was waiting for the mega squirt to try that which is suppose to take care of all that. I am also currently in the process of building a carb 300 six that I am very anxious to finish when money allows me to. It will most likely be going into a 1965 Galaxie kinda a fun weekend warrior car.

 

If you want horsepower and beefy torque you're buying the wrong truck.. go look for one with a 5.8.

 

I will not disagree with you on the 5.8 351 windsor would over power the 4.9 300 six. But I have always been one to go for the underdog lol And and even tho you will not break no speed records with a 300. They are a very well designed rugged engine that is perfect for a half ton ford truck. I like a 351 just as much as the next guy but for me the 300 is my pick. I do wish there was a good way to make the 300 sound mean tho. I do love a 351 with a good exhaust system on it. I believe the 300 is a very over looked engine. Like I said I currently building one right now that should make a respectable 325 hp. With a 240 head and the help of a few Chevy parts and FE ford parts. Yes the head flow is not good but I have mine flowing fairly decent can't remember the numbers right now. I have always wanted to build a 351 clevor tho. I have a good 351 with 80,000 miles and a set of steel 351 4v closed chambered heads that I thought about building a mean stock class circle track engine out of to put in my 1971 mustang. Lol them Chevy boys wouldn't no what hit them.

 

The stock cylinder head is the bottleneck on the I6. This motor has the same cylinder displacement as a 400 V8 so it should have a head on it with valves and ports the size of something you would find on the V8. 2.02"/1.60" valves and ports that flow 250cfm would still be a bit small but I don't think you could make the stock head flow that if you ported it all the way to the water jacket.

 

. I found the 240 head flow numbers 195cfm intake and 155cfm exhaust and that was basically just clean up work. It also has Chevy vortec valves with screw in studs, hardened exhaust seats, steel valve guides, comp springs, chrome moly retainers, and 10degree keepers.