Hi all, some of you did use the old I6 - 300CID engine on previous truck?

Well I have several years running with 300's but now I want to move to newer trucks so I'd like to hear some comparation betwen both trucks, let's say F150 1996 to f150 2006 or so...

 

Javi,
I split your post our from the original thread so maybe it will get more attention.

I have never owned a 300 myself but have driven quite a few.

The inline 6 300 is more of what some consider a "truck" engine. It has good low end torque, is reliable and lasts a long time. In my experience is does not do as well on the highway as the 4.2 does.

The 4.2 gets better gas mileage, and except for potential problems with the lower intake manifold gasket, seems to be inclined to live a long time. One guy here is about to roll over 200,000 miles.
The 4.2 does not to deliver as much torque at lower RPM but really likes to eat up the highway at higher RPMs and speeds.

The 4.2 is a good light to moderate duty truck, and great if you drive lots of highway miles.

I have had a 2000 model that was a great truck. I now have a 2005 and am happy with it as well.

If you go looking, I'd look for a '99 or newer. The gaskets issues had been addressed by the time the '99 models were built.

 

for a 6 cly truck engine theres no comparison to the old 300, it will out pull, out haul, and out live the 4.2L. the 4.2 is a decent light truck engine, the 300 is a tractor engine fitted into a truck. the 4.2 does have the advantage on the highway for mileage.

the 300 has more low end torque then alot of v8s. it doesnt have to down shift and scream through the rpm's to get a trailer up a hill.

besides the engines just compairing the trucks, 92-96 f150s look better then any ford thats followed them. a true modern classic.

 

Thanks BrianA for the split and the input. Same for Jimbo who touch an important point >>> Towing

My truck is basically for field service so I had to drive about 200 miles every day on flat highways, but for the weekends I use it to town my 1.100 pounds fishing boat.

Right now my 1986 F150 is about 400K miles wich is a real record in my country and it never leave on the way, I so move to a totally new truck that I don't know at all , make me bit afraid for have some problem on tha way...

I drove a friend F150 2004, V6 towing my boat and you really can feel the power BUT it was always running over 2.500RPM and shifting a lot, mine usually runs about 1.600 to 2.200 RPM

Still not sure yet...

 

Since the 4.2 is the only thing available now, that's all you're gonna get. I personally like the 4.2, and with a Diablo chip, is as strong,or better than a 4.6 and gets better milage. The chip helps the lower end torque as well. If you use good oil and change it regularly, and do other regular maintenance, you can get 200,000 mile out of any Ford engine.

 

Javi,
I have towed 1,100 lbs and more on numerous occasions. The 4.2 did just fine.
I do prefer the manual for towing - especially in the 1000-2000 lbs range. But, the auto transmission will do fine - it might just shift a lot (as you have mentioned)
If this happens, press the button to lock out overdirve. You can tow at reasonable highway speeds like that just fine. Your gas mileage might drop a little but it is easier on the transmission.

I strongly suggest buying one with the 3.55 rear end.

As far as RPM, the 4.2 is perfectly happy turning at 2400-2700 RPM. Don't worry too much about that.

Good oil and filter, and regular oil changes and you should be fine

 

4.2V6=Good

I have a 1965 F100 with the 300 six, I previously owned a 1989 F150 with the 302V8 and I just sold my 99 F150 with the 4.2V6.

The 300 is great and the 4.2 is not directly comparable. The 300 lugs from 0-2500rpm and the 4.2V6 pulls well from 1500-4500RPM My 4.2V6 out towed the 302V8 easy and Tows the same loads as my 300 just fine.

As Brian says the 4.2V6 is fine at higher rpm. I towed 3000# trailers all the time very easy.

Go for it.

 

Ok let's try, Time will say....

 

An inline 6 will always have more lower rpm torque. The 4.2 v-6 does better at mid to high rpms. Towed with both 6's and they both do good. I had an 84 F150 with 302 2bbl carb and 3.55's-it sucked compared to a 4.9 EFI and the 4.2. Only time will tell. GO USA AND USE ETHANOL!!!!

 

If you're talking about top speed, the 4.2 has more horsepower, but the 300 will always be superior if you use your truck like a truck and tow something. This is because the 300 puts out significantly more torque at normal towing speeds. The 4.2 has to be revved to reach its powerband.

Which means, when towing, the 4.2 will downshift considerably more often to maintain speed going up hills. I wouldn't trade a 300 for a 4.2, but as mentioned if you go with the current base motor that isn't an option anymore for a new truck. I would also prefer a stickshift with the 4.2, but the towing rating isn't as high as with the automatic, IIRC.

I have a 4.2 in a 99 2wd extend cab at work that I've used to tow up to 4000 lbs. Any hill at all causes it to downshift and rev its guts out. DO NOT get anything other than 4.10 gears (or whatever ratio is the greatest available) for the 4.2 if you contemplate towing anything at all. 3.55's are inadequate; just not geared low enough for the powerband of the 4.2.

I can vouch for the 4.2 being a tough little motor, but I don't see it as superior to the 4.9 in a truck-it's more of a "light duty" motor IMO.

 

Something that frustrates me with the current 4.2L V6 offering is that Ford doesn't let you spec a manual transmission and lower gearing -- when I was trying to build an XL worktruck on their site, they did not allow me to choose the 3.55 or 3.73 gears, they only allow the 3.38 with the manual tranny. I do not understand this. Any idea why that might be?

 

I have wondered the same thing. Seems kinda' bass ackwards to me.
I had the 5 spedd with 3.55 in my 2000 and it worked fine.

 

At work we have a 1996 F150 300 inline six 2wd with the Mazda 5spd and a 3.08 rear and I just bought a 2001 F150 4.2 5speed with the 3.08 rear (i am the fleet manager). The 01 will walk the dog on the 96 leave it like it was tied to a tree. I know that the 300 is a low revving torque monster with great longevity but the 2001 will haul butt. I also bought a 2000 E250 cube with a 10 ft grumman box. This is where I need a v8 the 4.2 has a hard time moving the weight even with a 3.55 rear it is sluggish. My 4.2 in my 04 heritage does not feel as peepy as the 2001 5spd.

 

My thought is due to the difference in the overdrive ratio from the manual trans to the auto. The manual trans is .8 vs .7 for the auto or 10% that would actually make the manual geared slightly lower overall than the auto with 3.55 in back

In overdrive with the 3.38 and 5 speed the new ratio is 2.704:1 the auto with 3.55 is 2.84:1

My.02

 

Something you gotta keep in mind is that if you have a rear diff like a 3.08 it's virtually worthless behind any motor for towing, no matter what it is, unless you want high mileage. Sometimes even then it's geared too high, and mileage improves if you get a better ratio. A 3.08 thru a 0.8:1 overdrive gives a 2.46:1 final ratio. You won't be holding your speed too well on hills with that kind of gearing even towing nothing.

For towing, any motor, you really need 3.55 and up, and the higher revving it is (like the 4.2) the more it benefits. Actually, all motors benefit from the higher ratios but then it's a tradeoff on rpm's when you're unloaded and trying to squeeze the most mileage per gallon.