Hey guys, need some info. I'm usually not on this forum in on the 73 to 79 but my friend is think about buying a 1983 f150 with a 300 straight six and i was wondering yalls thoughts/opinions on this model truck and engine
The engine is the same you are familiar with in the earlier trucks. Just make sure he checks it over for rust in the floors and cab corners, and around the tailgate area.
The engine is the same you are familiar with in the earlier trucks. Just make sure he checks it over for rust in the floors and cab corners, and around the tailgate area.
i'll be sure to tell him about the floors but i've seen the truck everything else looks fine
hey guys i could really use some more info on these trucks. this is kinda hid first truck and he is trying to have some good things to say about them so his parent will agree to letting him buys it. so any help will be much appreciated
Not sure if this stuff applies to the truck you're looking at or not, but I would want to
avoid the feedback carb system and perhaps the AOD transmission (the latter depending
on my intended use of the truck).
Strong points:
- Is one of - if not THE - best-selling vehicle in America for the past 3 decades so there
are millions of them out there and the aftermarket to support 'em is like no other (read:
parts, accessories & help are readily available, even from Ford themselves).
- The I-300 is one of the best engines they ever made; if it's been well maintained then it
should easily be able to go 300,000+ miles and 500,000 is not unheard of.
Negatives:
- It's over 25 years old and the chances that something will break and leave the driver
stranded are therefore higher; rubber parts deteriorate & crumble with age (I'm thinking
rubber fuel lines, especially at the tank senders), electrical components burn out,
mechanical parts wear out. Common problems: ignition module, ignition switch, starter
solenoid, fuel tank sending unit.
- It's heavy and gas mileage isn't stellar
How reliable & problem-free it's gonna be is heavily dependent on prior maintenance but
you probably have no real knowledge of that other than what you can outright see now so
you're taking a risk.
There are lots of them on the road and in the junk yard, and many parts from 80-96/7 will interchange, there aren't many trucks that would be cheaper to own. The best and most common Ford motors are in these trucks, and arguably the best one is the 300 six.
I have to say after driving my 83 with the 300 I wouldn't let a teenager drive one with a 300 unless it had 4.10 gears or some power adders, mine was just way to slow for even a lead footed teenager to have to drive. It was slower than a semi, but to be fair the exhaust and intake manifold gasket was almost totally ate out, that may have been making it way slower than it was.
My advice would be have him tell his parents to drive it for themselves, these trucks drive nice and handle well IMO anyway. It might sell itself.
BTW I think 1983 was the last year before feedback carbs.
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1983 Ford F-150, Reg Cab, 300 six, probably 3.55's Black with red pinstripes.
Hey guys, need some info. I'm usually not on this forum in on the 73 to 79 but my friend is think about buying a 1983 f150 with a 300 straight six and i was wondering yalls thoughts/opinions on this model truck and engine
One problem I've found with the 80 & up trucks is some are geared to tall. They were doing anything to get fuel economy back then.
One of my buddies had a 300 with the common 4 speed manual overdrive and 2.47 :1 factory gears which killed it for power and acceleration.
He ended up getting a 3.50 or 3.55 rear end which made a big difference.
The nice thing about the 80 and up trucks is many of them came with power steering, brakes and air.
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Bill Lloyd
1981 Ford F250 4 x 4 351M & 4 speed
1982 Ford Econoline 300 six
Now there are lots of people that would disagree with me I'm sure, which is why I said my engine wasn't running good at the time, but now it has a 4bbl and I will get to find out what thats like early next week.
There is a 1/4 mile stretch just outside of town that everybody tests their stuff on, my truck got like 55 MPH in the quarter and it seemed to take forever too LOL, yeah it was rediculously slow. I'm hoping it's better now though. Like I said the combustion manifold gasket was ate out.
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1983 Ford F-150, Reg Cab, 300 six, probably 3.55's Black with red pinstripes.
I have to say after driving my 83 with the 300 I wouldn't let a teenager drive one with a 300 unless it had 4.10 gears or some power adders, mine was just way to slow for even a lead footed teenager to have to drive. It was slower than a semi, but to be fair the exhaust and intake manifold gasket was almost totally ate out, that may have been making it way slower than it was.
Your 300 was in bad shape, sorry to say.
4.10 gears will actually make the truck slower, not faster. Sure it will be peppy in traffic, or from a dead stop, and you could burn the tires off it, but it's maximum speed would be significantly reduced. Remember anything after 3000RPM is useless on a 300-I6, whereas on a V8 they are just starting to rev good. The 300-I6 likes low RPMs. The sweet spot being between 1200 and 2000 RPM.
Quote:
BTW I think 1983 was the last year before feedback carbs.
For 49 state Federal emissions yes. For california, Feedback carbs started in 1981 on the F-series.
4.10 gears will help acceleration, which is what I was talking about, my truck don't have any problems hitting 70 MPH it's just takes forever to get there, and yes I agree it was running bad.
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1983 Ford F-150, Reg Cab, 300 six, probably 3.55's Black with red pinstripes.
One problem I've found with the 80 & up trucks is some are geared to tall. They were doing anything to get fuel economy back then.
One of my buddies had a 300 with the common 4 speed manual overdrive and 2.47 :1 factory gears which killed it for power and acceleration.
He ended up getting a 3.50 or 3.55 rear end which made a big difference.
The nice thing about the 80 and up trucks is many of them came with power steering, brakes and air.
That was because of the 1973 oil embargo, and the 1979 Energy Crisis.
2.47:1 are really tall. The truck would be a dog.
Mine has 2.75:1 and with the T-18 four speed, it's fair and reasonable. I do mostly highway driving so I'm happy with it. Good gas mileage and granny when I need it. If mine had a automatic, or a clark 4 speed overdrive it would not be acceptable, I'll say that much. Still better performance than a stock 302-V8 from the same timeframe with comparable transmission and ratio.
3.25:1 or 3.50:1 would be a good middle of the run ratio. 4.10:1 wouldn't be tall enough In my opinion. The engine will be wound at it's top end around 55MPH or 65MPH depending on transmission. The 300 does not like to be wound up.
4.10 gears will help acceleration, which is what I was talking about, my truck don't have any problems hitting 70 MPH it's just takes forever to get there, and yes I agree it was running bad.
That was because of the 1973 oil embargo, and the 1979 Energy Crisis.
2.47:1 are really tall. The truck would be a dog.
Mine has 2.75:1 and with the T-18 four speed, it's fair and reasonable. I do mostly highway driving so I'm happy with it. Good gas mileage and granny when I need it. If mine had a automatic, or a clark 4 speed overdrive it would not be acceptable, I'll say that much. Still better performance than a stock 302-V8 from the same timeframe with comparable transmission and ratio.
3.25:1 or 3.50:1 would be a good middle of the run ratio. 4.10:1 wouldn't be tall enough In my opinion. The engine will be wound at it's top end around 55MPH or 65MPH depending on transmission. The 300 does not like to be wound up.
Just my opinions and personal experience,
Oh, I remember both. After the 79 gas crunch we made a biggest car mistake and traded the wifes wonderful '77 Grand Marquis for a more economical Chevy Citation
The 302s in that era were pigs, after that lemon Citation we bought a new Grand Marquis in 82 and although it was a very good car the 302 in it accelerated like a sloth.
No, the 300 doesn't like to be wound up, my van tops at 75 mph, and after 65 acceleration is non existent. It's slow, but faithful.
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Bill Lloyd
1981 Ford F250 4 x 4 351M & 4 speed
1982 Ford Econoline 300 six
thanks for all of the info guys and any more info will be much appreciated and to "dwrestle" you acceleration, top speed and how long it takes it to get to 70 might have to do with those gears. i would suggest if you have any others for that truck laying around switch em out and see if they make a difference
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