I have an 89 bronco. Why would ford offer the 300 inline six and the 302 v8 the same year? The specs have to be close. WTF? Just a question. If the displacement is close and the HP and torque are close why offer different motors? Just to say V8? Just a wierd question. I had a 300 inline 6 and I have a 302. Just wondering.

 

They are nowhere near the same in power production. The 300-6's peak torque is at a much lower RPM than the 302's, but it doesn't breath very well and doesn't make as much horsepower. The 300-6 does last far longer, though.

 

I love the 302.............But,............300/6 will out muscle and out grunt the 302 on the low end where you need the torque. Try pulling a heavy boat out of the water on a steep ramp with both, you will see the difference very quickly.

 

I have had both the 302 and the 300. The last 300 I had was in a 82 F150. Pulled a boat almost every weekend for the first 40,000 miles with no problems. At about 90,000 I pulled the head to have it rebuilt. The machinist said that the 300 was one of the best built motors that he had ever worked on. The problem with the motor being so well built and so strong was that by the time a person brought him an engine to rebuild, the block was to worn out to use. The 300 actually weighs a few pounds more than the 302 block. And like has already been said, the 302 needs more rpms to do the job. I had a friend a few years, (actually many) ago that swapped his 6 for the 8. Ran it for 6 months then had the 6 rebuilt and put it back in his truck. Said it just felt like he didn't have the same power. Although I don't think he did anything with the gears in the rear end, which may have helped allot.

 

The 300 is a torque monster and makes it's peck torque at a round 1,800 RPM's. Awesome lowend grunt for a 4X4 offroad, or pulling, the 302 has more topend hp. I would take the 300 over the 302 in a 4X4 F-150 anyday, especially with a manual trans.

 

I've had both. My 300's top speed was about 75 mph and would slow down going up hills even when downshifted. I had better luck with the 302 on all aspects.

 

not trying to be an *** but yours must have been sick cause I know for a fact my old 88 use to roll the speedo backwards Numerous times.. never hd a 302 though.. but my 88 was probably the most trouble free truck out of all that i've owned..no joked

 

My fathers 86 300 was great! Three on the tree. It was by no means a dog. I mean he 3 speed sucked but I have driven 4 speeds and they were quick.

 

I wouldn't mind having a 300 with a 5 speed behind it, although I suspect it wouldn't do better on mileage than my current truck does.

 

Mine had the dreaded 3spd w/OD manual. Lost reverse on 2 of those trannies, total junk. The truck was carbed too, I've driven EFI ones with 5 speeds and they were much better. Mine was a roach I'll admit that. If I were to do it again I'd get a 5.0 auto.

 

The 300 and 302 have two different power bands. They both get similar fuel mileage. The 300 has better low end power and the 302 has better top end power. For a sport truck I would pick a 302 with 4.10 gear ratio. For a work truck that also doubled as a daily driver I would prefer a 300 with a 3.55 gear ratio.

Both the 300 and 302 make great daily drivers.

Both the 300 and 302 make great engines. Period. They are long lasting and stout.

I have a 300 with a 4.11 gear set. The truck has over 217,000 miles. I get 16 mpg. Top speed bottoms out the speedo and the speed limiter kicks in so I still have plently of speedometer to play with (I keep it at 60 normally).

 

Love them both.. But i have to favor the 300. I have owned 3 and never had any problems.

 

i got a 95 4.9 300 inline 6 with 3/4 tonne leafs in the backk, its got a 5 speed manual transmission and shes 4x4, i bought it for 1000 bucks cuzz its my first vehicle, im only 17, my buddies both got chevvs with 350's in them and makee fun of me for drivin a 6 cylinder, i wouldnt trade my 300 6 for there 350 anyday, i bought it off a landscaper that use to haul around dirt and padio blocks almost everyday, he lives just down the road from me so i cann tell you hee use to load it to the **** ever since he bought it brand new in 95 and she still has a ****load of low end torque after all thoes years,now if thats now a good reliable powerful truck, i dont know what is. i was thinkin of puttin a 3 inch lift with 35's or 38's on it, i know the 300 6 is a powerful truck but would that be to hard on the old girl to roll 35's or 38's everyday?

 

I had an '86 F-150 4x4 with the 300 and 3.08 gears with the M4OD. She was the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned, period. Her highway power sucked and she struggled to manage 18 mpg's.

Off road everything changed. She was a stump puller and would run through mud and snow as well as any other truck and better than many.

IMO, the mistake that Ford made was building them primarily with 2.73's and 3.08's. I believe the 300 would perform better with the 3.55's and make for a more satisfying truck.

 

If you gave me an ultimatum i would choose the 300 I6. I have the 302 in my F150, and it belongs in a car not a truck. The smallest V8 in a truck should be 351-360, just my thoughts.