Do you guys think Ford made a mistake by putting a six cylinder engine in a full size truck? (F150) Do these engines have the power to pull, haul, etc...? Just wanted some personal oppinions.

 

My truck has a 300, C6 auto and 2.75 rear axle ratio. Just today, I drug a trailer, with a car loaded on it, ~50 miles round trip. Not the fastest rig on the road, but it got the job done.
Of course, having those 31" mudders on the back didn't help either......

I only put 3.75 gal of gas ($10) in the tank, and it still has some left.


No, I don't think ford made a mistake offering the 300 in an F150. Heck, it wasn't a mistake to offer the 300 in F600/F700 trucks, either. The mistake was discontinuing the engine back in 96.

 

ill have to agree! should have never stopped making it!!

 

do you think semi's with inline diesels was a mistake? mine has no issue's with pulling or hauling in my F250

 

It depends on what you want to pull, haul, etc. Every truck has it's limits...even big trucks. To make a statement or ask the question that the engine is too small and Ford made a mistake is somewhat...odd.

 

Pretty much the reason a lot of people have these trucks is because of the 300. It was used in UPS trucks until they went to diesel power and some are still around. Its the classic work truck engine with low end power, great reliability, and easy maintenance.
On occasion I haul a 4100 lb 5th wheel RV and the 300 pulls it fine. Its takes a while to get to speed but it holds well and climbs hills better than a comparable sized 8.
YMMV
rikard

 

What rikard said...and read through this thread: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...l-it-pull.html

 

I don't think Ford would have let that kind of mistake run for 30 some odd years...

 

Ouch. that hurts. Just think, a 6 with basically the same cubes as a 302. You asked for it. LOL You always see these trucks with 8's, 6's are unique.

 

No, the 3.8 V6 offered in the early 80s F100 was a mistake. The 300 does well.

 

No, Ford did not make a mistake with putting the 300 cubic inch six in the pickup. They made a mistake in 1997 when they dropped the 300 for that 4.2 V6 POS and the modular V8s.

As far as the 300/302/351 thing goes, I'll take a 300 over the 302 any day for the same job. As for the 300 vs. 351, it depends on the amount of towing and hauling that the vehicle will be doing on a regular basis, and how much weight, but I would still take the 300 in most cases, due to the ease of maintenance, better fuel mileage, and reliability.

And yes, I have been around enough Ford pickups since the 1970's with all of these engines in various pickups and uses to know what I like in various situations. And for my money, I'll take the 300 for the situations I put my pickup in (light towing, 50/50 city/highway). In fact, I'll put $5000 into buying and refurbishing a 1996 or earlier F150 with a 300 before I'll spend any money on a late model with the modular V8 or V6. Now the same 1996 or earlier with the V8s, it would again depend on options, but I would still prefer the 300.

 

All I know is it's bigger than the 240 Ford used to put in trucks.

 

Ford used the 300 in dump trucks, UPS truck and F-550's.

It's basically a gasoline fired diesel engine. It's designed for work with a 4'' stroke and coffee can sized pistons.

 

Lets see....hmmm....the 302 trucks w/ auto tranny and stock gears have issues with pulling compared to the 300: reason being the v8 is built to do the work at a higher rpm, whereas the 300 takes its' sweet time and makes smooth pulls without much grunt...vs the 302 throwing dirt, rocks, etc and causing a more than called for dramatic scene....so no, it wasn't a mistake, the mistake was its replacement....and once again it has to do with the job needed done...

 

It's all about what an engine is designed to do, and the 300 was designed as a truck engine. The 302 holds a special place in my heart but I know it's more of a racing engine, not a truck engine.

For it's time, the 300 was a great engine. Even to this date, when compared to other six bangers, it makes great torque. Many high-horsepower six's don't have the torque the 300 does, nor do they make the low end grunt the 300 does. That's why I hate to put the 300 in the "six banger class", because it wasn't designed as a high-fuel milage V6 / I6; it was designed to pull, haul, lug and live a long time.

Gasoline-fed diesel-hearted truck engine.