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i just picked up a 85 F-150 with a 300 i6 and a 4 speed manual. what are the best things i can do to it for speed.
p.s. i will not be towing anything with this truck ever
the best thing you can do for speed is start with a different engine. 351w, turbo diesel, anything but a 300...especially if you're on any sort of a budget.
the 300 was made for towing, not for RPMs.
and while you're at it, if you want to go fast, start with something other than a truck.
the best thing you can do for speed is start with a different engine. 351w, turbo diesel, anything but a 300...especially if you're on any sort of a budget.
the 300 was made for towing, not for RPMs.
and while you're at it, if you want to go fast, start with something other than a truck.
^ Agreed hell I don't even have sway bars so going over 50 gets kinda sketch anyhow lol.
Like Harte3 mentioned, make a plan regarding your objective, whether it be a 300 hp racer, or something less. What do you want? better mpg, 50% more hp, Have a goal in mind and work toward it, letting it guide your choice of parts.
If you ported your head, installed efi manifolds and good flowing exhaust, with a good int. and 4v carb., along with a DuraSpark 2 system, you'd be amazed at the difference, and it wouldn't cost too much either.
TO SUFFERINGANT AND THE OTHER NAYSAYER, I'D SAY THAT IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE 300, THEN BUTT OUT AND SLITHER BACK TO THE V8 FORUMS. I HAD A 390 AND ENJOY THE 300 MUCH MORE, WITH 50% BETTER MPG TOO.
TO SUFFERINGANT AND THE OTHER NAYSAYER, I'D SAY THAT IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE 300, THEN BUTT OUT AND SLITHER BACK TO THE V8 FORUMS. I HAD A 390 AND ENJOY THE 300 MUCH MORE, WITH 50% BETTER MPG TOO.
I absolutely love my 300, and honestly would not choose a different gasoline engine for my rig. That said, I also know that it would take way too much money to make an engine built for low-end torque into something fast. yes i've seen the 300 powered drag racer videos and anything is possible with enough cash, but it's not realistic.
Sorry if i'm being a pessimist, but this thread reminds me of my high school classmates wanting to make the car their parents handed down to them into a 'fast ride'.
i just picked up a 85 F-150 with a 300 i6 and a 4 speed manual. what are the best things i can do to it for speed.
p.s. i will not be towing anything with this truck ever
Which trans do you have? The 4 speed with a granny first, or the OD?
What axle ratio and tires are you running?
But first, do you got them there smog checks in New Hampshire? If so, are you going to have to pass a visual and pipe test? That will limit you on mods to be sure.
That how I feel aswell its a truck not a muscle/sports car if you wanna seriously go fast buy a vehicle that was created with that in mind. I come from a generation were people buy honda civics that are meant as commuters and make them into something that they were never meant to be and it honestly gets old. If you wanna go fast buy a mustang or a sports car of some type, I am more then happy with the upgrades I have done so far and i'll most likely like it even more when I do the exhaust but you don't need to try and turn a truck into a rocket.
My stock 300 (in my '81 f100) would run 90mph down the highway with 3.25 gears and 28" tires, plenty "fast" in an old truck. I really only did it once just to see if it would, after that i kept it 65mph. OP what's your definition of "fast"? Off the line acceleration? Top speed?
I've had 3 F150s, two had the EFI 300 and one had a carbed 302. I love my 300s because of the low end power, ease of service, and reliability. Its the perfect truck engine. Since yours is a 1 bbl carb, a 2 or 4 bbl and EFI exhaust manifolds will help a lot. But if I wanted a truck for speed (cheap) it would be a 302. My modded (carb, exhaust) 83 302 was quick and sounded great. I also had a Cougar with the EFI 302 and it performed very well. Yes you can make the 300 for speed but it will cost more.
My 300 is dead stock and is capable of hitting 100 but since its a truck I keep it under 80.
BTW my last long trip netted over 20.5 Mpg @ 65 mph, not bad for a 4400 lb truck with 224k miles.
YMMV
rikard
Neither of my 300 powered F150s will do much over 100mph. I've had them both topped out a couple times. The 96 wouldn't pull much past 105, the 84 I had up to around 115... that was enough for me. A 1/2 ton 4x4 pickup I highly doubt was designed and built with this type of use in mind. Anytime I get a new vehicle, I do like to get out on the freeway and max it out a couple times just to see how it does. Like everyone else said, speed costs money... how fast ya wanna go? I could see doing a little 1/2 ton shortbox regular cab 2wd as a hot rod. I would like to find a clean 73-79 do a slight drop, maybe add some swaybars, a nice set of wheels and tires... then stuff a rowdy poked and stroked SBF or a healthy BBF in front of a manual trans. Might be fun!
John