4.9L vs 5.0L discussion
#76
I started out pulling with a 4.9 5sd and had less problems than our 5.0 and far out done our 5.8 for dependablity. the 4.9 F.I. are the only good ones, if your going to run a carb then go 5.0. To all that hate the 4.9, you just can't drive, I hauled junk cars with them both and got better mpgs with the 4.9
#77
The only thing I really don't like about the 302 in a truck is that fact that it often looses speed on hills or needs to down shift to passing gear at highway speed around 60-70 mph. If your going faster than 70 its usually not an issue. This is because of the power band.
#78
i have to say i have the same issue, butttt only when loaded. empty shes pretty good. but with a extra 600lbs+300+500ish on the front/back in the winter she gets pretty gutless and has to downshift ALOT i think some 4:56 gears would really help me verses my stock 4:10s.
Just curious what size tires?
#79
I drove a 300/6 yesterday. 1989 f-150 2wd regular cab short bed 5 speed and around 190k miles. It reminded me why I swapped to the 5.0.... With the same 3.08 gears my donor truck had, the 300 seems lazy. We have a lot of hills around here and even on the smaller hills I was flooring it or downshifting to try to go the speed limit. That doesn't work for me.
So most of you that say the 4.9 is better, it's only because of where the torque is? I don't feel like this is a reasonable arguement... We can make a 10hp Briggs lug around whatever we want if we have enough gearing. For this of you with 5.0s saying it has no low end, how about gearing it properly? Many of us have said that over and over. A properly geared 302 is a whole different animal to drive.
IMO a 300 will never out perform a 302 for me and my needs. I drive my truck on the road. It doesn't sit at home at putt around a farm. I get annoyed very quickly if I can't accelerate up hill or if I have to downshift to hold speed. I guess most of you making the 4.9 seem like it's some kind of beast dont have many hills or pull much in hills..
The 300s are really reliable engines and run fair, but I think the hype has gotten out hand..
So most of you that say the 4.9 is better, it's only because of where the torque is? I don't feel like this is a reasonable arguement... We can make a 10hp Briggs lug around whatever we want if we have enough gearing. For this of you with 5.0s saying it has no low end, how about gearing it properly? Many of us have said that over and over. A properly geared 302 is a whole different animal to drive.
IMO a 300 will never out perform a 302 for me and my needs. I drive my truck on the road. It doesn't sit at home at putt around a farm. I get annoyed very quickly if I can't accelerate up hill or if I have to downshift to hold speed. I guess most of you making the 4.9 seem like it's some kind of beast dont have many hills or pull much in hills..
The 300s are really reliable engines and run fair, but I think the hype has gotten out hand..
You are right. With the right gearing the 302 is completely different. The problem I think with running 4.10s with 31 or smaller tires and a 302 is that fuel economy may significantly go down. I'm not sure though.
Some of these comparisions between trucks may not be fair since some may be in better or worse condition that other ones and most people don't know what gears each truck has.
My friends 95 300 5 speed will walk away from alot of newer trucks on the highway with out leaving 5th gear. He does have 3.55 and 31 inch tires.
I personally think that the 300 needs the 5 speed to be at its best.
#80
yeah i was happy to findout i had 4:10s! somtimes i wish i had a 460 because it would prolly get better MPG considering the truck only does work. the 5.0 is in perfect running order and gets the job done. no speed racer but thats what my excursion is for lol
due to the large hills around me, most of the time driving in the winter she is in 2st or second screaming along at 4500+ rpms trying to get all that weight moving. but she will push snow! pop that baby in 4low and your only limited by your tires.
stock was 235/85 16. currently running 265/75 16's which are pretty much the same height just fatter. sooo whats that about 31.9" depending on the tire.
due to the large hills around me, most of the time driving in the winter she is in 2st or second screaming along at 4500+ rpms trying to get all that weight moving. but she will push snow! pop that baby in 4low and your only limited by your tires.
stock was 235/85 16. currently running 265/75 16's which are pretty much the same height just fatter. sooo whats that about 31.9" depending on the tire.
#81
You are right. With the right gearing the 302 is completely different. The problem I think with running 4.10s with 31 or smaller tires and a 302 is that fuel economy may significantly go down. I'm not sure though.
Some of these comparisions between trucks may not be fair since some may be in better or worse condition that other ones and most people don't know what gears each truck has.
My friends 95 300 5 speed will walk away from alot of newer trucks on the highway with out leaving 5th gear. He does have 3.55 and 31 inch tires.
I personally think that the 300 needs the 5 speed to be at its best.
Some of these comparisions between trucks may not be fair since some may be in better or worse condition that other ones and most people don't know what gears each truck has.
My friends 95 300 5 speed will walk away from alot of newer trucks on the highway with out leaving 5th gear. He does have 3.55 and 31 inch tires.
I personally think that the 300 needs the 5 speed to be at its best.
My F-150 had 3.55's, 5 speed, 31" tires, and of course the 300 in it with 146k miles when I got it. The engine ran great. No issues. Had aftermarket exhaust, intake, tuning, etc. when I got it. It still wouldn't hold speed up hill. I figured maybe it's the aftermarket parts.. I pulled them off and put stock stuff back except the exhaust, had a touch less power than with the chip and intake.. So after that I said screw it. My donor truck had no issues accelerating uphill before it was rolled, so I bought it and obviously now I have a perfectly good 300 sitting here doing nothing b/c nobody wants it.
Fact is, the 302 has more torque and more importantly, more horsepower than the 4.9L. The 302 has a pretty nice power curve that can be made MUCH better through the extremely wide variety of aftermarket parts available. So, for those of us actually looking for a powerful truck that can also be reliable, the 4.9L is not a better engine for us. Period.
I guess it could be better if you just want to idle around or putt around a field somewhere, but some of us like horsepower and like to unleash it even more. Most of us who look to do a V8 swap are like this. I just think that some of you guys who comment on such threads should word things differently. Something like, in order to fully utilize the power of the 5.0L you should look into swapping to ____ gears in order to keep the engine in it's power band. Not this.... Keep the 4.9L, it's a better engine in a truck...
#83
Ya see, horsepower is addicting and once you've gotten used to having quite a bit of power at your disposal whenever you want it, you kinda don't want to drive anything less unless you have to. I know that's how I am anyways.
Just look at L. Ward's build... He probably doesn't NEED that 460 and all the go fast parts that are on it, but I guarantee that truck is going to be a really fun truck to drive with the amount of power it should make. I know it's not a 5.0, just an example that having power for some of us may not be a necessity, but it's a lot of fun. Especially in your daily driver.
#84
Truth of the matter is that I DO need power around our farm for pulling trailers, farm implements, and various other things. The 4.9 in my truck is absolutely perfect for that. No, it won't move a load at 80mph for 100's of miles, but I don't need or want it to. It is happy lugging at low rpm's with a decent sized load behind it all day long, and I never have to worry about the engine, because it is a solid design that I know will not give up on me.
I need that power down low in the rpm's so I'm not constantly screaming my engine to move our equipment from our house to the field and vice-verse. Like I said before, my dad has a 302 in his pickup, and it will do the same tasks that my 4.9 will, just with a LOT more drama.
There is no question when it comes to moving a load at our place, we always use my truck, no questions asked. If the load is getting to be pretty heavy and we need more power, we use my 5.8l, NOT the wimpy 302.
I need that power down low in the rpm's so I'm not constantly screaming my engine to move our equipment from our house to the field and vice-verse. Like I said before, my dad has a 302 in his pickup, and it will do the same tasks that my 4.9 will, just with a LOT more drama.
There is no question when it comes to moving a load at our place, we always use my truck, no questions asked. If the load is getting to be pretty heavy and we need more power, we use my 5.8l, NOT the wimpy 302.
#85
Travis im with you 100% , i bought a 93 F 150 300 I6 new for work and to tow my boat , on trips to the keys the thing was just about dangerous , no power to pass or get out of anyones way , not my kind of driving style , i got rid of it and got the 95 302 , it worked good , same truck i have now with a built motor that i put in about 3 years ago and its fun , i have had alot of mussle cars all of my life so i guess i got use to the power , and when you don't have it , it sucks !! ... but maybe some don't need the power i guess ??.....Lew
#87
Truth of the matter is that I DO need power around our farm for pulling trailers, farm implements, and various other things. The 4.9 in my truck is absolutely perfect for that. No, it won't move a load at 80mph for 100's of miles, but I don't need or want it to. It is happy lugging at low rpm's with a decent sized load behind it all day long, and I never have to worry about the engine, because it is a solid design that I know will not give up on me.
I need that power down low in the rpm's so I'm not constantly screaming my engine to move our equipment from our house to the field and vice-verse. Like I said before, my dad has a 302 in his pickup, and it will do the same tasks that my 4.9 will, just with a LOT more drama.
There is no question when it comes to moving a load at our place, we always use my truck, no questions asked. If the load is getting to be pretty heavy and we need more power, we use my 5.8l, NOT the wimpy 302.
I need that power down low in the rpm's so I'm not constantly screaming my engine to move our equipment from our house to the field and vice-verse. Like I said before, my dad has a 302 in his pickup, and it will do the same tasks that my 4.9 will, just with a LOT more drama.
There is no question when it comes to moving a load at our place, we always use my truck, no questions asked. If the load is getting to be pretty heavy and we need more power, we use my 5.8l, NOT the wimpy 302.
Like I've said before, I started this after seeing many people say the 4.9L is better in a truck when guys want to do a swap. I don't think this is correct, especially not knowing how someone will use it. In my scenario, the 302 is a much better platform as it will hold the power I'd like to make and do it reliably. On top of that, I may want to modify it farther down the road. I have that option now. With a 300 I was too limited in the power department.
Lew, that's what has happened to me. I am used to driving trucks with a pretty good amount of power. I know I can't compare my diesel to these gassers, but stock it was pretty gutless also. That's why I modded it. To make it fun. Everytime I drive a 4.9 now, I just end up getting mad b/c I cant make it to the top of most of these hills going the speed limit.
#88
I guess the only time I really question this whole debate is when someone wants to pull out a running 300 and swap in aSTOCK 302 expecting it to be worth the effort and in my opinion, it's not. If you plan on power enhancements, re-gearing, etc, then that's a different story.
A lot of the comments in this debate refer to "if you install a cam, if you install an exhaust, if you re-gear" etc. That's all well and good but to yank a stock engine and replace it with a stock engine just isn't worth it.
But if you really wanted to swap out a running engine for more power/torque, why not go to a 351 or even a 460? Unless the 302 was free of course.
A lot of the comments in this debate refer to "if you install a cam, if you install an exhaust, if you re-gear" etc. That's all well and good but to yank a stock engine and replace it with a stock engine just isn't worth it.
But if you really wanted to swap out a running engine for more power/torque, why not go to a 351 or even a 460? Unless the 302 was free of course.
#89