4.9L vs 5.0L discussion
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#129
Just wanted to chime in because I haven't seen this addressed.
The 302 was designed with longevity and reliability in mind, this was Ford's intention with this motor. It is no secret this is a long lasting motor and has lived up to what they designed it to do, it was not designed to be a powerhouse and again when I hear complaints I go back to the intended purpose to which it was built.
Go to the Mustang boys, the overwhelming theme is the motor can take abuse. Sure you may no someone who blew one up but that one person has no bearing on the overall picture.
The mere fact we are even having a reliability or longevity debate just underscores the toughness of a small V-8 with lighter internals than an industrial straight 6.
That being said, there is no use discussing the merits of one over another without the discussion centering around it's intended purpose and your intended purpose. I have pulled with the 6 and was surprised over how well it pulled but didn't care for how quickly it ran out of breath when driving daily.
I have owned 2 F150's with 302's, one went 241,000 miles when I sold it and the other went 189,000 and both ran strong and I replaced a fuel pressure regulator on the former and that was it! I used both trucks to pull my band trailer as well as my Chevelle to the track. Was it a diesel? No. Could I put up with it during the occasional haul? Of course, I expected it to slow down on hills. But they never missed a beat and got over 16 mpg average with intake, timing, and exhaust modifications and I kick myself everyday for letting them go.
The 302 was designed with longevity and reliability in mind, this was Ford's intention with this motor. It is no secret this is a long lasting motor and has lived up to what they designed it to do, it was not designed to be a powerhouse and again when I hear complaints I go back to the intended purpose to which it was built.
Go to the Mustang boys, the overwhelming theme is the motor can take abuse. Sure you may no someone who blew one up but that one person has no bearing on the overall picture.
The mere fact we are even having a reliability or longevity debate just underscores the toughness of a small V-8 with lighter internals than an industrial straight 6.
That being said, there is no use discussing the merits of one over another without the discussion centering around it's intended purpose and your intended purpose. I have pulled with the 6 and was surprised over how well it pulled but didn't care for how quickly it ran out of breath when driving daily.
I have owned 2 F150's with 302's, one went 241,000 miles when I sold it and the other went 189,000 and both ran strong and I replaced a fuel pressure regulator on the former and that was it! I used both trucks to pull my band trailer as well as my Chevelle to the track. Was it a diesel? No. Could I put up with it during the occasional haul? Of course, I expected it to slow down on hills. But they never missed a beat and got over 16 mpg average with intake, timing, and exhaust modifications and I kick myself everyday for letting them go.
#130
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Saint Charles, Missouri
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very good points jeff
ive contemplated on swapping out my i6, and now more than ever. Its an amazing motor and reliable but god does that thing move slow. Almost to the point to where i think somethings wrong with it but when i drive a buddies six, it feels the same. Its either idle or basically floored with the six (if your drivin around town or highway) and she still cant keep up. Its like when i try to pass, i drop it in 4th and put her almost to the floor and still moves no where basically. Truly annoying lol. 4 Years of drivin it and thats the ONLY bad thing i have to say about the ole' girl though
The way i see it, the 302 and 300 are like the chevy 350 and the 4.3l v6...Same motor *in theory*, just one in six cylinder form for smaller duty applications
ive contemplated on swapping out my i6, and now more than ever. Its an amazing motor and reliable but god does that thing move slow. Almost to the point to where i think somethings wrong with it but when i drive a buddies six, it feels the same. Its either idle or basically floored with the six (if your drivin around town or highway) and she still cant keep up. Its like when i try to pass, i drop it in 4th and put her almost to the floor and still moves no where basically. Truly annoying lol. 4 Years of drivin it and thats the ONLY bad thing i have to say about the ole' girl though
The way i see it, the 302 and 300 are like the chevy 350 and the 4.3l v6...Same motor *in theory*, just one in six cylinder form for smaller duty applications
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#132
strokin tasch i think you need to give some respect to the 300... it is without a doubt the longest lasting most reliable GAS engine Ford ever produced... dont believe me? search 300 6 in google and look at the hundreds of testimonys of ppl putting them through hell and back and still never missing a beat....yeah they dont got a ton of hp who cares they tougher than hell the 302 is a decent v8 but nothing to be boasting about
#133
also to add to your point Jeff...that "one person" who could blow there motor up (yes I blew a 302 up also) had to be pretty damnd hard on it, I beat the "living" crud out of the 302 by hauling more (load in truck bed plus trailer loaded down to max load rating) then it may have been rated for and granted your normal (relative to the persons views reading this) DD situations the 302 will last hours on end with no end in sight, oh and the 302 i have in my truck is still all factory original as far as i can tell only had the alternator and battery replaced (done by PO) and that was it, ive got 205k+ some change on the clock and its still goin strong, and yes I do have a bad habit of mashing the pedal to the floor, yea my truck may be slow on hills but the little 302 never skips a beat and it will move when its got to...but even talking about the 302 which i think is the best FOR ME is just as good as a 300 or big block 351 or what ever, heck the 4.9 would be a good engine, my buddy had a 4.9 i think in his Kia Rio, yea thats a car and i got a truck but big deal each engine has its strong points and its weak points, remember that...
an old adage "whats good for one may not be good for all, whats good for all may not be good for one"
an old adage "whats good for one may not be good for all, whats good for all may not be good for one"
Just wanted to chime in because I haven't seen this addressed.
The 302 was designed with longevity and reliability in mind, this was Ford's intention with this motor. It is no secret this is a long lasting motor and has lived up to what they designed it to do, it was not designed to be a powerhouse and again when I hear complaints I go back to the intended purpose to which it was built.
Go to the Mustang boys, the overwhelming theme is the motor can take abuse. Sure you may no someone who blew one up but that one person has no bearing on the overall picture.
The mere fact we are even having a reliability or longevity debate just underscores the toughness of a small V-8 with lighter internals than an industrial straight 6.
That being said, there is no use discussing the merits of one over another without the discussion centering around it's intended purpose and your intended purpose. I have pulled with the 6 and was surprised over how well it pulled but didn't care for how quickly it ran out of breath when driving daily.
I have owned 2 F150's with 302's, one went 241,000 miles when I sold it and the other went 189,000 and both ran strong and I replaced a fuel pressure regulator on the former and that was it! I used both trucks to pull my band trailer as well as my Chevelle to the track. Was it a diesel? No. Could I put up with it during the occasional haul? Of course, I expected it to slow down on hills. But they never missed a beat and got over 16 mpg average with intake, timing, and exhaust modifications and I kick myself everyday for letting them go.
The 302 was designed with longevity and reliability in mind, this was Ford's intention with this motor. It is no secret this is a long lasting motor and has lived up to what they designed it to do, it was not designed to be a powerhouse and again when I hear complaints I go back to the intended purpose to which it was built.
Go to the Mustang boys, the overwhelming theme is the motor can take abuse. Sure you may no someone who blew one up but that one person has no bearing on the overall picture.
The mere fact we are even having a reliability or longevity debate just underscores the toughness of a small V-8 with lighter internals than an industrial straight 6.
That being said, there is no use discussing the merits of one over another without the discussion centering around it's intended purpose and your intended purpose. I have pulled with the 6 and was surprised over how well it pulled but didn't care for how quickly it ran out of breath when driving daily.
I have owned 2 F150's with 302's, one went 241,000 miles when I sold it and the other went 189,000 and both ran strong and I replaced a fuel pressure regulator on the former and that was it! I used both trucks to pull my band trailer as well as my Chevelle to the track. Was it a diesel? No. Could I put up with it during the occasional haul? Of course, I expected it to slow down on hills. But they never missed a beat and got over 16 mpg average with intake, timing, and exhaust modifications and I kick myself everyday for letting them go.
#135