cant kill the 300 six
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Junior User
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cant kill the 300 six
my old truck is a 93 ext cab f-150 with 340,398.dosent smoke yet and has great oil pressure. it was bought new by a mine supply company down the road from me and had been serviced every 3,000 miles since it was new. it came up for bid one day while i worked there . i bought it for 700 dollars. drove it home and still driving it today. i have had it about 5 years driven daily.i have every service record ever done to the truck and it had the original motorcraft battery dated 7 93 on the battery but this winter i let it set to long durning a cold spell and it went down.thats 18 years on 1 battery .hard to believe but i still have the battery and cant seem to throw it away lol.it has had 1 clutch installed and thats it folks . only 1 major fix in 18 years. and have records to prove it.yes she weak but they were when new.dad has one he bought new its a 94 same truck and has 210,000 on it. im just saying i believe these are the toughest little motors for ever made.i gonna drive it till it stops.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 774
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From: East Tennessee
That's pretty awesome. I love these old trucks. I got 136k miles, which is pretty low mileage to me, especially for an 86. 300, 302, 351w... Couldn't go wrong with any of them. I'd honestly be happy with any of em.
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Lost
The 300 does have a weakness. The factory cam gear was a fiber tooth gear. These tend to wear away after ~200K miles or so, which can stop them dead in their tracks.
Replacing the timing gears (no chain!) isn't that hard. The problem is, the fibers from the old cam gear *can* cause the oil pump pickup tube to become clogged, and the engine is starved for oil.
If neither of those 94's have had the timing gears replaced, I would recommend doing so, just as a safety precaution. Going with steel gears, they'll almost never wear out. They do make a little noise though.....
I'll make the same recommendation for that 86 with 136K. Age and/or miles takes it's toll on the factory gear.
Replacing the timing gears (no chain!) isn't that hard. The problem is, the fibers from the old cam gear *can* cause the oil pump pickup tube to become clogged, and the engine is starved for oil.
If neither of those 94's have had the timing gears replaced, I would recommend doing so, just as a safety precaution. Going with steel gears, they'll almost never wear out. They do make a little noise though.....
I'll make the same recommendation for that 86 with 136K. Age and/or miles takes it's toll on the factory gear.
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i agree with u 100% i think it all depends on the maintaince . hey my little truck is getting some rust over the rear tires and lower from fenders and the front bumper but hey its paid for and dependable i wouldn't have a new one .if yours is an 86 with 136k it will hopefully give you many more years of service . i call mine trusty .. lol ford should have kept this engine but nothing good last forever i likely will rebuild it as long as the body holds together i drive it...i could talk all day about it ..thanks
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Junior User
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The 300 does have a weakness. The factory cam gear was a fiber tooth gear. These tend to wear away after ~200K miles or so, which can stop them dead in their tracks.
Replacing the timing gears (no chain!) isn't that hard. The problem is, the fibers from the old cam gear *can* cause the oil pump pickup tube to become clogged, and the engine is starved for oil.
If neither of those 94's have had the timing gears replaced, I would recommend doing so, just as a safety precaution. Going with steel gears, they'll almost never wear out. They do make a little noise though.....
I'll make the same recommendation for that 86 with 136K. Age and/or miles takes it's toll on the factory gear.
Replacing the timing gears (no chain!) isn't that hard. The problem is, the fibers from the old cam gear *can* cause the oil pump pickup tube to become clogged, and the engine is starved for oil.
If neither of those 94's have had the timing gears replaced, I would recommend doing so, just as a safety precaution. Going with steel gears, they'll almost never wear out. They do make a little noise though.....
I'll make the same recommendation for that 86 with 136K. Age and/or miles takes it's toll on the factory gear.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2008
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You have never touched a bolt or screw on a 340K mileage truck that you've driven for the last five years?! WOW, just..............wow.
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Joined: Oct 2010
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I hope the seat is comfy, you should be sitting it for many more miles.
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Joined: Feb 2010
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The original 300 I6 that was in my 82 F-100 ran up to 365K before I took it out. It actually still ran pretty well but it was getting alot of water in the oil and it was starting to lose power and what not. I got lucky and bought a identical engine with only 42K original miles that I bought off my buddy. After paying 300 bucks for the engine and another 600 to have it put in my truck she will be alive for years to come.
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The original 300 I6 that was in my 82 F-100 ran up to 365K before I took it out. It actually still ran pretty well but it was getting alot of water in the oil and it was starting to lose power and what not. I got lucky and bought a identical engine with only 42K original miles that I bought off my buddy. After paying 300 bucks for the engine and another 600 to have it put in my truck she will be alive for years to come.
Posting Guru
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[quote=Rogue_Wulff;10591329]The 300 does have a weakness. The factory cam gear was a fiber tooth gear. /quote]
what years does this hold true for? all of them? the reason i ask- i've got a '72 engine with unknown mileage.
what years does this hold true for? all of them? the reason i ask- i've got a '72 engine with unknown mileage.
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My first new truck was a 1993 F150 XL reg cab 2wd with the 4.9six. I was only 22, was a gift to myself for finishing college. I distinctly remember the salesman telling me, "the body will rust away before this engine dies" he was right. I drove that thing for about 170k miles, had to replace ball joints, tie rods, and brakes a few times but that engine never leaked or burned a drop of oil. Only reason I sold it is I moved from Long island to hilly CT and needed a 4x4. guy I sold it to still has it. Over 260k miles now. Hope my 04 FX4 does as well.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,441
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From: Muskegon, MI (home)
thats awsome im going to rebuild this engine when it quits . they are weak but i think thats why there so durable. thats a good buy on the engine you bought that one still smells new with only 42k on it . it will likely out last the truck. i hope you get many more years out of ur old truck.my truck looks like hell but its always ready to go. the only thing that im starting to notice is that it seems to be using more gas than it used to but it may be the price of gas that make it seem that way im not sure good luck with urs .
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2007
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From: North Reading Mass
My Nelly Belle is sweet sixteen and is about to turn 230k miles. It gets 16-19 mpg, doesn't burn or leak oil, and it hauls its own wieght (4200 lb) when I hitch up the 5th wheel RV. Its certainly not fast off the line but it will keep up with traffic and has enough power to pass safely on the two lane highways when I go up to Maine. Shes capable of cruising easily at 75-80. I was surprised at how much staying power the 300 had on holding hills and I would think nothing of jumping in and drive her 1000 miles if some one paid for the gas. As a matter of fact I'm driving 150 miles north in the AM. One of the most versatile and long lived engines I've ever had and the 300 is why I drive these style trucks ( Nelly is the third)
The only weak areas are the already mentioned fiber timing gear, weak piston skirts, and the stock valve train might not hold up to higher than stock lift and spring pressure.
YMMV
regards
rikard
The only weak areas are the already mentioned fiber timing gear, weak piston skirts, and the stock valve train might not hold up to higher than stock lift and spring pressure.
YMMV
regards
rikard
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I would hardly concider the 300 to be weak in any way, if anything I would say they're slow. I've hauled and pulled some pretty heavy loads with both of my 300 powered F150s, not a lick of trouble from either of them. About to roll over 175k on the 96, she still runs like a top. It's a great little grunt motor.
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From: Muskegon, MI (home)
hey man i have been around 300 sixes since my dad bought his f-150 new in 79 there great little motors we have had three or four of them there great but it depends on where you live if its flat or hilly where your at yea they pull great here where im at a different story tho very long high mountain pulls all hill here and there just weak pulling around here yea they will grunt if you gear them down but your not going to get there quick and once your in second or even first pulling a load thats what gear ur in all the way .my old mans truck he bought new in 94 has the 300 six and its still going at 290,000 and it was weak when it was new this truck replaced the 79.they do not have the power of the 302 or the 351 also offered in these truck but they seem to be more durable.not saying there no good for pulling but when you need it its not going to be there in these engines.my truck has almost 400,000 on it trust me there great i drive my daily and have for 20 years.
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