Which Engine ?
New User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 6
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From: Clearwater USA
Which Engine ?
I am looking at buying a pickup in the near future, it will be either a F-150 or a F250. I will have to have an automatic since have had a couple strokes which effect my use of my right hand and arm. But my question is which engine should I get ? A 5.0 V-8 or the 4.9 inline 6 ? I will tow a 28 ft boat on weekends, about 3 miles to the launch ramp, and maybe tow a camper every now and then.. It will be mostly used to carry my A** around !! I would like to find one that is loaded with options such as power windows , door locks, cruise, tilt wheel.
So I am asking those who have trucks,, which engine I should look for... Let me hear the pro's and con's.. I welcome your imput on this guys.. Ohhh also,, I will be buying this truck used,, so what should I watch for with each ?
Thanks in advance guys
Dondo
So I am asking those who have trucks,, which engine I should look for... Let me hear the pro's and con's.. I welcome your imput on this guys.. Ohhh also,, I will be buying this truck used,, so what should I watch for with each ?
Thanks in advance guys
Dondo
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis, MO USA
Which Engine ?
The 300 c.i. 6 is a great motor for what you plan to do. It has the lowend torque that you need to get a heavy boat moving on the ramp, and has decent gas mileage. For the top trim level, try to find an XLT Lariat, or maybe an Eddie Bauer, although the later might be a little rarer to find. Almost all of the 6-powered trucks with an auto tranny have the very tough E4OD, although some earlier ones may have a c4 or c6. Very rare to see one with the AOD/AODE/4R70W, which is a small car tranny which can be pretty weak.
Elder User
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 662
Likes: 0
From: washington
Which Engine ?
I wouldn't say the AOD is weak. It's probably the best overdrive transmission ever made (in the mid late 80's to mid 90's of course). The AOD is often used in dragging of mustangs and such. I have an AOD in my F250 and I have never had a problem. I rebuilt it at 140K just because I wanted dependibility. The tranny still worked fine with 140K. Maybe you got the tranny's mixed up because it is the E40D that had all of the problems and was labled as "weak".
If you are commuting I would stick with the AOD or the E40D transmission. The E40D has had TONS of problems but it is the only overdrive tranny available in the later years. The C-6 and C-4 are both great trannys that will last a long time but they do not work well with the 300. There aren't enough gears to keep the 300 in the low end torque.
If you are looking for a 87-91 truck then I would say go with a 300 with an AOD tranny (not a computer controlled overdrive). The 300 is just plain bullet proof and is a great motor.
I prefer the 302 for highway driving because the powerband is slightly higher and when your freeway driving this is where you need it. Gas mileage between the two is nil!
If you are commuting I would stick with the AOD or the E40D transmission. The E40D has had TONS of problems but it is the only overdrive tranny available in the later years. The C-6 and C-4 are both great trannys that will last a long time but they do not work well with the 300. There aren't enough gears to keep the 300 in the low end torque.
If you are looking for a 87-91 truck then I would say go with a 300 with an AOD tranny (not a computer controlled overdrive). The 300 is just plain bullet proof and is a great motor.
I prefer the 302 for highway driving because the powerband is slightly higher and when your freeway driving this is where you need it. Gas mileage between the two is nil!
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis, MO USA
Which Engine ?
The AOD wasn't totally weak, jsut weaker than the larger tranny's youll find behind most 300 and Windsor powered trucks, it was designed as a car/small truck tranny, and was probably only used on the 302 trucks cause they wanted some sort of drivetrain compatibility with the stnag. The E4OD did have some problems early on, but that was because it only came out in the early nineties and all the bugs hadnt been worked out. It's still used today on the new f-series, as an option in the biggest payload group (at least it was last time i checked ford's site). But anyway, yeah.........
