92 vs 97 vs 79
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Mi'kma'ki
it's so easily the '79.all you have to do is tow with them all.you'll see the 400/3.55 combo mops the floor with those others.
the 300 truck coming in second probably.though slow,them 300's are legends.known to pull whatever the big engines can just slower and the things just last like the diesels rather than the big gas engines.
but you tow with the 400 especially with it's 3.55's you'll clearly see those other trucks just don't compare when in tow.
then to top it off,it takes just a few hundred to liven that 400 up to pull with a 460.least they used to be cheap to build.probably still are.like a monster sleeping really.it doesn't take much to wake one up.
the 300 truck coming in second probably.though slow,them 300's are legends.known to pull whatever the big engines can just slower and the things just last like the diesels rather than the big gas engines.
but you tow with the 400 especially with it's 3.55's you'll clearly see those other trucks just don't compare when in tow.
then to top it off,it takes just a few hundred to liven that 400 up to pull with a 460.least they used to be cheap to build.probably still are.like a monster sleeping really.it doesn't take much to wake one up.
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Posting Guru
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him and technology are no good, that is why his truck is a 79 and his newest tractor is a 1980, just doesnt like technology, turns his head when i show him somethin on the internet
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Posting Guru
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not to start an arguement but you people forget that the 79 HAS ALREADY DIED ONCE, and was given new life instead of being scrapped
Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
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From: Gilbert, PA
An odd ball. Those motors are pretty dam reliable
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Posting Guru
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anyway i will tell him what you guys said and we will switch trucks sometime soon to see what we each think, i can guarentee he will enjoy the fuel mileage i get (got 16 mpg running 45 mph at about 1200 rpm, in mostly flat highway with a couple good hills where i kicked it out of overdrive, for those who wonder i could go much faster than 45 except the conditions werent right for it (it was foggy), i also had a 8 by 16 by 4 foot high trailer heaped full of wet ironwood. f250hdxlt you being a tree guy should know i had some weight back there. going by the chart on a tree website i had roughly 8 thousand pounds of wood back there) it is a clear cut decision apperently that the 400 is better than the 300, i suppose i am a little biased as it is my personal mission to work the 300 as hard as i can. thanks for your opinons guys IF ANYONE ELSE HAS ANYTHING THEY WOULD LIKE TO ADD PLEASE DO
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Posting Guru
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yeah went out with around 120,xxx miles. i will say that motor got worked hard, as that was my grandpas main farm truck and still is, he has had 16,000 pounds of haybails on his gooseneck (i know i know) i tell him he he should have a 1 ton or at the very least a 3/4 ton. he did say he didnt want to regularly tow both our tractors (total weight of around 13,000 pounds) so i think he is starting to belive me
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Plant city florida
if im right the 400 put out 310ft/lbs of torque at 1400 rpms and the 300 put out what 265ft/lbs at i think 1600-1900, in that range. the 400s and 351ms are also known to have short-life oil pumps and low oil pressure. if you plug up one of the oil passages in the crankshaft i think it was the oilpressure reaches the upper 40s. too bad there isnt a 76 or older in the comparision with a good ole FE lol
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 9,176
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From: Western Central NV
"THAT'S ALL FOLKS". This isn't what he wanted to hear. Grandpa wins & that is from the FORD GUYS.
Notice after he asked the question he started adding more deal but then only wanted to hear about towing.
Craig
Craig
Notice after he asked the question he started adding more deal but then only wanted to hear about towing.
Craig
Craig
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Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: SW Florida
I'd say for towing, it's 79 > 92 > 97. The 79 has 400 cubic inches, and the 3.55'ss are a good gear for towing without hurting fuel consumption too much.
The 92's got 100 cubes less, but I've never heard anyone complain that a 300 wouldn't tow (within reason of course). You've also got the benefit of an overdrive transmission to help out on the highway.
The 97 has 281 cubes, and comes in last in my opinion since unlike the old school pushrod engines in the other 2 trucks, the 97's modular engine needs to rev to around 3000 RPM before she starts making good torque, unlike most pushrod engines that will make it down low which is good for getting a heavy load moving. Don't get me wrong, they'll tow alright but given the other 2 choices, this truck would be last.
Just my opinion of course.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 9,176
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From: Western Central NV
A 300 will tow but he has the wrong combo to tow. 3:08s are too tall then add the OD Automatic. A friend of mine had an 86 F250 4x4 300 I-6 with a 4 speed & 3:55 gears & that was a work horse & pulled good as long as you where satisfied with 45-55 mph MAX.
I have a 302 5 speed with 3:08 gears & any little bump in the road with 5000# attached & you start searching for gears. I'd hate to have to pull a mountain pass with it.
But then I have a Dodge 4x4 V-10 5 speed if I need to tow.
Craig
I have a 302 5 speed with 3:08 gears & any little bump in the road with 5000# attached & you start searching for gears. I'd hate to have to pull a mountain pass with it.
But then I have a Dodge 4x4 V-10 5 speed if I need to tow.
Craig
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 440
Likes: 8
Those old trucks are amazing for pulling and win hands down IMO.
I had a '78 4x4 F150 with a 351M400/c6 combo and the huge cast iron transfer case. I was the 3rd owner of it, the previous 2 owners had accumulated almost 300,000 miles on it. I had to put a new timing set on it (factory was aluminum, can you believe it??) and after that she ran pretty smooth. Not huge on power due to miles but she still did good. I sure do miss that truck. I mean it worked out good for me since it's replacement is my current F250, but there's something about a lifted long bed Ford truck that I love.
Sorry for the story lol.
79>92>97
Now if you had 3.55's in your 92 that would be a pulling little SOB! Bet it already is but it would be even more so with the 3.55's.
I had a '78 4x4 F150 with a 351M400/c6 combo and the huge cast iron transfer case. I was the 3rd owner of it, the previous 2 owners had accumulated almost 300,000 miles on it. I had to put a new timing set on it (factory was aluminum, can you believe it??) and after that she ran pretty smooth. Not huge on power due to miles but she still did good. I sure do miss that truck. I mean it worked out good for me since it's replacement is my current F250, but there's something about a lifted long bed Ford truck that I love.
Sorry for the story lol.
79>92>97
Now if you had 3.55's in your 92 that would be a pulling little SOB! Bet it already is but it would be even more so with the 3.55's.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 5,006
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From: Roseville, MN
On the original question of legal tow rating, I don't know what the '79 would have had, but I'm sure the 4 speed killed it. My '85 F-250 had a GCWR of about 7500 pounds with a 4 speed (even more laughable given that it's GVWR was 8600 pounds). With an auto and the same 3.55 axles and 351 engine it would have been a 10,000 GCWR.
Not that the 4 speed isn't more than up to towing everything the auto can (and more). But the LEGAL tow rating for manuals in that time period sucked.
Not that the 4 speed isn't more than up to towing everything the auto can (and more). But the LEGAL tow rating for manuals in that time period sucked.
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 12,341
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From: SW VA
also assume that the trailer is a 18 foot car hualer with brakes on both axles, tandem axle with 3500 pound axles carrying 4500 pounds (probably less but lets just say 4500 pounds to be safe) worth of my pulling tractor, and see if that changes anything. and a little fact for those who dont know, the 300 and 400 share the same bore and stroke, the 400 just has 2 extra cylinders and is in a v instead of inline thanks guys
thanks guysI'll be the odd man out here. I'd choose the '97 over the other two (but barely over the '79 due to the gears). It has better brakes, more power, and will be a much less white-knuckle experience towing. The '79 can be a handful unless everything is in good working order. The braking system on the '79's are usually very lacking by the time they reach the age they are. Even with a new booster/MC and pads/shoes...they are sub-par at best.
I don't care how fast you tow something, or how quick you can tow it...you gotta stop it.
For the record, I have owned a '97 F150 4x4. 4.6L/4R70W/3.55's
And I also own a '78 F150 4x4. 400/NP435/4.10's I have since swapped a 460 in it a couple years ago...
I have no experience with a 300-6
The '97 will handle the load better than the others IMO. With my '78, I wouldn't want to tow that much with it.