92 vs 97 vs 79
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 150
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From: Dawsonville, Georgia
115 MPG! Damn, I've got to find me one of those! lol Anyway, 15 with a 400 is quite the mileage. I'm only getting 13-14 around town in my 5.0.
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,507
Likes: 5,565
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
having owned 2 of the 3, and driven all three, i will say in order 79, then 92 and park the 97 in the yard, plant flowers in the bed, and let that slug rest in pieces.
the 79 with minor modifications will get good mileage, equal to if not better than the 92.
the 92 is a good truck, but the gears are it's downfall. put a set of 4.10 gears in it and it will pull houses down. but with the current gears it is nothing more than a highway runner.
the 4.6 in the 97 make it a first year test-bed. the engine is horrible, and the body is a rot box.
the 79 with minor modifications will get good mileage, equal to if not better than the 92.
the 92 is a good truck, but the gears are it's downfall. put a set of 4.10 gears in it and it will pull houses down. but with the current gears it is nothing more than a highway runner.
the 4.6 in the 97 make it a first year test-bed. the engine is horrible, and the body is a rot box.
Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21,437
Likes: 76
From: Gilbert, PA
I'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.
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.
You do realize that the 78 up to 96 are really the same brakes, right? Same size drums, same size calipers, same master cyler, etc
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 440
Likes: 8
If the '97 had a 5.4, I'd choose it. My dad had a 4x4 '97 with the 5.4 E4OD combo. Had well over 200k on the truck before engine and trans crapped out. He rebuilt the trans and replaced the engine with one that had 70,000 miles on it. Even with just 3.55's it was a pretty mean little truck.
That is a good point with the brakes. Dad's 97 did stop a hell of a lot better than my '78 lol
That is a good point with the brakes. Dad's 97 did stop a hell of a lot better than my '78 lol
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 408
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From: Curwensville,PA
like stated before there is no replacement for diplacement so the ol 79 w the 4 speed would pull the easiest of the 3 but like stated by ATC crazy i would say both the 92 and 97 trucks would be more suited for towing in terms of steering braking all over all handling of the load. we have a 76 f250 4 speed i have a 91 f150 and my dad has a 98 f150 which as much as i hate to admit is a pleasure to drive and handles great with a load even with 182,000 problem free miles on her
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 12,341
Likes: 4,366
From: SW VA
like stated before there is no replacement for diplacement so the ol 79 w the 4 speed would pull the easiest of the 3 but like stated by ATC crazy i would say both the 92 and 97 trucks would be more suited for towing in terms of steering braking all over all handling of the load. we have a 76 f250 4 speed i have a 91 f150 and my dad has a 98 f150 which as much as i hate to admit is a pleasure to drive and handles great with a load even with 182,000 problem free miles on her
The 400 put out around 160HP and 300ft-lbs
The 4.6L put out around 220HP and 290-300ft-lbs (Im finding both in searches)
I'd give up 10ft-lbs for an extra 60 horses if I had to...
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 12,341
Likes: 4,366
From: SW VA
Either way, the '97's will perform better.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,164
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From: Tri-Cities, TN
I've owned all three motors in various trucks, including a '79 F150 4x4 w/400 4spd. I put a LOT of weight behind the '79 (better than 11k -oops!), and the only thing that makes it a better tow rig is the gearing IMHO. Actually, the 9" rear is not a great towing axle because of the limited weight-carrying of that axle design. It will handle huge HP and torque amounts, but was never intended for high weight loads. The 8.8 is a lot better in those terms. The issue as others have said with the 300 is the gearing. I've had a couple of those, not fast but will pull almost anything, with the right gears (my '69 F600 dump truck with 5spd x2 is a perfect example at 10k unloaded). The 4.6 also lacks the right gearing for towing much, although the frame and brakes are probably the best for handling the load. I had an '89 F150 4x4 300/4spd. that towed much better than my '79 overall. Wouldn't break 55-60 with a heavy load, but neither would the 400, and the truck handled the load much more confidently.
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2013
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Well took a drive in each others trucks and we each had some comments.
His comments on mine: 300 pulled similar to his 400 just a little slower, stopped better than his and got better recorded mpgs 15.5 versus 8 almost 9 mpg in some small to medium hills and 1 8 percent grade was more stable than his especially when we moved the load and put mine on the overloads
Mine on his: little better acceleration and liked to rev higher than mine, brakes sucked with clutch pushed in the trailer brakes stopped better than the trucks brakes did was less stable than mine wi
With the load
he had six round Bails to be hualed so each truck got three bails on a twenty foot car trailer
His comments on mine: 300 pulled similar to his 400 just a little slower, stopped better than his and got better recorded mpgs 15.5 versus 8 almost 9 mpg in some small to medium hills and 1 8 percent grade was more stable than his especially when we moved the load and put mine on the overloads
Mine on his: little better acceleration and liked to rev higher than mine, brakes sucked with clutch pushed in the trailer brakes stopped better than the trucks brakes did was less stable than mine wi
With the load
he had six round Bails to be hualed so each truck got three bails on a twenty foot car trailer
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 408
Likes: 0
From: Curwensville,PA
i agree about the fun part... nothing like running through the gears on an old 4 speed and hearing that V8 scream , then again ours has a built 390 FE so it may sound a little better than the average V8
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 9,176
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From: Western Central NV
Well what I know is I saw a 76 F250 4x4 360 4 speed tow a 35' mobile home from Las Vegas to Reno that is 440 miles. The trailer was so heavy it bent the Barden bumper down 6" & sucked the frame in from the rear cross brace. They pulled it on the bumper with a 2 5/16 ball. The truck was new & was a Company truck & I was one of the mechanics for that company. After we straighten the frame installed a new bumper the truck stayed in service for two more years. Try that with a new truck with the same size motor a 5.9L. Of course today the Law would put an end to any attempt like that.
Craig
Craig
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 408
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From: Curwensville,PA
Well what I know is I saw a 76 F250 4x4 360 4 speed tow a 35' mobile home from Las Vegas to Reno that is 440 miles. The trailer was so heavy it bent the Barden bumper down 6" & sucked the frame in from the rear cross brace. They pulled it on the bumper with a 2 5/16 ball. The truck was new & was a Company truck & I was one of the mechanics for that company. After we straighten the frame installed a new bumper the truck stayed in service for two more years. Try that with a new truck with the same size motor a 5.9L. Of course today the Law would put an end to any attempt like that.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 9,176
Likes: 4
From: Western Central NV
I saw a lot of 360s they weren't fast but they were workhorses as was the 400.
Craig