I have a 1996 f-150 with a 4.9 L6 (300) motor with 20k original miles on it. I have noticed that when I am driving on the freeway, and I hit either wind or a little hill that my lower torque goes to

I have put on a 40 series flowmaster and changed out the piping to a 2 1/2 stainless with a K&N filter.

I really didnt notice too much gain for lower torque, but I have a heluva lot of top-end. I have considered either changing the plugs and wires, adjusting the timing by 4 degrees, or having the EFI checked out. Before I go through all the hassle I want to see if anyone has some insight.

Also I was wondering if taking off the flowmaster, and putting on a cherrybomb glasspack would do anything to help with the performance and sound.

I have given thought to putting on clifford headers, K&N intake, Diablo chip, and going from a dual cat, to a single high flow converter. Does sound like a way to give My F150 a kick in the ***? Please give me some feed back. Thanks
Shawn

 

What gears are you running?

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 21-Apr-02 AT 10:55 PM (EST)]93 f150 4x4 auto E4OD.3.73 ratio. Had the same problem myself. Did some simple mods and am very satisfied with the results. First I installed the K&N filter into the stock box, next step was a Flowmaster 3" single exhaust including the collector and cat all the way to the back in stock configuration, stayed with the stock split manifold because I heard here that it's almost as good as headers, next was a Hypertech power chip programed for towing application and this required Premium gas because of the spark advance to stop pinging, also a 160 degree thermo to help with this same concern, then a MDS Blaster coil to hot up the spark. New Boch spark plugs. Cost in canadian dollars was about 1500 total as I did the installs myself. I tow a 3600 lb. 5th wheel and I got to say that I am satisfied with the results. Stock anemia is gone and she revs to 3600 with no problem, Pulls 8% grades at least 20 Kilometers faster and one gear higher. Holds on to speed on the hills much better as well. Must remember that it's only 300 cu.in. we're working with so you have to use the RPM's to get the horse power. I love this little puller and would do it again. The sound is a little boomy at certain rpm but it sounds great most of the time.Like a TRUCK. Its no hotrod but if I wanted that I would have a Mustang.

 

The 4.9l with 170hp @ 3600 and 283ftlbs @ 1933 rpm is a way better choice the a 302 for pulling apps. Don't worry about the pinging leave the timing where it is especially if you are thinking about installing a chip. The 4.9l runs very lean (ford even says so)you will have to go to 19lb injectors to solve that problem. Don't expect the engine to maintian any speed over 60mph with any gear ratio as the torque curve just drops off pretty fast after 2000 rpm.

Here are some cheap tricks to get some power out of the six. I have done these and it cost me next to nothing as I did them myself.

Exhuast 2 1/2" with high flow muffler and Cat. good for about 20hp and 30 ftlbs Cost about $175CDN

K&N filter and airbox mod. The airbox is super restrictive open it up buy removing some of the plastic at the bottom of the airbox (along the lines of a K&N filter charger setup). good for 12 hp and 16 ftlbs. cost $45cdn

Electric fan. got a shrouded fan from a P6000 at the scrap yard made bracks for mounting installed temp sensor. very noticeable at high rpm. good for 10hp and 15ftlbs. cost $15cdn

Restrictor plate for the egr valve. blanking plate with two 1/16" holes. this will get rid of that nasty 1800 rpm hestitation. Cost of 2 new gaskets $5cdn.

I have a 94 F150 4x4 4.9l mazda 5spd, 3.08 gears, 33x12.50's, locker in rear. and I tow a travel trailer(3700lbs) on a regular basis. In 4th gear will maintian 55mph on all but the steapest hills then 3rd will do.

 

>The 4.9l with 170hp @ 3600 and 283ftlbs @ 1933 rpm is a way
>better choice the a 302 for pulling apps.

Where did you get those numbers? The 4.9L 300 had 150hp and 260ft/lbs of torque.

How do you figure the 300 is better for towing? The factory towing specs for the 302 are MUCH higher than that of the 300 in F-150s. A 5-speed 300 with 3.08 gears is rated at just above 2000lbs. The same with a 302 is around 3500 lbs.
>>




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>>"How do you figure the 300 is better for towing? The factory towing specs for the 302 are MUCH higher than that of the 300 in F-150s. A 5-speed 300 with 3.08 gears is rated at just above 2000lbs. The same with a 302 is around 3500 lbs."

I think he means the 300 will pull a load easier due to its torque curve, not the towing rating Ford gave it. I haven't pulled yet with my 302, but just from the feel of them, the 300 would be my choice.

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[font color="green"]1995 F-150 Supercab XLT longbed 4x4 302 M5OD [/font]31x10.50's
[font color="green"]1986 F-150 4x4 300 I6 NP435 [/font]Warn hubs, DeeZee bed caps, '96 XLT bench seat, new paint job

 

Curve? You guys must like towing around town or in the country?

I do quite a bit of towing with two different F-150's both 302 automatics. I've done some towing with a '92 4x4 300 automatic. Yeah I DO agree the 300 has good power at low-rpms, but I'd take the 302 for everything else. The 351's way ahead of either.


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The stats for the 300 six are correct IN CANADA. Vehicles built in or shipped to Canada do not have to follow the strict emission standards that the US follows, hence the higher ratings. If you can get away with pulling off all the emissions you would have one heck of a screamer.

The 302 is only 4ftlbs more than the 300 with alittle more than 700rpm for the 302 to reach it's peak torque than the 300. The 300 will pull a larger load than the 302 at lower speeds. When I tow my Case W4 loader (8600lbs including trailer) the best I can get is 80kph and my truck factory rating is 2800lbs. That is (as stated by brown 4x4) is what I meant.

And yes if I was a constant hualer I would go with a 351, but not as a daily driver.

 

I can't speak for Canada, but here in America, it's different.

The 302 has 15ft/lbs of torque more than the 300 and with only a 400rpm difference.

Have you ever seen the graphs for each of the motors?

The 300 has more torque at 1000rpm than either the 302 or 351, but from there the 351 takes over.

The 300's torque peak is at 2000rpm and the 302's is 2400rpm.

Agreed, the 300 will tow more at lower speeds. That is IF you keep it under 1500rpm.





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I have Ford truck ads (I think from the 80s) showing the available engines for F150 through F350. The interesting thing is that the base engine in the F250 is the 300 I6, but they didn't even offer the 302 in the F250. I assume this is because the 302 doesn't hold up as well to heavy duty service.

The hp and torque figures given by RoadRash are similar to the hp and torque figures of the 300 for 1968 in the USA (back when gross figures were used instead of net). If that is for a 90s fuel injected engine and if being Canadian it has less emission equipment, then that must be a pretty powerful engine that, if rated by gross figures as done in the 60s, would be closer to 200 hp and 335 pound-feet. Ya-hooo--pedal to the metal! Have some fun!

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>I have Ford truck ads (I think from the 80s) showing the
>available engines for F150 through F350. The interesting
>thing is that the base engine in the F250 is the 300 I6, but
>they didn't even offer the 302 in the F250. I assume this
>is because the 302 doesn't hold up as well to heavy duty
>service.
>

I'm positive Ford offered the 302 in F250's. In HS my boss bought a new std cab '86 4x4 F250 with a 302.

Jeff

 

The 302 was available in 3/4tons both LD and HD until about 1992 or so. Then it and the 300 were only available in the light duty F250. The 351 became std in the HD 3/4tons.

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>
>
>The 302 was available in 3/4tons both LD and HD until about
>1992 or so. Then it and the 300 were only available in the
>light duty F250. The 351 became std in the HD 3/4tons.
>
>'93 F-150 loaded and modified!
>Check my Gallery

Are you sure about the 302 in an F-250 HD? My 86, 93, and 95 literature all list the 300, 351, 460, and diesel available in HD, and 300, 302, 351 in LD's. You could only get the 300 in an F-250 HD 4x2 and the 351 was standard in 4x4's.

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[font color="green"]1995 F-150 Supercab XLT longbed 4x4 302 M5OD [/font]31x10.50's
[font color="green"]1986 F-150 4x4 300 I6 NP435 [/font]Warn hubs, DeeZee bed caps, '96 XLT bench seat, new paint job

 

brown: Your absolutely correct, the 300 was offered on F-250HD's but only 2wd. It was option, 351 waas std. Prior to 1992 the 302 was available in F-250 HD 2wds.


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Well I am guilty of a bit of misinformation. My statement would be correct if I had said the F350. Here is the list from the 1980 ad (actually was a table, but that is hard to line up here):

F100: 300, 302

F150: 300, 302, 351

F250: 300, 302, 351

F350: 300, 351, 400

Also, we must remember that the 300 (HD version) was used in F600s and school buses along with other big trucks. I suspect the F350 300 was likely an HD version (HD had forged alloy steel crank and other HD parts).