300 I6 Performance upgrades
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New User
Joined: Oct 2014
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From: Bedford, IA
300 I6 Performance upgrades
Hi, I have a 1992 Ford F150 4.9l 300 I6 efi. I was just wondering if there where any performance upgrades. I have looked around, but have not found much other then the distributor and changing the ignition system. I know not many products out there help the hp, I would like to get more torque, would 4.10 or 4.11 be something worth looking at or anything like that it is stock other then the exhaust. I don't plan to put tires any bigger then 32's on it and maybe a very small lift. I am also planning to put a heavier bumper front and rear too. Just thought I would get some ideas on it.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 793
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From: Vernon, BC
My brother had a 79 sclb 4X4 with the I6 and probably the C6 transmission. It was carb'd of course and when he found an article in one of the 4X4 magazines detailing how to increase the power and efficiency of the I6 he did it. He installed an RV cam, a split exhaust manifold and used mandrel bent exhaust tubing. I have no idea what muffler he used though. The split manifold is/was very hard to find (it took him over a year to locate one.) I don't remember the details anymore of the exhaust or of what cam he used but the point of my answer is to let you know some information is out there. It's just may be hard to find.
I love the I6 engine. Good luck with your search.
I love the I6 engine. Good luck with your search.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,785
Likes: 1,751
From: Kentucky
There is a performance forum located further down the front page for the Inline Six engines: Ford Inline Six, 200, 250, 4.9L / 300 - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums
You will most likely find the same thing, not much out there because the little engine is putting just about all it can. We get the same inquiry just about every week here.
You will most likely find the same thing, not much out there because the little engine is putting just about all it can. We get the same inquiry just about every week here.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2013
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There is a performance forum located further down the front page for the Inline Six engines: Ford Inline Six, 200, 250, 4.9L / 300 - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums
You will most likely find the same thing, not much out there because the little engine is putting just about all it can. We get the same inquiry just about every week here.
You will most likely find the same thing, not much out there because the little engine is putting just about all it can. We get the same inquiry just about every week here.
Nailed it. The market is limited and being efi makes it worse. You can replace rear end gears, maybe upgrade exhaust but it won't help much. Advancing the timing should help, I still haven't touched mine in the 2 years I've had my truck. You can swap the cam with the Crane 503901 but I don't know first hand how much that helps. I'm hoping to get into mine a bit this winter.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,935
Likes: 34
From: Arcadia, Fla
Watch out on witch cam you use. Too much "cam" will cause engine ping under normal driving.
I have a rebuilt 92 300 I6 I got from a friend who wanted the "best hot rod cam"(he lost the papers for which cam he got) for that engine...... Well it runs poorly under 2800 RPM( these engines do not like anything over 3000RPM) and pings so bad I had to back timing to 4 deg BTDC!! And it still pings under highway speeds...
Remember this is a TRUCK engine not a hot rod engine.
Best thing for the big 300 I6 is a RV cam that is ECU friendly. A new O2 sensor will help along with a good tune up. Stock distributor and coil is best for these EFI engines any thing else is a $$$ waste.
I have a rebuilt 92 300 I6 I got from a friend who wanted the "best hot rod cam"(he lost the papers for which cam he got) for that engine...... Well it runs poorly under 2800 RPM( these engines do not like anything over 3000RPM) and pings so bad I had to back timing to 4 deg BTDC!! And it still pings under highway speeds...
Remember this is a TRUCK engine not a hot rod engine.
Best thing for the big 300 I6 is a RV cam that is ECU friendly. A new O2 sensor will help along with a good tune up. Stock distributor and coil is best for these EFI engines any thing else is a $$$ waste.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,935
Likes: 34
From: Arcadia, Fla
My brother had a 79 sclb 4X4 with the I6 and probably the C6 transmission. It was carb'd of course and when he found an article in one of the 4X4 magazines detailing how to increase the power and efficiency of the I6 he did it. He installed an RV cam, a split exhaust manifold and used mandrel bent exhaust tubing. I have no idea what muffler he used though. The split manifold is/was very hard to find (it took him over a year to locate one.) I don't remember the details anymore of the exhaust or of what cam he used but the point of my answer is to let you know some information is out there. It's just may be hard to find.
I love the I6 engine. Good luck with your search.
I love the I6 engine. Good luck with your search.
On my 84 F250 I will be using the EFI exhaust manifolds and a Oppenhouser DP intake. When I switch back to carb from EFI(I put EFI on it years ago).
My 89 F250 is stock EFI with a wrong cam in it.... got to wing the big six over 3K rpm for any power and it pings under normal driving at 1500 to 2000RPM. Next step is the RV cam and hopefully the 89 will pull like my 84 F250 does!
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2013
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I wonder how the rv cam and the one I suggested compare. I know the one I suggested is supposed to give a few more rpms to play with.
Rv makes me think it would shift the powerband lower which is the opposite of what most want.
Rv makes me think it would shift the powerband lower which is the opposite of what most want.
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New User
Joined: Oct 2014
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From: Bedford, IA
I also had true duels put on and I live in Iowa so i don't have the emissions BS that most of you guys have to go through. So i cut the cats off and ran 2 1/4in pipe to a two in two out muffler to 90s and tips sounds better, but then again when I bought it it had no pipe from the cab back. I have also heard about recurving the distributor, would it be something to look in to or not? Also would 4.10s be to much or would it be better to leave the stock in it?
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Vernon, BC
Eddiec1564, he probably did the engine work sometime in the early 80's. I'm not sure as I don't remember if our Uncle (that's who he bought the truck from) bought the truck new or used. It worked very well though, I do remember that.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,785
Likes: 1,751
From: Kentucky
The ignition (this includes the distributor) is 100% electronic controlled by the computer (PCM). Changing the timing "curve" is accomplished with a custom tune.
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