Gotta put the word out - Ford OHV sizes are the bomb!!
Y'all don't remember, but when the first OHV six was intro'd, it was faster than the V8 that year per Motor Trend (said V8 having been gifted 10 more horsies, 'cause it wouldn't do for it to be rated less than the new six!!).
Now, all my Ford trucks have been OHV sixes, from 170 to 300cid. And they all were just the engine the truck needed.
My current 240cid six will run 80-85 all day long (did 200 miles just a couple weeks ago, all freeway, 75-85 all the way).
It returns 13 mpg in everyday (mostly small town area) driving, and no one ever accused a Ford truck of aerodynamics...
Today, around 4ºF here, and it fired right up, no drama, almost zero cranking, though it wanted a bit more choke than usual...
I've left it for weeks (no need for a truck), and it always fires up immediately.

So, let's hear it from those of us who believe in six in a row!!

 

I like my 240. 150 hp and 235 ft lbs +/- at 2200 rpms. How many sixers (0ther than another Ford) can match/beat that????

 

I have had a handful of Ford and other sixes and they never fail to impress. At one point I had an Econoline with a six/3tree, a Dart with slant six/3tree, and an E30 BMW with a six and 5speed, the most b***** 152 cubic inches I've driven. Love me some sixes.

 

I plan on replacing my tired 240 with a rebuilt 300 next year. Planning on efi exhaust and 2 barrel carb set up. Then I'm going to rebuild the 240 into a 300 and swap it in place of
the 390 that's in my '64. The old 390 setup has some wierd parts and a carb that's too small and I like sixes.

 

Another 300 owner here. I had the chance to rip it down fix the oil leaks from the previous tear down. The internals look beautiful and I should get a very long life out of it. The fuel mileage is not what I would hope for, but it is a strong runner for sure. I do have a 429 that will probably take its place one day though.

 

I bought my '64 with a 223 I6 and have only changed the oil. I don't get to run it often...but when I do, she cranks right up.

As a rookie mechanic, I wanted something simple to work with. It sure is!

rtc

 

I had a '62 Falcon with the 170. Solid motor. Had a '59 Dodge Power Wagon (W300) with the flat head 6. Impressive. I have now a '65 F-100 with a 240. It has 162,000 miles on it. Real Strong powerplant. The truck is really my rolling fab shop.I have a 6'x6'x 1/2" plate on the back. ( took off step side body). Also have a Miller engine generator welder on it too. Better add the oxy/acetylene bottles and rack for them. All that adds up to: 1,200 #'s. The truck has 3/4 ton springs on the back.
I put 15 - 8"x12"x12" & 4 small cement blocks on the fab table. All those blocks add up to 730 #. So now the weight on the back is 1,930+/- a few.
I wanted to see what she'd do with all that weight. Whew! what a solid sturdy smooth ride !
I should say that I have split cast iron exh. mnflds on her now. That has made the motor really come alive.
It is very steep here. I went up a real steep road. Stopped 1/2 way up. Put 'er in Granny low (T-98), She barely strained, up, up and away we went. Not interested in reckless speed. Surety the I-6 does faithfully give.
In the early 60's, I had the priviledge of meeting Charlie Seabrook in the pits of Atco Dragstrip in South Jersey. He had a red hot 6 cylinder Chevy/Gmc. There was even a story in Hot Rod magazine about the car. The title of the article, "6 in a row ain't so slow." Don't remember his times, but I have remembered the 3-2 carbs and the car was fast.
So I am on board, 6 in a row can really go. I am keeping my 240.
I am soon going to take off the fab table & welder and make a dump box to go in it's place. Am drawing it all up now. Currently, I have an 8,000# electric winch on the front bumper. Going to put it behind cab, put a structure over it to pick up dump box with.
I need to add, I took into account the before and after measurements of fab table. Before blocks and after I put blocks on. She sat down 1-1/2" with the 730 # of blocks.
Awe righty then, better stop fur now, Best, Pete

 

There's sure something to be said for the layout and simplicity. Lots of room to work, and everything is right there, easily accessible.

It looks to me like a basic engine overhaul (cylinder hone, rings & bearings &c) would be pretty reasonably done without even having to remove the engine from the truck.

 

May I ask what rear end ratio you are using? That will make the most difference in gas mileage.

 

Yes, I did that in my 170. I did not change out the valve stem seals however. ( I didna know to do that too.) It did smoke a little a few years after I worked on it. Must have been old, dried out valve stem seals. Ran that motor for 150,000 mi. Now in my '65, I change the valve stem seals every 14 yrs. This is the year.
There is just something about the in-line cylinders. Plus the 240/300 uses timing gears rather than a chain. No wonder that motor was made from '65 to '96.
I put cast iron split headers on...What a huge difference in the same engine! I have replaced the oil pump too. I run 20W50 oil. The bearings started to make a little noise on a long uphill grade in 3rd. So, I started using the thicker oil. Nice and quiet now on the same rd.
I am very strict on oil changes. When the 3,000 miles will come in the middle of the upcoming week for the next oil change, I have the oil replaced the weeked before.
No chance I'll use any other motor.

 

Mine came with a 292 y block and as much as I enjoy that motor, I’ve always kind of wished it had an inline 6.

 

Hi Jo,
You are real knowledgeable. Would you be able to tell me approx. what my rear end ratio is? Here is what I know : I used to run 15" rims. For me to go 55mph, I'd have to make the speedo needle go to 61 mph. Now I run 16" rims using Michelin radial tires & inner tubes. Now the speedo seems to be correct. No more...61 mph to go 55. I have sent the speedo up to Carl's Speedometer Shop in Pontiac Michigan. So, that is accurate. When I had a job that was 20 miles away, I was getting 19. something mpg. That was part interstate and the rest 4 lane.
Really wondering what the ratio is. Any wisdom you'd care to tell me here ?
Thank you, Pete

 

Hi CJ, know what you mean. If you have the time, and can find a decent 240 or a 300, you can have lots of enjoyable time swapping out/and putting in an I-6. Please note, the I-6 is a steady performer. V-8's are too. Course you can spend lots of $ and have a very hot 6.
Depends on what you really want. l like everything is easy to get to on an I-6.
If you do put in an I-6, put on a set of split exh. headers after you have driven the truck for a while. The motor really comes alive with the split exh.mnfld. You will be pleasantly surprised. I finally did. Ran the stock exh.mnfld for 38 yrs. Now with the motor breathing so so much better, the difference is astonishing. Like I said above, I had a load of 1,900 #'s on board. I made a point of going on a steep rd. I went up half way and stopped. I am very impressed with what happened. I took off just like there was no incline...at all.
I did that because, I wanted to see what a load of gravel (one yard is 2,500 #'s) would be like. The dump box I am going to put on the back of my truck will hold 1/2 yard. That will be 1,200 #'s. So with the welder and fab.table off (they weigh in @ 1,200#'s), my truck will not notice any real difference. Course the dump box will add to the load of gravel. The dump box could weigh as much as 700 #'s (it can't possibly) and my truck could handle the load (1,200 #'s +700#'s for the dump box equals what my test load of 1,900#'s was). I am going to stiffen the frame as part of this job. Bending the frame is not going to happen. I will then be safe within the original design limits of the truck, and will be able to stop.
I need a dump box because the drive way here is narrow. Too narrow for even a small 6 wheeled 3 or 4 yrd dump truck. See, I am putting in a 24'x24' metal fab. shop in the back yard here. Gotta have 6" of gravel put down first before 4" of concrete floor.
I figure I need to dig out 6" of dirt. That is 10.6 yds. Then that much gravel.Then I will use my truck to bring in 6.4 yds. of concrete to go atop the gravel. No concrete truck can fit back there either. My truck will prove herself to be the queen she really is.
Now that I am not working for anyone else, I can devote myself to this work here.
Awe righty then, Best to you, Pete

 

Not as old as your trucks but a 300 in my 1981 F100 Flare Side
It is sporting EFI exh. manifolds and the stock intake with stock v1 carb hooked to a T18 but soon to be a NP435 and a 2.75 gear in the 9"

I have also driven other make sixes and liked them also.
Dave ----

 

Hi Dave, Nice and clean. I like that everything is painted and new looking. I am curious about the ring & pinion ratio of 2.75. What are your reasons for picking that one? I ask because, well are you after gas mileage with that combo? I am trying to know what my ratio is. Last week, I jacked up one rear wheel, marked the tire and marked the d.shaft. The wheel turned one time to the d.shafts 1-3/4 turns. Maybe I need to hold both tires off the ground and count again? Pete :-)