Man.. I don't know when I last ran my 300 at 3000rpm. The motor darn well screaming at those speeds. It feels hapiest under 2000 rpm. Everyone says it lacks 'pep' because it takes a little longer to wind up the revs than most auto engines. What is this thing with 'pep' ? Truck owners don't give a hoot about pep... That is if it's used as a truck. Does anyone with a 300 motor really care about 0 - 60 times ? ... I sure don't.

I would never buy a new Ford with the 4.2 V6. I already know that my 4.9 can tow better, probably better than the 4.6 V8 modular.

 

My understanding is that the Ch**y I-5 engine is a shortened version of the I-6 they came out with a couple years ago. They also lop one more cylinder off and get an I-4. I think both the I-4 and I-5 are available in the Colorado. Rather see the GMC version of this new mid-size truck as the Ch**y trucks all have a front grill that reminds me of the silly face someone makes when they bite into something very sour.

 

i can also vouch for the mercedes inline 5 turbo diesel.

My friend has almost the exact same car- 1984 maroon mercedes turbo diesel. I think it has 225k on it or so.

He has 3 cars and 2 drivers in his household. The old mercedes, an RSX and an awesome Infiniti G-35 sport coupe. So the mercedes doesn't see much use, untill i come around.

We beat the living crap out of that car! We live in a really hilly, curvy, pot-holey area, and we friggin drive that car like a ralley race! The things we do in that pupy... and she never, ever gives any problems!

One time we did a full out powerslide (COMPLETELY sideways) in the rain in front of at least 20 cars, just to show them that an old mercedes turbo diesel can still kick ***. I love that car.

 

I beg to differ. There are a lot of people that need a truck for everyday life and can't afford/justify/tolerate having a second vehicle just as a play toy. Even those people who claim not to care about 'pep' would be very glad to take another 20 hp and 30 ft-lbs of torque if they could get it.

 

I kinda know how torque works but'm still a little hazy on the concept, could somebody clear the fog for me?

 

Torque is actual twisting movment. When you are towing, you want torque, not horsepower. Horsepower is just how fast it can wind up, torque is what will burn your tires off. Generally a truck with a lot of torque, like a diesel, will be able to pull a trailor up a hill going 70 MPH.

 

Torque is the amount of force the motor exerts in a twisting motion. Horsepower is the amount of torque exerted multiplied by the RPM's (sort of, actually it's a distance thing but RPM's can be used to get an idea). So, basically, let's say an imaginary engine makes 300 ft/lbs of torque at 2000 rpm's but it only makes 200 ft/lbs at 4000. The twisting force is less at 4000 but there is more horsepower because that 2/3 twisting force is twisting twice as fast. Now imagine both outputs geared so that the final RPM is 1000 rpm at the driveshaft just for comparison. Because the gear would be shorter at 4000 rpm's you multiply that 200 ft/lbs of torque 4x to get down to 1000. So in this case, the motor turning 2000 at 300ft/lbs would be putting out 600ft/lbs after gearing and the motor turning 4000 would be putting out 800ft/lbs after gearing. This is the approach the higher revving V8 motors use, just gear it down. It just isn't practical to rev it to 4000 every time you need power or hold it there for hours towing something.

The big 300 makes all of its torque at 2000 rpm which is something you can expect the engine to run for hours at. I think the peak horsepower is at 3000 but by this point the torque has dropped off so there's really not that much more horsepower than at 2000 anyway. The V8's are more like car engines like the VR6 in my car that makes its torque at 4200 and horsepower at 5800

 

Why did the EPA make ford get rid of the Inline-6 300?
I dont understand why that motor would be any worse then others.


78fordman:
[QUOTE]The 300 was ford's best motor, and the EPA made them get rid of it

 

I think the 300's demise was mainly due to the consumer base for the newer F-150 trucks.

More and more people are buying the F-150 to drive down the road and not whoop the living crap out of like they used to, and i still do. The 300 is great for being a work horse, but it really does lack in the highway factor, or at least mine does.

It also puts out a low amount of hp, which people want even if the 300 way out torqued the competition, and they had another 50hp, people would go for the pony motor.

Its also old technology, which people also don't like. Granted it makes phenomenal torque, the 4.6L i believe puts out a better peak..?

I'd say i miss the 300, but i still got mine!

 

>>Why did the EPA make ford get rid of the Inline-6 300?
I dont understand why that motor would be any worse then others>>

Ford is just satifying the demands of the new yuppie market. These new motor are quieter, smoother and more fuel efficient. And what about those 0-60 times .... Yeah... passing power baby. Us "haulers" just complain about the lack of torque but buy anyway.

 

Interesting...but obvious points I should have known. Im only 25 , but have gotten a lot more mechanic savvy these last couple years. I appreciate the straight fowardness of the I-6 for what it is. Just a tractor motor.

Off topic...but, I have read and heard that auto makers stopped making real bumpers for cars and SUVs long ago because a person like you or me could go to the local junkyard and replace it for cheaper if we had an accident. Talk about yuppie.

I always got pissed at people when the called my Bronco a SUV anything like that was a 4x4 when I was growing up. Im thinking as long as they make parts I will keep my truck going. Makes me feel one up on the Big Auto Makers.


Tim

 

My two random cents (to help me get out of freshmen member status,lol).

Porsche never made or offered a I-5. Well maybe in some WW2 tank or tractor in the '50's, but never a car. They have only ever had I-4's, Flat 4's, Flat 6's, and V8's (928 baby!). I do love their 3.0L I-4 which they use to have. Call it the lil brother of the Ford's 300 I-6 . Acura never had a I-5 either, all fourbangers or 6's. My two cents, and not even Ford related,lol.

 

Acura Vigor, late 80's, early 90's had and I-5. I bought a 90 Integra with the I4 and researched their other cars at the time. Great car BTW. I'd have another in a heartbeat.

 

Wow, that Acura motor is weird, never knew they offerred a I-5. When I was younger I was really into intergras and B18's.

 

whats great is the 300 makes the same torque of a 4.6 v8 in '99, also at way way lower rpms. old technology is beating new technology here. my 300 has the same torque, at better rpms, and will last a hell of a lot longer.