miles on your 4.9
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by MikeB 88
I just turned 144,000 on my 88. Gave it it's 48th oil change. About when should I expect to do a timing chain on it? Truck mainly drives on the highway. very easy life, no offroading or pulling anything. Just basic transportation to work and back.
Mike B
Mike B
New User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
1996, last of the boxy F-150's
1996 F-150 195,000 miles, 4.9L 5 spd OD tranny, 2.78 (I think) rear. This thing barely turns any RPM's on the highway with this gearset. All the torque is being used to push against those gears. But it does get 19 MPG.
It went through a fit trying to pass emissions last year and ended up with new cats, EGR, several sensors, etc... It finally passed. It has had the oil pan gasket replaced, that stopped that leak, I bet in 10,000-20,000 I'll need to replace the valve cover gasket and side cover gaskets, they are starting to look suspicious with a few dribbles.
Not a speck of rust on this truck by the way, and it has seen salt all it's life...
It went through a fit trying to pass emissions last year and ended up with new cats, EGR, several sensors, etc... It finally passed. It has had the oil pan gasket replaced, that stopped that leak, I bet in 10,000-20,000 I'll need to replace the valve cover gasket and side cover gaskets, they are starting to look suspicious with a few dribbles.
Not a speck of rust on this truck by the way, and it has seen salt all it's life...
New User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
oh, and I forgot to mention...
Buddy of mine is a legit Ford mechanic, and he helped a guy put his third 4 spd manual tranny in a E-150 van with an I-6 300 in it, at 7xx,xxx some miles. I don't remember the exact numbers, except that it was in the 700,000 range. The guy re-ringed it once at some point, and has changed gaskets, seals, etc... My friend said the van looks awful, rattles like mad, has holes in the floor, it's in bad shape, but still running. Evidently the guy was asking my friend about prices for getting it's first full rebuild at 700,000.
For people that can't, or don't want to, spend money on vehicles the Ford 300 can't be beat. I'll be keeping my 1996 around indefinately, maybe my kids will use it as their first car. The gas prices by then should keep them from driving it too much...
For people that can't, or don't want to, spend money on vehicles the Ford 300 can't be beat. I'll be keeping my 1996 around indefinately, maybe my kids will use it as their first car. The gas prices by then should keep them from driving it too much...
New User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Just bought 96 XL 4X4 regular cab 5-spd 3:55 posi with 112,700 miles on it for $4100. The truck went right thru MD inspection. Truck is in excellent condition, no rust, nice original paint. If this truck had one of fords V8's I probably would not have bought it. I wanted the 300 six based on its reputation alone. I hope to run this truck till the wheels fall off.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Illinois
Seems like the nearest thing to perpetual motion, might be the length of time this site about the "miles on your 4.9" lasts. As I have stated in prior posts, after a lifetime of pickup ownership - I now own my first 4.9. Why did it take me so long to wise up? This engine is fantastic.
It just runs, and runs, and runs. Maintenance - change the oil and filters, basic maintenance, don't try to wind it like you would a V-8, and it will reward you with utterly dependable transportation for a long, long time.
And I've also thought that if it could gain traction in the low cog - it could climb a verticle wall. A shame it is no longer produced.
It just runs, and runs, and runs. Maintenance - change the oil and filters, basic maintenance, don't try to wind it like you would a V-8, and it will reward you with utterly dependable transportation for a long, long time.
And I've also thought that if it could gain traction in the low cog - it could climb a verticle wall. A shame it is no longer produced.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
New User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: lancaster pa
man i have u all beat. my 1996 f150 had 300,000 on odometer when motor went but the guy i got the truck from said the 3 stopped rolling over about 200,000 ago so had about 500,000 before the first motor went. now i have a junkyard motor that had 76,000 when i got it and i put about 3,000 on a month. hahaha still runnin on the original tranny too just replaced the automatic hubs and wheel bearings and the rear leafsprings (they were broke when i got it from years of towing) and pinion seal and u joints but it's worth it i love my truck.
New User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: lancaster pa
alright i got u all beat. i got my truck from a guy that blew the old motor up and was gonna scrap the truck. he said the last digit on the odometer stopped rolling over about 200,000 miles ago and the mileage reads 330,000 so the motor would have went about 500,000. i put a junkyard motor in it that had 70,000 on it and i still have the original tranny in it and just replaced the wheel bearings hubs and leafsprings (they broke) and pinion seal and u joints but it's worth it i love my truck and i put about 3,000 a month on it. nothin runs like a L6 and i just bought a 79 fairmont with an L6 with 80,000 on it runs like a top.
New User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Inliners:
I have had a mix of flathead V8, V8 and Inline Sixes over the years and the "inliners" have all outlasted the bodies on my trucks! My '60 pickup (inline six) that I bought in '76, was "rebuilt" by the owner. He installed the wrong piston rings and one cracked.
I had been driving it, pulling trailers, etc.... It just had a little less power!! The bore was scored bigtime and of course, there was hardly any compression on that cyl. but it still ran pretty good! I had it rebuilt at a tech school and it lasted until cancer killed the body! (Right now, besides the van, I also have a '62 mopar slant six.)
I was thinking about putting the diesel 4.9 in it someday and using biodiesel. Has anybody done that? I guess I would have to put another wiring harness for the motor, anyway.
I have had a mix of flathead V8, V8 and Inline Sixes over the years and the "inliners" have all outlasted the bodies on my trucks! My '60 pickup (inline six) that I bought in '76, was "rebuilt" by the owner. He installed the wrong piston rings and one cracked.
I had been driving it, pulling trailers, etc.... It just had a little less power!! The bore was scored bigtime and of course, there was hardly any compression on that cyl. but it still ran pretty good! I had it rebuilt at a tech school and it lasted until cancer killed the body! (Right now, besides the van, I also have a '62 mopar slant six.)
I was thinking about putting the diesel 4.9 in it someday and using biodiesel. Has anybody done that? I guess I would have to put another wiring harness for the motor, anyway.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: Barnesville, Minnesota
182,000 Still Chuggin!!!
Still Chuggin my 1981 F150 with 182,000 miles on it. Neither motor or transmission have ever been touched. Does need a Valve cover gasket though hence the 1" "protective" 
coating of grime. Still Drove it to work today 9/8/06.
bas
coating of grime. Still Drove it to work today 9/8/06.bas