Ya man I havent heard any thing bad about the 4.2. I think what people might of ment is that it is a little underpowered for the truck. I have a friend who has a 4.2 and has 187,000 miles on it and still runs strong. Its like comparing the really good to the best.

 

The 2.9L V6 that was in my 90 Ranger was great - same as biggieou said I was getting abou 26 mpg with a five speed when it hit 160K - and it never needed oil added between changes. But that Ranger was driven like a car and never towed and seldomly hauled anything.

The 4.2s in full size F150s is an ugly sister compared to the 300 I6. The new and improved 4.2 in 1997 and several model years after gave owners blown head gaskets, minimal mileage increase and anemic performance on the highway - even when running empty. After decades of proven reliability and value from the 300 I6 base engine the 4.2 lowered the bar instead of raising it.

 

I'm not bashing V6s, They only exist because engine designers were looking to make the engines more compact, to get power from a small cubical unit, often a V6 can be squeezed into the same space as an I4. But V6s cannot practically be made to operate as efficiently as a straight six or an opposed six. Bad dynamics is the reason you don't see a lot of V6 diesels. On the other hand I think most chevy engines suck, but I did have an old 292 six for awhile that was a pretty good engine, and a 250 six that was a decent engine also. I had a chevy pickup, a 72, at Ft Bragg that had a 350 in it and the only good thing I really have to say about it is it had decent power and the parts were cheap, every time I had to drive though any water at all and the ignition got wet and it would stall and miss.

 

I too am not trying to bash the 4.2. It's just not a really good TRUCK engine. It's a nice motor, and I'm sure nobody will argue that in a lightly loaded '97 up truck it'll run rings around the old I6, because it has more horsepower. The V6 makes 215 hp, vrs 160 hp for the six. Now, as for the low end grunt, the I6 makes a deep and low swell of torque, great for hauling heavy loads. At 1,000 rpm, 1,500 rpm, 2,000 rpm, maybe even 2,500 rpm the old six will walk all over the 4.2. above 3,000 rpm, the v6 spanks the inliner. In a 3,000 lb midsize car, I'd want the V6. In a 5,280lb truck with a class 5 hitch, I want the straight six.

 

well, that's just the 300 though... not all I-6 are "truck" engines.... BMW makes a screaming I-6. The 3.2L they have is something like 315hp@7400 rpm and 250 lb-ft@ 4900 rpm with a 7600 rpm red line. In the roadster it will do 0-60 in 4.8 seconds and 0-100 in 10.8. 1/4 mile is right at 13 seconds at 109mph and a top speed of like 155 and still gets 17/25 mpg. They have them in the "I" series too now, I think it's the same motor.

 

that 300 I6 is just a awesome truck engine. one of the best ford ever made, if ur a practical pick-up man, not a hot rodder. as far as why the inline set up, most people are surprised to learn my tractor trailer only has a 6 cyl. engine as well. fat pistons inline and a stout crank make a good low rev, high torque engine that lasts many miles of hard pulling i suppose. in fairness- i have a p.o.s-10 with the 4.3 V6 (my "other pick-up") and its a great engine as well, one of the best chebbie ever made. not near the torque as a I6, but very long lasting - 225,000 on mine and havent overhauled yet

 

I like my 1971 F-100 very much, but, just because it does not have all the creature features such as A/C and P/S, does not mean it is a better work truck then the new F-150. If I had to tow something for 1,000 miles, I would pick the 2004 F-150 because disc brakes would be nice

 

I thought the design for the 300 and the 240 were based on the old White Flathead Straight Six of the 40's and 50's.

I do agree though, the V-6 is much better for in-town daily driving, it will move and not make you feel like you're about to get run over. The I-6 I believe is better suited for farm work and slower speed types of work. I've driven several 4.2 V-6 F-150's and they are a lot more fun to drive, but I've driven 300's too, they aren't far behind.

 

Are you suggesting that we use the letter "l" as in lugnut rather than "I" as in Inline for the engine? Let's not be picky over font selection for the letter "I," but it is an "I" as in Inline 6. The "lnline 6" does not exist.

 

If you call a I-6 an L-6 then that's Chevy talk and.....that just don't go 'round here.

 

Chevy anything is a no no round here less your talking about towin one out of the mud, which happens more than one might think.

 

My inline 6 hauls ***. I went out to the sandpits to party last night and I drove out, I had a 6 of tall boys. I was to intoxicated to drive back to town so I opted for the box. You dont really notice how your truck hauls when you actually drive it, I feel it more when im not driving, this is just a thought to ponder. But anyways I have 170000 Kilos on my truck and shes a really haul *** motor. Last fall I went out to haul wood, maybe 4-5 loads, really nice hauler takes the bumps absorbs them, shoots the spring back out and asks for more. Even with the *** end loaded it really makes the load pulling great. I never took it past 1700 Rpm, no need to. I can even go around town in 5th gear at 50 Km/h , revs at idle (900 rpm) nnot much throttle and the truck doesnt even vibrate. the truck is totally fine at that speed and rpm. By the way its a 1993 F-150 I6 with a 5 speed manual trans (M5OD) <--- This is the most things I have problems with. I cant seem to get the trans to work right. I rebuild it last year cause 3rd and 4th grinded the ring gears were shot, at that time 1st and 2nd worked great, then they went after I replaced the 3rd - 4th syncro, so now I gotta pull it again and rebuild er. pain in the A*s

 

I don’t particularly think of my 300 as all that slow. I’ll do fine against my friends off the line but after that is where the problem comes in, but I don’t really care I love it none the less (not sure how to properly phrase that)

Here’s a dyno at the wheels courtesy of Silver Streak


Oh, I hope you dont mind. Just tell me if you do just tell me I'll remove the post or w/e you want me to do

 

one of the reason's the 300 is better than the V6 is because it is built stronger. the 300 inline six is almost as heavy as a 460. also, an inline engine will always last longer than a comparable V style engine. there's no way around it. less parts and less strain. its nice to be able to haul something at your peak torque and not have to redline it. it seams like alot of the new trucks reach their peaks at really high RPM's. you have to floor it to pull something.

 

Actually I was referring to the spelling of "Trailblazer",