I have a 85 f150 with a 300 i6. I bought it about 3 weeks ago for $600. It has 148,000 miles on it. It seems to run good but had alot of oil on the top of the motor. I don't know how the previous owner treated the truck seeing that the place I got it from tows cars for the police and the got it as a impound. The body is in good condition. The are no major dents, no holes, or rusted panels. My question is I want to have the engine rebuilt to add some hp. The guy that is going to do it has been racing for 10 years and he say that there is not much I can do to the engine to get alot of hp it. He said I would be better off just puting chevy big block or some other motor in it. But he said to do a complete rebuild that it would be about $2300. Should I have him rebuild the motor or get a remanufactured motor ($1800 from Advance Auto) and have some work done to the head and put some other goodies on it? Or should I do like he said get another motor (ford performance ) and call it a day? Any advice?

 

Look on E-bay for a rebuilt motor - long blocks start at $650.00 + shipping

 

Yes, there are cheaper motors on Ebay......In my somewhat long life, I've found you usually get what you pay for. I'd rather pay the $2300 for a motor rebuilt right than change 2 or 3 cheaper motors. My time is worth something. My brother in law is a manager at one of the local chain auto stores. We had a similar conversation this weekend. To me, it's about quality, and I'm willing to spend a little more to get it.

For example, I tried a harbor freight come-a-long. Stretched 3 sections of fence and pulled the center out of it. It was sunday, and it broke about 10 in the morning. Local blue laws don't let the stores open till noon, so $50 for an american made come-a long, plus $20 for the chinese one, plus half a day of fencing shot. This cheap stuff really cost me about 4 or 5 times the cost of a good one.

So, if it's easy and not to time consuming, I might go for a cheaper part. If I'm going into the heart an soul of a vehicle, and it's going to take me some time to do the job, you bet I'm going for the best parts I can find. Genuine Ford. You get what you pay for.

 

Yeah, I gotta agree with victorcharlie 100%. If you put the cheapest stuff you can find in your truck, expect to pay for it down the road, because your truck won't last. And I don't think Ford parts are necessarily the best you can buy, either. There are better quality parts out there.

I'm looking at possibly a new motor in my truck, and I'm considering going with Jasper. Their warranty is near impossible to beat.

 

Go to www.rebuilt-auto-engines.com

They have rebuilt 300 I6 for $1100 - $1300 with 7 year 70K warranties. Let your racing buddy install it, tell him to stick with rebuilding big block chevies at that price.

Or better yet, pull you valve cover clean it up and put a new gasket on it. Then clean the rest of the engine. Check your compression and give it a tune up and see if you even a problem before blowing over a thousand and some bucks. If the guy took enough care of it that it isn't dented or rusty chances are it got a little under the hood care too - and thats all it takes to make a 300 I6 last while other engines have long since died.

 

Seeing he's a "Chevy" man and wants to charge you $2300 says ALOT right there! Plus, he's FOS saying you can't make decent HP with a I-6 300!!

I HIGHLY suggest doing a Search and then going and talking to the guys in the Inline 6 Forum on this site!!

 

If that I6 was treated halfway decent, it should still have some life in it. I'd second the notion of a valve cover gasket, tune-up and see what you've got. Mine has 218,000, and at 200,000 when I pulled the head it still had crosshatch in the bores. You could do a top-notch stock rebuild if you do it yourself for less than $1000, and know what you've got. I still don't quite get the difference that people put on the terms "rebuilt" and "remanufactured". Different names for the same thing really, or reman denotes a slightly better rebuild. Essentially, cranks can be turned or replaced with new. Turned is fine, but I never go more than .010" undersize. Blocks, if not cracked can be bored, but I rarely like to go more than .030" over. Rods, if not broken or bent, can be re-used, but I recommend new high-quality bolts. Beyond that, have the head worked (approx. $200 - $300 stock rework, but specify new guides and not knurled if they are worn). Have machine shop hot-tank, install new cam bearings and BRASS freeze plugs. Good quality parts and machine work, plus careful assembly by the book = "like new engine". That six will serve you well for daily driver/work truck. If you want to race, get a V8 (351W or larger), because although the six can be made to perform, doing it with a V8 is easier and cheaper. Don't drop in a Chevy. I'm a Chevy guy from way back and love 'em, but I hate brand-mixing.

 

right now on ebaymotors if you type in ford 300 theres an engine ending in 13 hours for an 85-86 ford truck thats still in the crate. its at $450 right now. Also as far as performance of that engine, go to clifford performance. they have a package that will give that thing 600 hp! its amazing! they have dual 4 setups, 3 deuce setups, etc.its pretty unbelievable. also, theres an article about "building up a six-cylinder engine" and if you type that phrase in exactly in your browser it should take you right to that article. THese 300 six engines are known for their durability....they just dont die. the only think i know negative about these engines are that the manifold bolts need to be tightened about every three months. but if you want more horse, you dont necessarily need to rebuild it as much as do extras to it. I live in anchorage alaska and we have stringent emission laws..but i put headers on it with an O2 sensor fitting, put dual exhaust on it, got an aluminum intake manifold, used a Kk airfilter and took off my stock fan and put on dual electric fans. That definitely helps with the hp. but my engine still has 135000 miles on it and it runs great. So think about if you really need to rebuild it or just add some goodies to it. Good luck with the project. Nate.

 

Rebuild!

You know it will fit when it comes back!
A re-man from an auto parts store are assembily line re buils by after school kids making $6.00 an hour.

Cheap rebuild materials too.

Re bulid with a qualified machinest!

Hope this helps