rebuild or replace?
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: virginia
rebuild or replace?
hey, im new here and this is my first post. i am about to purchase a 1987 f150. it has a old, tired 300 I6 in there now. im going to lift the truck and put 36s on it. i want to either rebuild the 300 with performance parts to make it strong enough to pull me throguh the mud, or drop in a 351. what would yall do? also, how much power does the stock 300 have? and what are some site that sell performance parts for the 4.9?
Last edited by bryced_1; Mar 28, 2005 at 03:00 PM.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,439
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From: Spokane WA
If you want torque for mudding with big tires, your choices are pretty much the 300, or any V8 other than a windsor.
The 300 in the 87 is 200hp and 300ftlbs torque (its a late-60s steel crank F600 motor).
The 300 in the 79 is pretty much stock with a big cam and can burn the rear tires till the axle stops hopping and then chirp them in 2nd
The 300 in the 87 is 200hp and 300ftlbs torque (its a late-60s steel crank F600 motor).
The 300 in the 79 is pretty much stock with a big cam and can burn the rear tires till the axle stops hopping and then chirp them in 2nd
Last edited by oldhalftons; Mar 28, 2005 at 07:47 PM.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,218
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From: Parkville, MO (KC)
Perhaps you should also mention what you mean by "old tired"? Is the compression bad? The 87 would be an EFI, so I suppose that it is not as amenable to many of the mods that earlier years can handle. But rebuilt heads for 300 cost about $300 off ebay, and then a clifford or offy intake with a 2 or 4 bbl carb will get you rocking. You have the EFI split exhaust already. You would have to rig a pressure regulator if you wanted to go back to carbed, but otherwise, should be do-able (automatic tranny?? -- might be issue too).
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Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: virginia
it doesnt have much power any more (high miles), theres something wrong with the timing, things like that, just old. so i was thinking if im gonna swap in a v8 now would be the time. i am on a pretty limited budget and if im not going to keep the 300 im going to put a 460 in it. but id rather keep the 300 if i can get it to make enough power. is around 375 ftlbs doable? oh, and cdherman, why would i want to switch it back to a carb? thanks for all yalls help.
Last edited by bryced_1; Mar 29, 2005 at 10:50 AM.
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: centeral Ohio
The main reason for switching to a carb'd is the computer settings can't handle a lot of added hp. 375 ft lbs torque is quite doable but, not on a limited budget. First of all you would have to convert the mass air to speed density i beleive. After that you would need much bigger injectors and a custom flashed chip and even more than that im sure. For pushing 36s i think your best bet is to get a junkyard 460 and take it to a machine shop and do the works. you can get that torque with a close to stock engine using a 460 im sure. Anyways this is just my.02c and so you know im not being biased i have a 1988 efi straight 6 pushing 35s. Also if you do end up using the 6 thats great!!!! Get advice from colonel flashman or search for his post my built 300-6 i beleive. His engine made 400 ft lb torque 300 hp and pushed to 4600 rpms pretty easily all naturally aspirated. Although i beleive he said that build cost him like 3600 i think??? Anyways g/l with the 460 or the inline 6 which ever you pick.
Last edited by Gerry Lutz Jr.; Mar 29, 2005 at 05:53 PM.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
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From: Bonita Springs FL
Building up a 460 is costly, IMO. It's the biggest of the big blocks that Ford mass-produced, and people always think bigger is better. So they start with a 460, and get charged a premium for the parts.
I saw an article (have to see if I can find it) that goes into a lot of detail on how to build up a 400. Don't let anyone tell you they're not great motors, they are. They can be built up for massive performance gains over stock. They got a bad rap because Ford had to kill the performance to meet smog requirements in the early 70s.
But you can get a lot of power out of a 300, too. Just not as much as you can out of a 400. Those extra 100 cubes make a big difference. FWIW, the bore and stroke are the same on the 400 and the 300. The 400 just has two more cylinders.
Edit: Found it. It's actually in Bill Beyer's gallery:
Bill's gallery
I saw an article (have to see if I can find it) that goes into a lot of detail on how to build up a 400. Don't let anyone tell you they're not great motors, they are. They can be built up for massive performance gains over stock. They got a bad rap because Ford had to kill the performance to meet smog requirements in the early 70s.
But you can get a lot of power out of a 300, too. Just not as much as you can out of a 400. Those extra 100 cubes make a big difference. FWIW, the bore and stroke are the same on the 400 and the 300. The 400 just has two more cylinders.
Edit: Found it. It's actually in Bill Beyer's gallery:
Bill's gallery
Last edited by andym; Mar 30, 2005 at 05:57 PM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,288
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From: redding U.S.A.
Ah but bigger IS better. 
The 460 will cost you about $texas if you just buy the parts.
Best and cheapest way is to get a donor truck. All the parts you need will be on it, except for the ones you break.
Off the top of my head the things you would need are:
motor
radiator
motor mounts
tranny
crossmember
transfer case ?
drive shaft ?
computer/wiring
exhaust
etc.
Not cheap.
The 460 will cost you about $texas if you just buy the parts.
Best and cheapest way is to get a donor truck. All the parts you need will be on it, except for the ones you break.
Off the top of my head the things you would need are:
motor
radiator
motor mounts
tranny
crossmember
transfer case ?
drive shaft ?
computer/wiring
exhaust
etc.
Not cheap.