Yup.
To check out what a 6 cylinder can do
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...=73360&width=2

1163hp...

I also know some people with a Nissan Skyline drag car... 8 second 1/4 miles on a 3.0l engine without giggle gas...

 

Those engines were developed for passenger cars and modified or even used as is in light trucks, which meant huge production volume and very low costs. The 250 in my C-10 was identical to the one in a Chevelle, for example

As cars went primarily FWD with low hoodlines, the I-6 wouldnt fit, hence the tremendous volume of V-6 production today. In order to keep production costs down, the Ford, Dodge and GM truck V-6's are based on, and share production lines, with the last generation V-8's. Now those V-6's are "orphaned" because they were based on the 302, 318, 350. A new generation of truck sixes will be developed. GM already has new 4,5, and 6 inlines sharing the same line and many parts.

Jim

 

As indicated by Bigf350, Ford is making an inline 6 for cars in Australia. I wonder how far off they are for pickups there.

I'd still prefer the simplicity of my old carbureted 300 even if there were a new inline. No computers, no Emission controls, no sensors.

 

Ford owns Volvo now. Volvo stuck with rear wheel drive in its larger cars and has a wonderful, silky, powerful and reliable straight six. Two hundred horses without turbo. Very reliable. Emission control issues already worked out.

I'm not personally a Volvo fan, but my wife is. She is on her second inline 6. Drove the first one 10 years, '93 to '03 and then replaced it with a new one. Neither car ever went into the shop for anything except routine scheduled maintenance.

I don't have a clue as to whether it is suitable or modifiable for light truck use, but Volvo trucks aren't slouches (Ford did not buy that part of the company, though).

 

We still have my father in law's 70s Chevy truck with a 235 engine. Manual 4spd. Been sitting in the back yard since his death in 1999 at 86. He cracked the head a couple of years prior after forgetting to check the radiator water level during a summer. Our son was learning his "mechanicing ropes" under "Grandpa" until he became too ill to work on it anymore (type 2 diabetes/chronic bronchitis). Gave it to our son before he died with the understanding his grandson would eventually get it running again.

Well, my son is in a position to do just that now.

 

Gave it to our son before he died with the understanding his grandson would eventually get it running again.

That is very cool, good luck!

 

Ok I heard this on another site where the 292 and 300 got compared. They said that the 292 doesn't have the performance potential that a 300 does because it isn't a 12 port like the 300 is. Any truth to that?

 

If you want to see what old sixes are capable of check out this web site:

http://cliffordperformance.net/

I have Clifford intake manifold, long tube headers, Weber Carbs, valve cover with internal baffles (reduces valve train friction) and other goodies from them on my 258 Jeep engine. If I was modding a Ford I6-300, I'd look here. These guys know what they are doing.

 

Thanks. My build dynoed at 300hp 400 torque. I looked into clifford, and decided against them. Over on fordsix.com they say there is quality issues and that they are over priced. So I went with an Offenhauser C series intake, 500CFM Edelbrock 4V carb, a Hedman header, Ross Forged pistons 9.5:1 CR, MSD ignition 6a box, MSD blaster II coil, Ford Racing 9mm plug wires, Comp 268 cam.


I heard the bit about the Chev and I think the AMC not being a 12 port like a 300 or a 225 was a bit of a slow up. I don't know though.

 

I have to agree with what everyone is saying about the 6's. Regardless of the make. An inline 6 is more dependable and inch for inch more torquey than a v8. We have owned a plymouth valiant with a slant 6 and a Ford 300 6, both were the most reliable motors we have ever owned. Always started, always ran. I have seen the 250 chevy and the 300 ford break motor and transmission mounts because of the tremendous low end torque. Never done what with a V8 but I have with 6's! I have seen 6's out pull V8's numerous times and I have raced a 300 6 with a 350 chevy and I got smoked! I now own the 300 6 that beat my 350 chevy!

 

That's why I ripped out my Big block v8 to put in the 300. Funny thing is my friend got a really nice truck a couple days ago with a freshly rebuilt 460 in it.
He called me up the next day to ask if I thought he would have enough after he sold the 460 and c6 to buy a 300/trans and rebuild it and install it.


It's a 77 F150 that had the 300 until last fall when the kid decided to take that "little POS 6 cyl out an put a real engine in. The 460." But he sold it because he couldn't afford to drive it... burns too much gas. LOL.


Well it won't have been in that truck for a full year before that thing gets ripped out, sold or dumped in the river and a newly rebuilt 300 goes back in. I love doing that!

 

I started thinking and am ready to dump a almost dead diesel and swap in a '69 300, that'll make a world of difference for the old hay hauler. Especially in the reliability area.

 

I love the inline six but I'm not so sure I would deep six a good big block to put a 300 in it's place. A 460 produces a lot more torque, even at low rpms. Plus, you can't beat the thunder of a big-block Ford!

 

The 300 vs 302 is a good comparison here. The V-8 actually produces slightly more torque, but it is at a higher rpm, so the 6 feels like more. Fewer, larger cylinders seem to favor low-end torque, probably due to speed of burn vs cylinder volume issues. Airplane engines have huge cylinders and redline at under 3000rpm. I still cant see any reason for a truck V-10.

Dependablilty may more from the fact that a typical buyer of the 6 is less likely to modify and/or abuse it compared to a greater number of V-8 buyers, just a theory. It may be true, however, due to the fewer number of parts, and lower stresses due to low-rpm operation. The long stroke makes for a higher piston speed at the same rpm, so ring and cylinder wear would not be better with the 6.

Jim

 

Actually the way he wants to build it (like mine) it will have more than a stock 460. My buddy drove it here from Salem, and burned over 3 gallons of Gas (that's 20 miles). Neither he nor myself are interested in mileage that low. Neither one of us really enjoys the v8 sound. I was quite happy to not have it. My 300 sounds like a Straight piped Cummins.
Remember... I already deep sixed my FE bigblock and it ran like new.