300-6 ratings
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 714
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
300-6 ratings
I am reading the June 2001 issue of Off-Road Magazine,(I have a really fast mail carrier) where there is an article about the 4x4 trucks of the 1960's & 1970's. It says that in 1965,the first year the 300-6 was introduced, it had 170 HP @ 3,600 RPM and 283 ft-lb of torque @ 2,200 RPM. Were these figures typo's? If not, why does my 1985 300-6 only have 120 hp? A 240ci I-6 in 1965 had over 150hp! What can I do to my motor to make it identical to the 1965 motor? Right now, my truck doesn't have enough power to get out of its own way.
Thanks for your help,
Jon
Thanks for your help,
Jon
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,903
Likes: 2
From: Copley, OH
300-6 ratings
The older ratings were SAE gross HP bare engine with no alternator, waterpump or other loads, newer numbers are SAE net HP. Also smog controls robbed a bit of HP in the 70s and 80s.
Getting more power is a matter of your legal environment regarding smog testing. Headers, a free flow exhaust, a camshaft, a Clifford intake and small 4V carb will work wonders if you can do it where you live.
Don't overlook gears. I just swapped the factory 3.08s for 3.73s. The performance difference is night and day.
Getting more power is a matter of your legal environment regarding smog testing. Headers, a free flow exhaust, a camshaft, a Clifford intake and small 4V carb will work wonders if you can do it where you live.
Don't overlook gears. I just swapped the factory 3.08s for 3.73s. The performance difference is night and day.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,860
Likes: 4
From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
300-6 ratings
I bet the 90s EFI 300 sixes have about the same hp and torque as the 60s 300 six, but under the current rating system they get rated 150 hp and 260 torque--they actually may have more power than the late 60s because of EFI and the long intake runners and the dual exhaust manifolds.
