Hey all, been a while since ive posted any progress on my ol 78' Stepside. Ive built the motor and putting it in ol green tomorrow.
Its a 78' 300 6 banger:
- Bored 0.030" over with speed pro (sealed power) hypereutectic pistons.
- Complete rebuild including cam bearings, crank polished, new rod and main bearings, high volume oil pump (melling)
- Deck zero-decked (0.043") and head shaved 0.010" to make for 9.35:1 compression ratio.
- Crane Cams 260H cam 0.458" lift with crane dual valve springs, three angle valve grind, new vavles guides and seals
- Offy C four barrel intake manifold with a performer 600 thats going to be sitting on top.
- Since im a heavy mechanic at Highland Valley Copper, and damned near every damn piece of machinery is a Caterpillar, I thought i'd give cat a tribute and paint the block/head CAT yellow and the Valve cover/Manifolds CAT flat black.
- Going to be installed tomorrow, il post more pics after its in tomorrow.

 

I figure after seeing some similar builds il see about 225 HP @ 3000 RPM and 300 ft-lbs + @2000 RPM. I also have a powermaster 140-amp alternator, two CAT 1200CCA batteries, an on-board air system with a 12V 3.9 CFM compressor. The truck sits on 35's and has 4.11 gears.

 

looks nice...i bet once you get some black accessories on it, like wires hoses and such, it will break up the yellow a little more and look even better than it does now.

 

Looks great. Can't wait to see the pics after installation.

 

Tha_stepside

The inline six looks great, I really like the 240/ 300s ! Have you thought about headers?
Headers on these motors really wake them up!




Wally Womack

 

Nice to see something different. Post the updates !

 

I learned to drive on a 300-6 (std trans)

That motor will always have sentimental value with me hehe

 

Thats the exact same reason why im keeping this engine, I learned how to drive in this truck and that engine took a savage beating for eight years and it still didnt burn oil or knock or even whimper. I was going to use headers, but i found a set of EFI manifolds for $10 so its more or less cost, maybe one day il get headers, but i would rather spend that money on quality ignition components right now. This girl has cost me over $1800 CND or $2150 USD so far, so the budget is getting little tight. Im gonna install it today, ill post pics of it in the truck tonight

 

Wow what a hefty rebuild bill for such a small motor heh. I have to say though that these engines are known for their tenacity and workhorse ethic. My dad towed all sorts of trailers (flatbed and cattle) with her and she never buckled under the strain. Great motors!

 

I have a similarly built 300 in my truck. They are really a great engine. I would love to rebuild mine, but it doesn't burn oil or anything, and always starts. Kind of hard to argue with that.

Post some pics of your truck when you get a chance.

Edit: you are the guy with the awesome green flareside. Post more pics

 

I like the CAT colors, looks fitting on a great engine!!!!!

 

That is pretty cool.

 

The CAT colors look good on that engine. Those hp and torque figures are similar to 5.0 mustang figures. Should be a sweet motor.

 

I love the 300 I6 in my '69 short box. I have punished it for 15 yrs. I rebuilt it in 2000, it is supposed to be around 300hp and 300ft-lbs. It pulls pretty nice. I have never had an ounce of trouble with it, other than blowing up the D60 rear 2xs.

They are a great engine. A friend of my brother's built a 390 fe for his '76, so he decided to blow up the 300. It took him all day running it in granny gear wound to the nads to get it done. It seized 2xs and then would loosen up when it cooled off and take right off. I was kind of ticked he blew the rod out of the side of the block. But I was impressed with how long it put up a fight.

I am pretty sure you will be impressed with the power improvement over what you had. Investing in ignition is a good idea, the stock stuff wasn't really meant to run to the capabilities of the hot rod engine.

Watch for a water heated carb spacer for it. If you live in a cold area you will appreciate the difference it makes in drivablility. Look for one on evil bay, they are sometimes on there. They came on the Ford fe engines. They did come in 4bbl also.

 

very nice. I just picked up a 300 for $75.00. It looks like the rear main seal is leaking but that is an easy fix. It only has 114,000 miles on it so I am just going to drop in in my truck and fire it up.
It won't be that sexy yellow color though