Hello, so I normally haunt the Pre-power stroke forum, but after a recent camping trip/offroading excursion, I've had to put some serious thought into a second truck.
My uncle owns a 95 I6 F250, and he swears by it, but he babies the thing, and at most tosses a camper on it, and tow's a small trailer w/ 4 person boat, and goes to drive in camp grounds.
Me I'm looking to build a durable offroading truck, as much as I love my idi 7.3, the super cab, and long box is just not feasible for offroading, it does okay, but it's just way to long, and too heavy.
I was hoping a few people who own them could chime in, I'm looking to put like a 4-6" suspension lift on it with 30"+ tires on it, possibly removing the bed and fabricating a roll cage, with space for the spare/fuel tanks, and a much better place to store gear. I just want to know if it'll have enough power, I know the I6 has less than the 5.0L but not by much in the hp/torque department, while still being decent on fuel. I wouldn't use it much for highway driving, more get a trailer and tow it with my ole idi.
I want to know if this is a good idea, or if I should look for another truck with more torque like an early powerstroke? Or just toss on a turbo charger (or is it super charger, my experience with gas engines is the family F150 I drove for like 8 months till I bought my own) I liked the overall smaller size of the vehicle, and the good things I heard about the engines.

Any input would be more than appreciated.

 

The I6 300 is a good engine for trail riding, good low end torque over the 302 expecily with a granny gear manual transmission. On my 84 F250 300/np435 3.55 gears I ran 33" tires with no problems. Heck most people thougt I had a 460 under the hood the way it crawled through mud! The 300 I6 tops out a 3K RPM but kicks but with torque around 1600 to 1800 RPM perfict for trail riding RPM

You didn't say wha tranny(auto or manual) you have. I like a manual over auto while trail riding.

Also just think of the I6 300 like a diesel engine, it performs much like one!

 

I haven't purchased it yet, I just wanted to know if it would perform well before dropping the money, especially if it couldn't handle it, and I had to re-sell it. I would definitely be going manual. My idi is a Auto, and as good as it is, it just doesn't seem to want to be in the gear I want it to be in, especially when I was offroading with it.

I was looking into something similar to this.
1995 ford f150 lifted
Although with a short bed, so I could have a little less space between the front and rear axle.

I've also heard good things about the longevity of these engines, whats the average time one should rebuild it at, I've heard they can last to like 500k if you treat them right.

 

A healthy 300 is a great engine. Great power for a six.

Make sure you stick it with a manual transmission.

These engines live forever.

 

I would get a Big Bronco, short wheelbase, off-road ready and very reliable, there is a whole market devoted at making it even more capable off-road. For the engine, i would search for a 351w in a 94-95 model (aim for a MAF setting instead of SD) with the E4OD (off-roading an auto will give you and edge over a manual, as the manual will distract you from the driving and managing obstacles).

P.S.: Check the Jeff's Bronco Graveyard site to see some of the toys you could get for a Bronco...

 

Well it was always between a I6 F150, and a bronco for me.
The only problem being located in Canada, it's much easier to find F150 parts, than bronco parts, or even finding someone to ship them to me. As most of the local part stores/scrap yards stopped carrying bronco stuff, while the 90's F-series still have a huge presence in the area.
I know most parts would be universal, but knowing my luck I'd bust something that wasn't.

 

I am inclined to agree with Eddiec1564 about it performing like a diesel and for trail riding. I have one in a 4x2, with mud tires (31x10.5x15), 1st is like a granny. We use it mostly for going camping, several times a year. We go offroad, and off the beaten path when we go camping, and we have yet to be stuck in the mud. I just put it in 1st and let it pull itself. This year I got 20mpg hwy and 17mpg city/mountains.

 

I'm not in the US neither, but i have found everything i needed for my truck (other than some spares, it hasn't asked for much else), all the important parts are shared with the F-150, so you won't have any troubles.

 

Thanks for the input Encho, now my only question is, what would be a fair price for a 79 bronco (favorite front end), and what are the problem things to look for?

 

If i were you, i would avoid the older models, the 78-79 Broncos are indeed becoming rare trucks (and you stated that as an issue already). Af for problems, mostly rust, check everywhere, the engine will be a 351M or 400 from the cleveland family, both are on the doggy side (but could be modified into great powerplants), and the hassle of messing with carburetor tunning (EFI is A LOT more reliable and a good thing to have on step inclines when off-roading). The price for a fair one: probably north of $3000 (the same for a 94-95, around 15 years newer).

 

They are almost impossible to blow up. I redlined mine in neutral for a minute straight with no coolant. It didn't over heat or even stutter.

 

Why?

 

It comes from the same hind-brain area as " Hey, watch this..."

 

The best offroad vehicle I ever had was a 4cyl Ranger, after driving that even a regular cab F150 was too big and heavy. The Ranger always surprised me where it could go even with open diffs and an 80hp Briggs & Stratten(it was an '83), I lusted after locking diffs and more power but just didn't have any money for it at the time. IMO the ultimate offroad truck would be a lifted Ranger with lockers and a turbo 4cyl.

 

The bigger WHY is that this is a 6 year old thread!!!
Why bump it just for that IDIOCY?!?!