The 300 is a tractor engine. It's not made to go fast. It will pull anything you want it to. It just won't win you any races.

If you want to go fast, replace it with a 351. Then race your brother's 350.

The 300 is realiable, tough and a worker. It's not a racer.

 

Performance isn't always measured in a straight line on a level road. I've had two F150 4x2 EFI 300s 5 speeds and they are perfect for my type of driving. My type of driving is commuting in Boston with weekend blasts up to Maine on the back roads with some dirt roads going into the campground. My gas mileage hovers between 17 and 19 mpg. My son has a 05 Dodge 4x4 Hemi and my wife has an LT1 in her Caprice wagon and the 95 300 could never keep up with either one in a straight line. The stupid wagon even gets better gas mileage. However when it comes to climbing hills the 300 shines. It is definately better than the 302 or 305 and even most 350s. The wife and son can keep up but the their auto trannies are downshifting. At 2000 RPM I get my best torque and the engine doesn't sound like its going to start throwing parts through the hood or oil pan. I recently had to haul a friends tent trailer and he was mighty impressed that the 300 could climb hills at such a low Rpm in 4th when his GM 5.3 would be in 3rd. At 215k my engine doesn't leak or burn oil and it will soon pass my 86 burb as longest running vehicle when it passes 250k. The 300 has aged well and its one of the easiest engines to work one.
Yes I have to admit once in a while I like to take the wifes wagon out just for the acceleration and the sound but I always prefer to take the truck.
regards
rikard

 

Very good post, Rikard.

The 300 is best at getting dirty.

 

As you can see in my Avatar, I have a 92 Bronco with the EFI300 in front of a M5OD transmission with 3.08 gears. It's a new engine with only 82K on the truck. I also have an 08 Ram MegaCab with the 5.7L Hemi behind a 5spd Auto with 4.10 gears. I love them both but I never get in the Bronco with the expectation of getting there fast. It's a go anywhere, do anything vehicle. When my FIL ordered it back in '92, that's exactly what he wanted. When I want to go fast in a big vehicle, that's what my Ram is for.

I do wish I could get more power out of my 300 but it's more for the reason of getting it to do the most with the least effort. Most people seem to get pretty decent mileage from theirs but I'm locked in at around 13mpg which for some reason just doesn't seem right. Even still it's my economy driver. My Ram, I'm lucky to keep it at around 10mpg.

I love them both, they're like my children. I can't say which one I love most.

 

With 3.08's your Bronk should get better mileage than 13 to the gallon. It should get closer to 16. Are you sure you have 3.08's?

 

Agreed. If you're getting 13, especially with the M5OD and less than 100k on the motor, I wouldn't just shrug it off. That's a big sign something's up. You have the setup for 20mpg right there, and should be getting it.
Is that 13 only short trips around town on a cold engine? Or is that highway?

 

It's typically running 10 mile trips to and from work at highway speeds. no heavy throttle and some in town stop and go. I know I have 3.08's in it. I've looked at the VIN codes and everything matches up. I don't recall right now but I think there may have even been a tab on the rear differential. After I got it from my FIL, I crawled under her and looked at everything I could to get to know it better after making the mistake of saying I was getting a Bronco with a V6..... I caught all sorts of grief from people telling me how stupid I was and didn't know anything about Broncos(which I didn't at the time.) and when my FIL told me it was a 6cylinder, I just assumed it was a V6.

So, anyway, I've been looking around at certain things and wondering what might need replacing. I fixed the only vacuum leak I could find and looked at all the hoses and they are in good condition and still pliable. Amazing the only one that wasn't was the A/C control line and it had rotted into powder. All the other lines are like new still. Other than a different paint color due to a accident a few years ago, it's a factory original vehicle. 3.08 R&P's, M5OD, 300EFI, 235/15 tires. Honestly the only thing that's changed on that vehicle other than the color was the rubber on the wheels.

My FIL claimed to be getting around 20mpg when I got it from him but I've never been able to get that close with it yet.

 

Also, question about the O2 sensor. Do I have a before and after sensor or is there only 1 on the 300's? I know some setups have a sensor before and after the converter. Haven't really inspected my exhaust that thoroughly to know for certain.