Daily Slideshow: Some of the Best Ford Truck Engines Ever Created

Pushrod Truck 302

The Truck Division instigated a pushrod-operated four-valve-per-cylinder, cylinder head conversion in the early 1990s as a means of modernizing/improving and furthering the service life of the Windsor engine. This task was done for Ford by none other than Roush Industries and two 302ci/5.0L and one 351ci/5.8 L variants were built and tested. These engines were highly successful, but the execs refused to allow engines so equipped to go into production, stating that to use a cast iron block in a new car (though the 302 remained an engine option in Explorers through MY2001) was no longer acceptable. 

Pour out a little of your drink for this engine that just didn't make it. Now, sit back and enjoy as we go through some of the best engines that have had the honor of powering Blue Oval trucks. 

7.3 liter Powerstroke Diesel

The mighty 7.3 liter Powerstroke V8 Diesel is not just one of the best engines Ford ever fitted in a truck, it's one of the most popular engines ever fitted in a truck of any kind. Ford sold over 2 million Super Duty's fitted with the 7.3, and the engine is well known for its reliability and performance. Sadly, the big Powerstroke was replaced in 2003 thanks to a demand for improvements in fuel economy and the need for lower emissions. 

>>Join the conversation about these awesome Ford truck pickup engines right here in Ford-trucks.com.

300ci I6

Ford's 300ci inline-six cylinder was introduced way back in 1965, and it saw use in the F-Series for over 30 years. And the mighty I-6 didn't become one of the longest running Ford truck engines without merit, of course. It delivered loads of torque in a supremely reliable and economical package, even seeing use in some heavy duty trucks. The 300 even saw use in generators, wood chippers, and dump trucks. Not to mention UPS delivery trucks, some of which still employ the mighty six.  

>>Join the conversation about these awesome Ford truck pickup engines right here in Ford-trucks.com.

390 FE V8

The 390 is legendary for its bulletproof bottom end and excellent torque. The FE engine landed in the F-Series beginning in 1967 and lasted into the 70's, proving to be a popular choice among truck buyers. The 390 produced decent power in stock form but can be built to suit just about any application you can think of, from dump truck to race truck. 

>>Join the conversation about these awesome Ford truck pickup engines right here in Ford-trucks.com.

351 Windsor

The 5.8 liter, 351ci Windsor V8 debuted in 1969 under the hood of the Mustang Mach 1, acting as a bridge between the 302 and 390. It didn't land in a truck until 1981 making it the most powerful engine you could get in an F-Series aside from the 460. The 390 was introduced in 1968 under the hood of the F-100 and larger F-350 in 2WD only. The 460 was introduced back in 1973 in the F-100 and F-350 but only lasted until 1982. The Windsor proved to be a popular engine choice, even getting the nod in Ford's high-performance Lightning. It remains a commonly used engine today, with numerous crate versions available in the aftermarket.

>>Join the conversation about these awesome Ford truck pickup engines right here in Ford-trucks.com.

460 V8

The legendary 460, one of Ford's 385 engine family, was the Blue Oval's final big block engine design. The 460 became available in the F-Series back in 1974 and was offered until 1996/7. The big motor remains popular today thanks to it's towing capability and reliability. It's also a great building block for making serious power, as even minor modifications can result in significant increases in horsepower and torque.

>>Join the conversation about these awesome Ford truck pickup engines right here in Ford-trucks.com.

5.4 liter Supercharged V8

Not everyone was thrilled with Ford's switch to modular V8's, but it's hard to find fault with the 1999-2003 Lightning's supercharged 5.4 liter V8. Peaking out at 380 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque, the blown small block is and was an excellent platform for building a seriously fast truck. With just a few enhancements, the 5.4 is capable of laying down serious power.

>>Join the conversation about these awesome Ford truck pickup engines right here in Ford-trucks.com.

6.7 Liter Powerstroke Diesel

Following a series of issues with outsourced diesel engines, Ford went in-house with the 6.7-liter Powerstroke V8. The clean sheet design was both quiet and powerful, with a number of unique design features. A twin-scroll turbo compressor and reverse flow heads helped the 6.7 achieve as much as 440 hp and 925 lb-ft of torque. In service since 2011, the latest iteration of Ford's Powerstroke is proving to be quite reliable as well.

>>Join the conversation about these awesome Ford truck pickup engines right here in Ford-trucks.com.

For help with your maintenance and repair projects, please visit our how-to section in the forum.