Blind but not blurred! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

#1 01-17-2006, 09:50 PM

Recently I joined a Ford F150 forum since I bought a 93 F150 some three weeks ago. It features a fuel injected 4.9 litre, 300 cu. in. inline six cylinder, some 1.9 litres bigger than my OM603, but a gasser!

By comparisons, the 603 is much much faster, but the Ford has low end torque, way low! At 1600 rpm, it builds most all of it's power (seems like it's lugging all the time) but I love it and have spent much time over on the F150 forum http://www.f150online.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=24

The 87 300D is put to bed for the long cold winter and look forward to driving it again soon.........BB

boneheaddoctor · #2 01-17-2006, 09:53 PM

yeap...is not all displacement...its more the Bore / Stroke ratio.....long stroke but small bore makes for a stump puller.....at the tradeoff of lower redline.

#3 01-17-2006, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boneheaddoctor

yeap...is not all displacement...its more the Bore / Stroke ratio.....long stroke but small bore makes for a stump puller.....at the tradeoff of lower redline.

Haven't tried pulling any stump yet but I got a couple of trees I've got to saw up and get out of the yard....the reason I bought it, but later, because I really like the ride of this truck, I've made it my daily driver and parked the benz......for a while anyway!

boneheaddoctor · #4 01-17-2006, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BusyBenz

Haven't tried pulling any stump yet but I got a couple of trees I've got to saw up and get out of the yard....the reason I bought it, but later, because I really like the ride of this truck, I've made it my daily driver and parked the benz......for a while anyway!

most of those inline american six cylinder engines are undersquare...or have a longer stroke than bore.....great for lowe end power vs oversquare engines large bore short stroke that makes up for lack of torque via higher RPM operation...

#5 01-17-2006, 10:13 PM

Truck daily driver???

Are you hauling stuff?

The high output 4.0L in jeeps is also a low end performer...high range 1st gear you can tractor over everything...not to mention you have a whole nother 5 gears below that in low range

redassag00 · #6 01-17-2006, 10:14 PM

Welcome to the Inline 6 CLub!

I love every mile of my truck. I got it in high school brand new and It has never left my side. After 220K of service, I replaced the cylinder head (hairline cracks at exhaust valves #5 and #6).

Original Transmission and Nothing done to the engine other than maintenance. The 300 I6 is a GREAT truck motor. A shame Ford decided to not make it anymore.

Hatterasguy · #7 01-17-2006, 11:45 PM

My dad has a 94 with an I6. It is a fine combo for around town use. However for 80mph highway work while towing the V8 is better. When we go fishing his friends trucks with V8's or Diesels pull right along at 80, but you are really starting to push the I6 over 70.

Lots of low end power though its a good truck, my grandfather bought it new in 1994 and it is loaded XLT Forest green with a tan interior. My dad got it in 1996 with only 6k miles on it!

Now it is just about to roll over 100k and is still in fine shape. In a few years when he gets a new F150 I'd like to grab it for a work truck. It is such a darn good truck.

#8 01-17-2006, 11:50 PM

Savvy Ford truck buyers would pick the I-6 over the 302 V8 due to the fatter low end torque curve for the 6. Ford really wet the bed with the 4.2 V6 introduced in the 1997 F-150. More compact (improving head-on crashability), but everything else was a retrograde step.

redassag00 · #9 01-17-2006, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

My dad has a 94 with an I6. It is a fine combo for around town use. However for 80mph highway work while towing the V8 is better. When we go fishing his friends trucks with V8's or Diesels pull right along at 80, but you are really starting to push the I6 over 70.

Lots of low end power though its a good truck, my grandfather bought it new in 1994 and it is loaded XLT Forest green with a tan interior. My dad got it in 1996 with only 6k miles on it!

Now it is just about to roll over 100k and is still in fine shape. In a few years when he gets a new F150 I'd like to grab it for a work truck. It is such a darn good truck.

You know thats odd, because the 4.9L Inline 6 has 265 ft-lbs of torque, vs the 5.0Ls 270 ft-lbs, and the Inline 6 has a better torque curve. I pull stuff with mine all the time. I did switch the 3.08 gears out for some 3.55s and its better for around town driveability and towing. Mine runs 80+ all day long, no problems. But consider back in 94 when DIesel Trucks weren't the mainstream. THe inline 6 was a work horse, and wasnt built for speed. Read up on F150online.com the pre 97 forum, everyone prefers the 4.9L over the 302 and 351 motors.

In 1994, Ford had 3 diesel truck options, a Naturally Aspirated 7.3L, a IDI Turbo Diesel, and the Powerstroke, available as a 94 1/2, and in standard only. You could still get a 4.9L in certain 1 ton options, with a 3 speed automatic. Other choices were the 351 V8, and the 460.

Hatterasguy · #10 01-17-2006, 11:59 PM

Actually I was comparing it to an 04 F150 with the big V8 and a late model Silverado with the big V8. The late model F150 freaken hauls, it has the big V8 I don't know what model 5.9L maybe?

The I6 really is being pushed over 70 if you are towing a heavy boat with lots of drag. If you set the cruise at 65 it is fine and will go up and down hills all day. But my dads friends drive with a lead foot and get to the lake or camp ground faster.

The solution is when we don't need the boat I drive, so therefor since my foot is lead and I have a W126 we get to the stream first!

redassag00 · #11 01-18-2006, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Actually I was comparing it to an 04 F150 with the big V8 and a late model Silverado with the big V8. The late model F150 freaken hauls, it has the big V8 I don't know what model 5.9L maybe?

The I6 really is being pushed over 70 if you are towing a heavy boat with lots of drag. If you set the cruise at 65 it is fine and will go up and down hills all day. But my dads friends drive with a lead foot and get to the lake or camp ground faster.

The solution is when we don't need the boat I drive, so therefor since my foot is lead and I have a W126 we get to the stream first!

HEY! Thats not a fair comparison!

I know, the 04 F150's 'large' V8 is the 3V 5.4L, which is good for 300HP, but with all modular Ford V8s, the low end is gutless compared to the Pushrod V8s of Yore. Thats the biggest gripe about my Marauder,but above 3500, she sings. The 'big' silverado V8 is a 5.3L, certain 1500's have the 6.0L. Base model to base model, the 4.2L Split Port V6 has more HP than the Inline 6, but doesnt feel near as torquey.

It feels funny going from the W123 to the Marauder, 120 HP to 300+ HP, usually when I go back to the mercedes, i have to drive the truck or explorer first to 'transition' back to the 120 HP!

Ara T. · #12 01-18-2006, 02:28 AM

How does it idle? My friend has a 99 Ranger or so and it has a 3.2 or 3.0 liter V6, i cant remember ( i know, not the same truck or engine but maybe some similarities), it runs fine but has kind of a lopey idle, and has some noticeable roughness to it... when he took it in to a mechanic for a tune up he said it was normal for that engine. The tune up was done and he said it has more power but it still has that weird idle roughness.

Hit Man X · #13 01-18-2006, 03:28 AM

The 4.9 is a great tow motor, 4x3.98" I recall. 50" per cylinder! Some of the older ones used in DUMP TRUCKS even came with a forged crank. Stock head is what kills the power, TONS of casting flash left in the valve throats, turn into the valve, and the sheer size of the exhaust port. Pretty much like all production Ford heads. You'd see a large gain in power and economy with a properly ported one.

Anyway, my chum has a mild cam in his and made a BIG difference. He's still on stock manifolds as they flow well, similar to the Gen III motor in my Z. Basically a cast iron shorty. A full length from Hedmen or Hooker will help a ton!

My F150 has that weenie 302 in it. Converted to a stock roller HO cam (makes power to about 5500rpm now versus dead at 4500rpm), Hooker LTs, MAF kit with 75mm MAF, tons of other assorted bolt ons... pulleys, e-fans, 130A alt, FP reg, real gauges, Eaton LSD + 4.10:1 gears, etc.

Still wears junk E7 heads as I'm lookin' for the right deal on some 170cc Canfields. I have a BBK Twin 61mm TB in a box I scored from ebay and just the upper intake from Edelbrock for the trucks.

Too many projects, not enough time!

redassag00 · #14 01-18-2006, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ara T.

How does it idle? My friend has a 99 Ranger or so and it has a 3.2 or 3.0 liter V6, i cant remember ( i know, not the same truck or engine but maybe some similarities), it runs fine but has kind of a lopey idle, and has some noticeable roughness to it... when he took it in to a mechanic for a tune up he said it was normal for that engine. The tune up was done and he said it has more power but it still has that weird idle roughness.

Yup, the Vulcan 3.0L V6, been around for around for a while, the vibration is normal. All Taurii do it, as well as the 3.0L V6 in the Ranger. Kinda dissapointing.

lietuviai · #15 01-18-2006, 11:11 AM

I had an '85 F150 with the I6 and 4 speed OD. It was not fuel injected, yet I still got near 20 MPG's. My dad bought it new for me to use. It was dependable but had a weak clutch. I went through 2 of them before I found out I could upgrade it to a larger diameter clutch. The flywheel already had the bolt holes threaded for the larger clutch. The clutch was easy to change. I didn't even have to jack up the truck even though it was a 4X2. The weak clutch problem was solved after upgrading until the clutch master and slave wore out. It was all plastic and had to be replaced as a unit. It was a cheap POS set up. Also the exhaust manifold bolts had a tendency to loosen regularly. My dad took it back after a couple of years and the truck had over 100K by then. He abused the crap out of the truck without any real maintenance, but it kept going. I think it had over 250K when he gave it to one of his helpers. Not a bad truck I guess considering it only cost $6995 new.