In line 6 improvements
Senior Member
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 4,761
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Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,005
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From: Fairfax, VA
A lower set of gears will give you quicker get up and go, but the 300's torque should be good already. I had a friend with an 81 F-150 300CID 4spd on 44's and he used to compete at mudbogs against the big block boys and beat most of them distance wise. Done a compression check yet? Tune-up? Oxygen sensor? Seafoam treatment?
SL
SL
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi samoov,
The "Big 6" as we call the 4.9 L 300 cu. in. inline 6, was very popular for many years (up thru the 1996 model year in the F-150) with those who loved it for towing, thanks to it's good torque output down low. That engine has good potential for better performance.
The single best bang-for-the-buck is always a good performance tune, as nothing for less cost will improve performance as much. It's pretty easy to get another 15-20 HP & well over 30 lbs./ft. of torque from a healthy Big 6 just from our tuning alone, for example - and depending on what model year, the tuning will also clean up automatic transmission shifting, too - and of course, there's always the top speed limiter, part-throttle power & driveability, etc that will be improved by our tuning.
There are plenty of things that can be done to help the horsepower & torque output of that engine, ranging from intake kits to cat-back exhaust systems to headers, intake manifolds, camshafts, electric fans kits, etc., etc.
We suggest focusing on doing your modifications in the order of best bang for the buck, as that's the way to get the most performance for the least cost - so start with a good custom tune.
Please feel free to give us a call at our number listed below & we can go over all of this with you - we've helped many fellow Ford "Big 6" owners get more performance from those engines, and it's nice to see someone else keeping their Big 6 running!
You know, those engines can go an easy 200K+ miles with little more than just changing the oil frequently - at least every 3000 miles. Frequent oil changes are a real must in that engine especially, as those motors tend to accumulate deposits & sludge and get into the oil pump's pickup tube screen, clogging oil galleries in the engine block, etc. So make sure to change the oil frequently - but then you probably already know all that - FYI just in case.
Good luck with your truck, & hope to hear from you!
The "Big 6" as we call the 4.9 L 300 cu. in. inline 6, was very popular for many years (up thru the 1996 model year in the F-150) with those who loved it for towing, thanks to it's good torque output down low. That engine has good potential for better performance.
The single best bang-for-the-buck is always a good performance tune, as nothing for less cost will improve performance as much. It's pretty easy to get another 15-20 HP & well over 30 lbs./ft. of torque from a healthy Big 6 just from our tuning alone, for example - and depending on what model year, the tuning will also clean up automatic transmission shifting, too - and of course, there's always the top speed limiter, part-throttle power & driveability, etc that will be improved by our tuning.
There are plenty of things that can be done to help the horsepower & torque output of that engine, ranging from intake kits to cat-back exhaust systems to headers, intake manifolds, camshafts, electric fans kits, etc., etc.
We suggest focusing on doing your modifications in the order of best bang for the buck, as that's the way to get the most performance for the least cost - so start with a good custom tune.
Please feel free to give us a call at our number listed below & we can go over all of this with you - we've helped many fellow Ford "Big 6" owners get more performance from those engines, and it's nice to see someone else keeping their Big 6 running!
You know, those engines can go an easy 200K+ miles with little more than just changing the oil frequently - at least every 3000 miles. Frequent oil changes are a real must in that engine especially, as those motors tend to accumulate deposits & sludge and get into the oil pump's pickup tube screen, clogging oil galleries in the engine block, etc. So make sure to change the oil frequently - but then you probably already know all that - FYI just in case.
Good luck with your truck, & hope to hear from you!