Kean

I need help understanding what makes a 4.9 stand out from the other v8s. Every forum I read, everyone recommends the 4.9 for towing power over the 5.0. I'm just wondering why. And how does it compare the 5.8 in relience, economy, and power?

77Ranger460

Are you talking about the 300 six?

Kean

Yes. The inline 6. Or is it an inline?

77Ranger460

It's an inline. People love them because they are durable, make a lot of torque on the bottom end, and have a very long life. UPS trucks had the 300 six for years. IMO, it is the best engine Ford ever made.

My family bought a 1985 F150 with a
300 brand new to use as a farm truck. We abused it from almost day one. We can only remember about 6 oil changes in over 25 years of using it. No one recalls ever putting plugs or an air filter in it. The truck was nearly demolished when we sold it, but it was still running like the top.

David Young

Search the internet. Read about the history of the 4.9L and you'll learn why its a special motor

BLDTruth

The 4.9 is a very reliable motor - maybe the best Ford ever made. Fuel "efficient" and bullet proof.

But I laugh a little inside when people say you should get it for towing over a 302. Sure the I6 produces more torque at lower rpms, but that is a very very narrow range where it outperforms the 302. The 302 is a more powerful motor overall. And when you need to get that trailer up a hill, you will be happy you have the 302.

I wouldn't even consider a 300 for towing unless it was a manual transmission with at least 3:55 gears. Then I could see a solid argument for the 300 as a towing rig. But I would still rather have a 302 with the same configuration. Put 4.10 gears on a 302 and you have a legit towing rig

A 351 will blow both of them out of the water towing wise, and will get slightly worse mileage than the 351. The 300 will definitely win all fuel efficiency battles.

hertfordnc

Among the things that make the 300-6 /4.9 stand out among engines;

It has a gear driven cam- no timing chain/ No timing belt. - pretty bullet proof

I'm not an expert, this is just stuff I've read since acquiring my 91 F150 a couple years ago.

At about 160 hp it has a cubic inches to horsepower ratio of almost 2:1

With 50 CID per cylinder the moving parts are all beefier compared to the 302

Those two things really contribute to longevity. These engines routinely go 300,000 but much higher miles have been achieved.

As for towing and hauling, my truck has 3.08 gears so it takes off like a dog. But it takes off exactly the same way with the bed overloaded with firewood and the springs flatend out. It really just doesn't care.

Towing is really hard on an engine. So while I agree that towing with a V8 might be more pleasant if you were going to do a lot of miles under a heavy load you might want trade performance for durability.

They put this engine F350s and dump trucks.

Kean

Now did they use the 5.0 for larger commercial trucks and one ton trucks?

hertfordnc

I think ford has put it in F250' and maybe F350 but noting like the broad industrial application of the 4.9. Everything from school buses to wood chippers. Conditions where you need an engine to just make RPS indefinitely.

BLDTruth

They put the 302 in the F250 but not the F350.

The 300 with a small block wide ratio ZF5 transmission handled towing duties quite well because of the really short 1st gear.