Performance Upgrade Advice
10-02-2016, 10:20 AM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Performance Upgrade Advice
Greetings all,
I'm in no way, shape, or form a mechanic. I really love anything with an engine and have been tinkering and teaching myself on my old '89 F-150. I currently am in the planning process of taking apart my 300 4.9L L6 and rebuilding for performance. I've been looking at rebuild kits on Clifford Performance and I live just a few miles away from a Summit Racing and I found a few things that I think will give my engine a good boost. However, I've heard difference numbers like alloy pistons at .030 or .060 and the like. I've heard about re-boring the engine, et cetera. What does all this mean? I'm sure these are incredibly ignorant questions, but I suppose you have to start learning somewhere. My main question is, what do I do to my L6 to get as much performance out of it as possible? I have a $1,500 budget for the engine alone at the moment. I want to keep the L6, I'm not interested in swapping it out because I've heard nothing but good things about the Ford 300.
As for miscellaneous info, it's fuel injected, 5-speed with an M5OD transmission, and I believe a Borg-Warner T18. I'm also looking in swapping out the M5OD with a ZF S5-42/47.
Cheers!
I'm in no way, shape, or form a mechanic. I really love anything with an engine and have been tinkering and teaching myself on my old '89 F-150. I currently am in the planning process of taking apart my 300 4.9L L6 and rebuilding for performance. I've been looking at rebuild kits on Clifford Performance and I live just a few miles away from a Summit Racing and I found a few things that I think will give my engine a good boost. However, I've heard difference numbers like alloy pistons at .030 or .060 and the like. I've heard about re-boring the engine, et cetera. What does all this mean? I'm sure these are incredibly ignorant questions, but I suppose you have to start learning somewhere. My main question is, what do I do to my L6 to get as much performance out of it as possible? I have a $1,500 budget for the engine alone at the moment. I want to keep the L6, I'm not interested in swapping it out because I've heard nothing but good things about the Ford 300.
As for miscellaneous info, it's fuel injected, 5-speed with an M5OD transmission, and I believe a Borg-Warner T18. I'm also looking in swapping out the M5OD with a ZF S5-42/47.
Cheers!
10-06-2016, 07:02 AM
#3
Senior Member
The "I 6 300 is about as bullet proof as it gets but a hot rod it aint. It's a truck engine.
IMO if you rebuild it leave it stock bore it if needed turn crank if needed replace cam and lifters rebuild head, use quality parts and gaskets and it will outlast the truck. You can opt to go the hot rod route but why? reliability. and drive ability will suffer and not a lot of bang for the buck. Most of the assemble you can do yourself machine work and head you need to sub out as it requires special tools and knowledge. Oh and your budget is spot on to do it right.
IMO if you rebuild it leave it stock bore it if needed turn crank if needed replace cam and lifters rebuild head, use quality parts and gaskets and it will outlast the truck. You can opt to go the hot rod route but why? reliability. and drive ability will suffer and not a lot of bang for the buck. Most of the assemble you can do yourself machine work and head you need to sub out as it requires special tools and knowledge. Oh and your budget is spot on to do it right.
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HemingwaysPen (10-12-2016)
09-15-2017, 07:14 PM
#4
New to the F150 world
The 300's strong suit is TORQUE- Its a long stroke (3.98")* engine that doesn't like to rev, but its very tough and reliable. Make your mods to enhance what its already well-suited for: Under 5,000rpm operation.
*Compare to the 428, (3.98") 460, (3.85")and Chevy 454 (4.00")- That's why some folks refer to the 300 as a "big block" 6 cyl.
*Compare to the 428, (3.98") 460, (3.85")and Chevy 454 (4.00")- That's why some folks refer to the 300 as a "big block" 6 cyl.
Last edited by MidSouthMitch; 09-15-2017 at 07:24 PM.