When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
My name is Joe, and I have an 87 f150, 300/4 spd. It’s a pretty good old truck, and it main purpose is to haul a 300 gallon water tank for my wife’s garden in the summertime.
My son has recently purchased a 83 Chevy 1/2 ton, and as soon as he gets it road worthy, we are going on a road trip with both trucks. His Chevy, 305” AT, will destroy my Ford in any kind of race, but I think my truck will win the mileage comparison. Both trucks are bone stock, no mods at all. Any thoughts on this??
My thoughts would be to treat both trucks with the respect they deserve for reaching such a ripe old age still in their unmolested stock conditions - that racin', bumper-to-bumper tow strap pull-offs, etc. stuff - eh, no!
The 300 (4.9L for the young'uns) is known for its good low-end torque and long-life - 300K miles isn't all that unusual if maintained.
The 305 (5.0L) is basically a de-bored 350 (5.7L), although there are some other tweaks involved between the two, but it too comes from a fine lineage.
Both should get decent mileage for their vintage, would hope the 4.9L comes out a little ahead, guessing its fuel injection would provide an edge over the presumed carb on the bow-tie - not sure when their throttle body injection (TBI) first showed up.
Consider yourselves to have two fine older trucks that should last a lot longer if treated right.
My thoughts would be to treat both trucks with the respect they deserve for reaching such a ripe old age still in their unmolested stock conditions - that racin', bumper-to-bumper tow strap pull-offs, etc. stuff - eh, no!
The 300 (4.9L for the young'uns) is known for its good low-end torque and long-life - 300K miles isn't all that unusual if maintained.
The 305 (5.0L) is basically a de-bored 350 (5.7L), although there are some other tweaks involved between the two, but it too comes from a fine lineage.
Both should get decent mileage for their vintage, would hope the 4.9L comes out a little ahead, guessing its fuel injection would provide an edge over the presumed carb on the bow-tie - not sure when their throttle body injection (TBI) first showed up.
Consider yourselves to have two fine older trucks that should last a lot longer if treated right.
Yep, I second all the comments above! Only thing though, pretty sure the 300 didn't get fuel injection until much later than '87. Mine's a '95 with fuel injection, and I've gotten as high as 20 mpg on the highway, but combined mostly in the 17 - 18 mpg range.
My 87 has EFI, and Chris’ truck has a Q-jet. A hillbilly-style pulloff won’t work for my Ford, it has what is basically a 3spd with OD. Low gear is like a car, too high to pull anything more than a lawnmower trailer. The 300 motor is an excellent PU motor, it has great low end pulling power. This particular truck is in pretty good shape except for the factory paint on the hood and roof.
Yep, I second all the comments above! Only thing though, pretty sure the 300 didn't get fuel injection until much later than '87. Mine's a '95 with fuel injection, and I've gotten as high as 20 mpg on the highway, but combined mostly in the 17 - 18 mpg range.
87 was the first year the 300 got fuel injection. How do I know? My 87 W/ 300 has EFI.
48 years ago I drove a 76 Dodge, six/3spd truck as a work truck. Memory is very subjective of course, but it seems as though that Dodge was very peppy for what it was. I wish we had a Dodge to throw into the mix, but I can’t remember the last time I saw one of that vintage.
35 years ago I had a 76 F150 for a daily driver, another base truck, 6/3spd. It was a fine vehicle, and I drove it a few years with no issues whatsoever.
In the years since, I’ve had several GMs that were more or less competition trucks. It’s easier and mostly cheaper to build a Chevy than a Ford.
I believe the 82 was the first year for the 700R4 in the square body Chevy, 3.06 low gear and .70 od makes them decent daily drivers, not know for towing or hauling capabilities but should live a long life behind a 305. I believe early ones were vacuum operated (later computer controlled). My square body knowledge is 73-79 80+ I’m not so familiar with. The 3 speeds last for ever behind stock engines. The red truck below has had 1 bottom end and 2 top ends since new and the same transmission. Ordered with 3.73s for towing.
Im not familiar with the 300 as pretty much every old ford I had was either 302 or 460, my dad had an 84 f150 300 that was unkillable, I was 10-12 when he sold it so I don’t remember MPG but it pulled a 22’ Layton travel trailer all over NM (not quickly but reliably) for hunting, hauled beds full of gravel and so on. He was a dealer and got it at auction for under $500 it was pretty beaten so we used it and abused it. The man he sold it to got drunk and wrecked it. My F150s 5.0 FI never got better than 10-11 mpg keeping up with mixed city traffic the gray one is an 88 XLT 4x4 AOD and white one is an XL 4x4 5 speed.
I love old American trucks, keeping them running is almost as fun as driving them.
I don’t baby my trucks but I do meticulously maintain them.
Both the old Chevy and Ford are near and dear to me I take mine everywhere, I carry basic tools and have never been stranded. Road trips in old truck are a blast, enjoy them both.
What a nice looking group of older trucks. We never see such rust free examples here in MO.
When I bought this Ford about 2 years ago, I wasn’t looking for a specific brand. I ran onto this one for $1200, and it had newer tires and battery. The 300 six was my preferred motor by far.
I also have an 80 3/4 4WD that needs bodywork, if I ever get it done this Ford will probably be passed on to a family member.
Road Test
