Solid reasoning, I believe.

A co-worker had a 1st generation that went into limp mode and had to have the timing chain/cam's, sensors reworked. They called in a specialist from Ford to try and figure out what happened and you to fix it and the repairs were quite costly but thankfully the local Ford Dealer helped somehow.
That said, my friend drove it like a rented mule, pulling a large travel trailer or his big pontoon boat 80 to 90 MPH and never gave it a rest. He traded it in for a diesel 3/4 ton as that was what he should have had in the first place according to him.
He also said it ran like a spotted ape with something chasing it. I am sure the 3rd generation had the problems he had fixed.

My 1993 Jeep Wrangler with the 4.0L straight 6 and 5 speed had all the torque right where you needed it, it just failed to have any resemblance of horsepower and therefore barely managed 70mph

2012 F150 with 160k on it. Plugs and oil changes is all it's had. Plenty of power. Pulls a boat like it isn't there.

This gave me an idea.

My daughter wants to drive a truck, not a car. We are two years away from her getting a driver's license. I am thinking a mid 90's F-150 with a 300 I-6. Found a few within 300 miles. Buy one, pull the engine and she and I rebuild it.

Those old hot water six engines are pretty damn good. I have seen them factory installed in old combines and other industrial equipment. Like air cooled piston aircraft engines, the bugs were worked out of them before my time. There is a lot to be said about knowing what you are working with, it helped my kid a lot.

For the OP, we run over 30 of the v6 turbo fords at work, and about double that number of 5.0’s. There has been no difference in reliability.

Ran a Ford 300 six for ten years in the 80s. Greatness.

I've had two. Rock solid engines, but crappy fuel economy. One of the best ford engines ever made.

Thanks! That’s great info. I’ll relax a bit over the Tundra engine, not that I was too worried. I don’t work a truck too hard anyway. We tow a TT from time to time, but other than that I just drive where I need to go, and a bit better mileage would be good.

I'm working my way through this one right now.

Rumor has it Dodge is coming out with one that's a beast, twin turbo. Talking like it's going to replace the HEMI.

4 or 5 speed manual?

Sounds like a pretty good idea, to me.

Good grief, I could see all the way down to the ground in that engine bay. Been a very long time since I’ve seen one so uncluttered. Refreshing, and a dropped socket would fall right through, rather than being lost forever.

4 speed NP435

Did some reading on the Ford 300.

"Despite most truck engines from Ford switching to fuel injection in 1987, the 300 Inline-Six made around 170 horsepower in the first few years of its run during the early ’60s. This was due to a different rating system for power outputs that was later replaced with the SAE net standard, which is partially why the rated power drops to around 100 horsepower and 223-pound-feet of torque by 1973"

After lots of mods, and a "built engine".

270 horsepower and 338-pound feet of torque.


A quote comes to mind about some draft horses on the XIT Ranch.

"Those horses can break chain and pull hell."

I had a 96’ 300 in-line 6 which was the last year they made them. I believe they had to can they engine due to emissions.

It was a great engine. You look up the specs it didn’t give up much to the 302 V-8…..150 hp and 260 ft lbs vs. 195 hp and 270 ft.lbs.

It wasn’t fast but it was torquey and got pretty decent fuel mileage for it’s day. I had a 97 or 98’ truck with the 4.2 liter V-6 that replaced it and it was a pile of chit.

Read it again…. Best. Engine. Toyota. Ever. Built. Feel free to move your lips as you read if it helps…

Just bought this a couple months ago 1983 F100 Stepside (last year of the F100) 300 Straight 6 Barn Find/Estate Sale. Last tagged in 2013. 57,000 miles. This one has power steering and Factory AC. Don't know what I'm gonna do with it. JG come look and take it home.

Those are some great looking old trucks.

sweet!!

Too bad that 22R was only half an engine, running in a half sized truck and small cars.

Actually have room to work. My 14 year old son really likes those 80’s Fords!

I've got an idea of what I would do...

Let me know if you decide to sell.

Heck holler when you want to come by and take a look.