How many miles does your 300 have?

[300 HIPO]

How many miles do you guys get out of these engines before rebuilding them, if its taken good care of?


Did Ford ever update the block or head for longer life?

[powerjunkie]

Ford quit making the 300 because it lasted too long!. im not kidding

[ludwig]

I only have 108,000. Barely broken in. Runs like new, I guess. Hasn't changed in 5 years.

[American Thunder]

In the family business' '71 E300 service van, that I drove back in the late 80s, the original 240(I think?) had 250k miles on it before my brother dropped in a rebuilt 300, which went about 280k miles before the van became so rotten underneath that he finally had to scrap it. (the 3 speed transmission was original with close to 600k miles on it, but it went through a few new clutches) The shift linkage was so worn out that it took a few days to learn how to shift it without jamming it up. Good times.

[80broncoman]

If you take real care in maintanence AND in operation I can't see one really needing a rebuild , at not least in the same vehicle.

A guy at my work gave me a EFI 300 91 ? with 100k on the clock.
I took the head off and could still see the cross hatching EVERY cylinder.

[Mustang_Geezer]

.

[Silver Shadow]

Acording to the title, my '86 has 278,450 miles on it. I re[laced the timing gear last August. Most of the parts I can see are still stock, even organal.

[IndianOutlaw72]

96 f150 has 2155000 n the only thing wrong iz a lil exhast manifold gasket leak but otha that its a charm n only a lil bit of ford rust on wheelwells

[Ferris Bueller]

My 93 has 201,000 and barely uses a drop of oil.

[fmlrommel]

ive got 2, one with 140k and the other was a reman'ed motor its got a
mere 30,000 on it. havent had any trouble what so ever with either. friends dads E350 has 180k and it starts up like it is still on the car lot.

[83F150]

Ive got 151k o my 96, runs like new, leaks some oil, but doesnt burn a drop.

later,
"Dustin

[56mulberry]

I had a 1968 SWB F100 3spd 240ci with 312,000 on it whan I bought it in 1995 and 435,000 when I sold it 1998 all origianl except clutch--didnt smoke, drip or burn oil. wish I had it back now......Our 1977 F100 300ci has 155K and origianl clutch--just barely!--still a baby......D

[mutt]

The Econo was bought new by a large plumbing co in SD. It got regular oil changes, but who nows how it was horsed. At one point a remanned head was installed. A long time plumber for the co bought it when the co. decided to replace them, & he put in a new radiator , clutch & plate, and new shift linkage (!) and drove it for a few years then I got it. I replaced all the lifters...
At 150K indicated- I have no idea if its that or more-I was doing the 2 year put the stock stuff on for smog racket when it, um, swallowed a nut, & I got to take everything apart. I found one skirt in the pan & three more were cracked. The rod journals were serviceable, & the bngs worn to the backing (you could hear em @ startup) The ridge on the block, & the walls, were fine by me. You could BARELY feel the ridge. a couple of light passes with the ridge reamer, std. pistons, Hastings cast iron rings, and a light scuff to the walls with 220 wet paper & some diesel was all I did - no power hone. The valve springs werent sacked, but I got new. I could of reused them, need be. I got new exhaust valves, too, rather than remove metal from the old ones which of course all needed refacing. but the intakes were fine to reface. I dont know how many miles was on the head, tho....
Id say, if the oil is changed, & its not abused, itll love you long time, GI.
its cool running, I guess time between at least valve work is determined by the exhaust valves. Keep them happy & that will certainly extend time between teardowns. That and the lifters, and the lifters are not a big deal to replace...bottom end, barring defect, clean ol- why not a 1/4 million?
Wouldnt surprise me in the least.

Perhaps one of our prestigeous Senior Rocket Scientists can offer insight on that aspect of our Iron Mastodons......

[cougeuph]

Mine didn't have quite the same luck.

At about 20k the thermostat on it stuck partially closed. Over heated the engine a little. The factory aluminum pistons did not like this. After about 3,ooo miles they started to come apart. The truck was less than 2 years old at this point. Pistons replaced with steel.

No problems since. now has 160k. Doesn't burn a drop of oil. The rear main seal leaks a little.

80 F-250 Supercab

[tj300]

Mine is a 1980 F100 with 76K orig. I'll be dead before it's due for a rebuild.

[crash-harris]

Bruiser's 300 currently has around or a little over 285,000 on it with no more then a little blowby out of the crankcase breather. That's thanks to the previous owner's neglet of changing any fluids what so ever. I've replaced the valve cover and pushrod gaskets and now the only leak drips from the factory oil pressure sender, real slow though. The 300's were truely Built Ford Tough.

[JohnMcD348]

Well, I'm about to come into possession of a 92 Bronco with about 76,000 miles on it that's been maintained at near OCD levels. I truly don't think it ever went more than 100 miles over 3000 between oil changes. The water pump locked up on it and the original owner ( My Father in Law) felt it was time to get a newer vehicle anyway so he told me I could have it.

I'll be putting in the new pump this weekend.

[AbandonedBronco]

A '92 Bronco with 72k on a 4.9? Dang, you've got yourself a gem.

Mine has 50k on the odometer, whether that's 150k, 250k, (350k?) I'll never know due to Ford's odd idea to only have a 5 digit odometer and a lack of records on the vehicle

Either way, 28 years and it runs like a top. Just did a compression check, and the highest was 155psi, and the lowest was 146psi. Makes me happy.

[rikard]

My 95 has 195k and my 94 had 198k when I donated it. Neither burns oil and 94 would leak about a qt between 4k mile oil changes. I fully expect the 95 will go to 250k. Most seem to get close to 300k before rebuild is needed.
The 300 was dropped for several reasons. The height and length were not compatible with the new 97 style truck. Gas mileage was not as good as the GM 4.3 or Mopar 3.9 too.
regards
rikard

[noblesteed]

the 1978 f150 4X4 I have now has just over 57000 miles on it (the first carbed one I've owned).I have owned many 92-96 f150s with the inline six the bodies died way before the powertrains.I used to work for the local ford dealership as a mechanic(20years),Fed-Ex
delivery vans here had the 300 six in the early 90s,they ran on propane and got 400,000 to 500,000 miles before needing rebuilds,even then the internals were squeaky clean,but the valve seats were the first to suffer(possible propane side effect but took a lot of mileage to show up).I am totally convinced ford canceled the inline six for the wrong reasons.The sixes they used afterwards don't compare in my opinion.

[tees77f150]

My 77 f150 300 I6 has 80,161 original miles on it. I am in the process of changing the pan gasket, and the rear main seal. It set in barn for nearly 20 years still in the truck. I am a little concerned of the valve seals starting to leak. It has been running off and on since last August, and does not smoke a drop, but I an concerned it may start. I was thinking of pulling it out for the pan and rear seal, and replacing the valve seals, and the side gasket while its out.

[AbandonedBronco]

My 77 f150 300 I6 has 80,161 original miles on it. I am in the process of changing the pan gasket, and the rear main seal. It set in barn for nearly 20 years still in the truck. I am a little concerned of the valve seals starting to leak. It has been running off and on since last August, and does not smoke a drop, but I an concerned it may start. I was thinking of pulling it out for the pan and rear seal, and replacing the valve seals, and the side gasket while its out.

Sounds like a good plan. Those are the kinds of things that age takes a toll on no matter the miles.

[bd]

Mine only has around 36,000 miles........still new by the miles....LOL ..

[binder56jd]

i wish i knew

[American Thunder]

Pistons replaced with steel.

I dont think they've used steel pistons in about 80 years??

[galaxie50059]

I bought my 86 F150 from a paper mill and was told the mileage on the clock was original at 79K and change. I have used it as a snow plow truck for the past ten years. The odo currently reads 88K and change(I think it should be more as miles come off when I back up and thats done a bunch while plowing snow). Back to the story, the site manager told me that when the truck was in regular service from 86 to 99, the truck was idling 12 hours a day, seven days a week. They had several power invertors on it and used it to maintain equipment that was away from the main building.

The cab has dropped five inches(dang rust) and the box or whats left of it, flaps in when the wind blows. The 300 under the hood has no ticks, knocks, rattles or unnatural smoke of any kind. What makes it real fun is the fact that it can still light the rear tires and can scare the tuner crowd with its tire turning abilities.

The best part about this engine for plowing is its fuel consumption. I burn just under a gallon an hour in wet heavy snow. My back up plow truck has an EFI 5.0 under its hood and it uses three to four gallons an hour on the same route.

[crash-harris]

I love turning the local wally-world parking lot ricer gangs with my truck

Most of the time it *sounds* like I'm out revving them too!

[84 F150]

1984 F150 just rolled over 46,000! At this pace, I'll be driving it when I retire. If and when I muster the courage to scrap the EFC and put some new window channels and door seals, she'll be a joy to drive. Only thing changed to date are oil, filters, vacuum tubing, water pump/hoses and wiper blades.

Opinions wanted: best I can tell, AOD never serviced. Change fluid and filter or leave alone?

[CJ455]

Mine has 206,xxx in a 96 f-150. I take it mudding a few times a year when i can, Valve floats around 4800 and will sit there. I had a 87 with 16x,xxx on it and it had noticably more power, didn't float till 5,600. But the gearing is different between the trucks and thats could be the difference in noticable power.

[Lazy JW]

Since I overhauled my 81 F-150 three years ago I have driven it just over 50,000 miles as of last week. Time flies when you're having fun!
Joe

[caribcanuk]

my 89 f 150 had 400,000 km on it when i bought it i put about 50,000 km on it just rebuilt the engine and have maybe 8000 km on it.

[Ferris Bueller]

One guy that hasn't posted for a long time had an F150 with 300 and 475,000 and the motor had not been rebuilt.

[Luckyman]

.............Opinions wanted: best I can tell, AOD never serviced. Change fluid and filter or leave alone?

Yes change the fluid and filter. Do it now and every 15-25K thereafter and you will never have to rebuild/replace the trans. If you had 146K on and it had never been done, I would be inclined to leave it alone and just drive it easy til it broke and then rebulild it. Just my .02 cents.

[66Sprint6]

I bought my 77 F100 last Sept for $300 "barely running" out of a guys front lawn. It was on its second 300ci motor with the original motor rusted to death in the bed. She didnt have a single valve seal left, brittle/broken vac lines but still drove well enough for the test drive for me to lay the money down. She then drove all the way home, bout 30 minutes with the radio stuck on a classic country station broadcasting that nights Grand Ole Opry . Couple hard hours of work and i had the valve seals replaced, new plugs wires etc and she has been runnin strong ever since. She leaks oil out of every seal and theres not a cylinder that doesnt have low compression due to bad rings, but she fires up every mornin and smokes out the neighborhood as I leave for work! Im goin Sunday to pick up what I hope to be the last motor i ever put in this truck...I cant wait! As for miles, im in the unknown area as well...but I can tell you its quite a few!
Matt

[crash-harris]

I haven't seen this thread in awhile, may as well through in an undate!

Bruiser's 300 is now at about 295,000 miles and the only thing that leaks is the cruddy old oil pressure sender (mechanical gauges installed on a T-fitting with it). She still pulls, hauls, and runs strong, but I've been overheating on trails if I'm not careful when trying to clean the tread out (got electric fans to fix that).

Long live the SIX!

[Scared Straight]

I have 2 econoline vans w/300s, my 91 has 330,000 and is ready for rebuild "no oil pressure @ idle" this van had a very hard life in construction work, my 93 has 159,000 and engine runs like new, but van itself is falling apart. go 300 posting.php?mode=reply&f=2&t=56280#

[pdr60]

My 94 f150 has 348,000 on it. It used to be a work truck and had a constant load of 600-800 lbs in tools and refrigerant so its had a pretty tough life. Its to the point of getting ready for an engine overhaul (oil pressure dropping) and another go around on the E40D. I'm also going through her and replacing most of the interior. New floor mat, some better seats, upgrade the sound system. I'll be pulling the power team this fall and spending some time with it. I did manage to pick up a Crane 503901 last month. Its an EFI so and I want some more trailer pulling power. This time through the E40D I'm going to apply all the updates and fixes along with a shift kit.

[shortbox07]

mine has about 115,000 on the dial but an hour meter would have made alot more sence. it used to be an old city truck. doesnt leak or burn oil, fires right up every time. i have replaced alot on it, but it was all out of want and not need. internally it is all origianl.