Help plan an old school tow vehicle Ford 4.9 inline 6

[ByeBye]

Calling all gearheads!!

I am pondering building  an F250, 300 cid inline six, manual trans, flatbed.
Probably 2 fwd w/ locker
Towing approx 7k lb gooseneck trailer  trailer, mountain passes will be involved.

Nothing set in stone, brainstorming. 

Another option is slide in camper mounted.

$7000 budget

Thinking about selling my F450 while it's still in way above avg shape.

 

[user 423]

Is 2 fwd the same as 4wd?

So 96 or older. Or an even older carb model?

 

[ByeBye]

2wd, lol.
Carburetor, staying old school with no electronics, is the thought.

Doing some research now on transmission/gearing availability

Even checking out supercharger/turbo possibilities.

 

[bullfrog]

As I get older I am finding my likes and dislikes are changing in vehicles. Today’s roads and speeds make it difficult to safely and comfortably keep up with the flow of traffic. Very few large trucks cruise below 65 MPH even on two lane highways and with all the improved diesel pickups pulling large campers and boats going even faster it is scary out there going 50 to 60 MPH. I drove my old J10 truck from Bullfrog to Tucson via Kingman and Ajo all two lane roads seldom going over 60 MPH. I had to pull off several times because passing traffic was becoming dangerous. I drove my Samurai back taking much smaller roads doing maybe 250 to 300 miles a day seldom over 55 MPH and did fine but those roads were so small, twisty and some sections in rough shape I would not tow a trailer over them. Back when speed limits were lower I think you would have done fine with the truck you are planning but not today.
Just another note is I developed a left knee problem and had to drive without a clutch a couple of days. Sure wished I had an automatic those days.
Any accessories you add like Ac, power steering larger alternator will take power from the engine and as they say there is no replacement for displacement. I think you will miss the 450 pulling a 7,000 lb. trailer in many ways. I always thought I would like to tour in an antique vehicle, not so much anymore. It is nice to be able to get in a modern vehicle and travel in comfort when all you have to do is get to things like doctor’s appointments. Turbos and superchargers cut the life of the engine in half in my experience not to mention the increased maintenance, so no thank you!

 

[user 423]

They're great old motors but that seems like a lot of weight for one.

Would you try to find a good one or plan on a rebuild?

 

[ByeBye]

I rarely travel over 60 mph now, intentionally.
Hasn't been that big of an issue and I do pull over when it gets unsafe.

I drive a ZF 6, 6 speed trans now and love manual tranny vehicles, all I have had in last 20 yrs.

There's reasons for the change, that's not the topic, but I more than appreciate the input.

------------
Probably a rebuild, upgraded components all aimed at reliability and torque.

 

[B and C]

Yep, carbs and mountains. As a non electronically controlled engine, you will lose substantial power the higher you go unless you want to rejet and retime the engine.

I went up one grade passing an old mechanical diesel tractor/flatbed combo that was going maybe 5MPH near the top and clacking like he!!. I don't ever want to go back to a carburetor and non electronic engine controls. That old '77 Dodge shorty van with a 360 V8 wasn't peppy at all in the mountains and I wasn't towing anything. It was not heavily laden either. If there is an EMP I will be walking and you will be driving if you can find gas. A carbureted engine makes sense if staying in a local without much elevation change.

 

[ByeBye]

Probably be more productive to limit this to hands on experience with building a 4.9.

I have been driving trucks for a long time.

 

[bullfrog]

Don’t get me wrong I love driving my old J10 but it is a 360, four speed, 4.10 gear, four wheel drive with a big but light topper. You have to be very careful starting it as the carburetor likes to flood even with performance ignition. No cruise control, no AC, power steering and 1978 style power brakes. With today’s gas (I run 91) it likes to run hot so a new heavy duty cooling system is waiting to go in. 10 to 12 MPG. I could live with it everyday but my 1987 Suburban has working AC, cruise, throttle body injection, power steering and 1987 power brakes all stock factory and is much more comfortable to drive, my wife even likes it!

 

[bullfrog]

I think you are asking too much out of too small a motor. I think if you are going for reliability by buying all new or rebuilt parts you will spend at least $10,000 unless you can find someone that has an unfinished project needing to get rid of it. Restoring an old truck mechanically engine, transmission, drive line and rear end would be at least $5,000 I would think unless you do all your own work and machining. Are you planning $7,000 for just the engine or the whole truck? Older Fords are great till they wear out and then everything tends to wear out all at once in my experience.

 

[ByeBye]

I got one vote against me considering this, thanks

Couple of cooling upgrade options

460 oil cooler system
460 radiator

 

[bullfrog]

You might take a look at Gas Monkey Garage series they do a lot of old ford trucks. They usually get rid of the front ends and use the subframes from later LTDs in order to modernize and install V8s but might be able to connect you up with some old hot rodders. I believe the last time I checked the 4 barrel intakes were still being made aftermarket special order as well as split exhausts for true duals. Almost everyone since they came out has converted to electronic ignition but there might be some Mallory parts floating around on EBay. Good luck, I just sound negative because I considered the same thing a few years ago and decided to go with a newer Chevy as the chassis and mechanical parts were much cheaper and easier to find. Again hope all goes well for you. I’m surprised HDR hasn’t spoken up yet!

 

[ByeBye]

Thanks, bullfrog,. My curmudgeon streak gets wider every day, lol.

Some of your info over last couple of years has been invaluable.

The Ford inline 6 300, 4.9, is known as one of the most dependable, mass produced gas engines ever made...not fast but good low end torque stock and easy to improve on with a little massaging.
Kinda like mini diesel attributes without diesel related isdues, cost and maintenance.

I can nomad more easily when I can do the maintenance. Maintaining a 4.9 compared to diesel or newer gas engine is a breeze.

I want something that I am more self sufficient in maintaining/repairing without having to hook it up to a computer.

In perfect world I would find a 70's/80's truck that had been restored/upgraded some years ago and needing an engine.

I am in a location where I can do the rebuild with my gearhead brother in law supervising

 

[user 423]

A manual I definitely would prefer but have had 2 surgeries on left knee.

I cruise no faster than 62mph and just let 'em pass.

This topic on a Ford forum would yield some good info,I'm sure.

Understand completely about wanting to simplify.

BTW: Do you find your camper is too small?

 

[ByeBye]

@Slow2day

Only issue I have is I am 6'4" and camper headroom is about 6'5" in center, which I love but I have to watch or loss hide off my head
Other is I can't sit straight up in bed. Got other inside sitting options below but if I could change one thing it would have another 6 in of bunk headroom.

Recently thought about replacing my escape hatch with a big domed marine smoked glass hatch..

Another option is to keep the Bigfoot, lighten it up some and mount on new rig.

 

[bullfrog]

I believe the name of the company that sold split manifold was Clifford but probably sold out years ago. I think a your camper could be traded for a tall gooseneck cargo trailer as I haven’t seen too many RVs with enough shower height or bed length/ height to make full time living easy for tall people. Nobody seems to believe that using super thick light foam and super thin plywood with reinforced edges and corners wrapped with Tightbond III saturated canvas and painted with acrylic house paint creates a super insulated and super strong box the size you would need for less than $1,000 that would weigh less than 1,000 lbs. talk about easy to repair. Set that on an old 5th wheel camper trailer frame (there are several old 5th wheel campers for little or nothing out there, plus you get the appliances if you need them)converted to a gooseneck and I bet you would be around 3,500 lbs. Granted not super heavy duty but more than enough especially going slow with 2 wheel drive. You will still have wind resistance to deal with above 50 MPH that will be noticeable but much easier to deal with than twice the weight. My 24’ bumper pull camper/flatbed isn’t finished yet but I would guess well below 3,500 lbs. and less than $3,500 and that included paying a professional welder to modify the trailer and mount the camper box. I was able to pull it 225 miles home with my wife’s Sequoia at 200 horsepower so maybe think about it.

 

[highdesertranger]

hey buddy how's it going? highdesertranger

 

[ByeBye]

Hey, Mike! Been a rough month, off and on, but on the upswing now.

Here's a reference for using 4.9 for towing

https://fordsix.com/viewtopic.php?t=63705

 

[eDJ_]

Ford's 240 and 300 ci inline 6's seemed to be fine motors.  Here in the Appalachians UPS has fleeted them for years with solid dependability.   Many Fleet trucks I've been around had these motors and numerous ones had two speed rear axles with either vacuum or electric activation. (switch located on gearshift lever)

I once drove a Nabisco Truck that had the 427 ci truck V8 with air brakes and the two speed rear axle.  I don't know if it would be possible to find a used 2 spd axle in a wrecking yard that would fit into your truck or not.  Or if
one close in size could be modified to fit and gear ratios set up for the task.

As for Superchargers or Turbo's that may be a more expensive route.   At one time there were belt driven Turbo's
that used infinitely variable clutches 

[img=341x234]https://musclecardiy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/104.jpg[/img]

UPS fleeted these trucks for years where the Ford 300 ci inline 6 was the standard engine.

[img=300x200]https://socialistworker.org/sites/default/files/images/2014/10/ups_truck_804051.jpg[/img]

 

[NctryBen]

I rebuilt a couple in the day... amazing engine for it’s size. Hauled brick and mortar to job sites just as well as my 460. You mentioned you drive a zf6 tranny now. I just replaced mine. I only got 530,000 miles out of the first one. Engine still going strong! Good luck... are parts easy to come by for the 300?