• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

300/T18 pulling power


Josh B

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Aug 15, 2019
Messages
4,005
Reaction score
1,986
Points
113
Location
Oklahoma
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Weight and aerodynamics of the load are the culprits here. And it probably isn't fair to compare the 300 with a 24valve Cummins. Compare a 460 with the Cummins, if you must. But the 300, while it's a great engine, is in a different league. It will do the job, but at slower speeds.
This is what I came by to say, the 300 has low end torque and a fair portion of horsepower, but it is, after all, still a 300.
It went kinda as the big brother to the 240, their basic difference was the 240 had a fiber timing gear
 


snoranger

Professional money waster
TRS Event Staff
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
RBV's on Boost
ASE Certified Tech
VAGABOND
TRS Event Participant
GMRS Radio License
Joined
Nov 25, 2007
Messages
13,092
Reaction score
13,654
Points
113
Location
Jackson, NJ
Vehicle Year
'79,'94,'02,'23
Make / Model
All Fords
Engine Type
2.3 EcoBoost
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
My credo
I didn't ask for your life story, just answer the question!
This is what I came by to say, the 300 has low end torque and a fair portion of horsepower, but it is, after all, still a 300.
It went kinda as the big brother to the 240, their basic difference was the 240 had a fiber timing gear
The 300 switched to a fiber cam gear in ‘84.
 

rusty ol ranger

2.9 Mafia-Don
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
12,407
Reaction score
7,502
Points
113
Location
Michigan
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
177 CID
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...
This is what I came by to say, the 300 has low end torque and a fair portion of horsepower, but it is, after all, still a 300.
It went kinda as the big brother to the 240, their basic difference was the 240 had a fiber timing gear
The 300 in 87 had 145hp and 265ftlbs.

So HP wise its a 3.0...Tq wise it matches the 302 but comes on much, much lower.

That big 4 inch stroke really gives it snort.
 

Josh B

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Aug 15, 2019
Messages
4,005
Reaction score
1,986
Points
113
Location
Oklahoma
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
The timing gear was on the crank
 

rusty ol ranger

2.9 Mafia-Don
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
12,407
Reaction score
7,502
Points
113
Location
Michigan
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
177 CID
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...

Josh B

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Aug 15, 2019
Messages
4,005
Reaction score
1,986
Points
113
Location
Oklahoma
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
I had to go look, still have a Ford Van manual 69-91. Not sure what I'm doing with a 91, I was in Tennessee in 91 and the van was in Oklahoma. I moved back in 2007 and it was gone, guess I could have reported it stolen.
I may have got the book at a yard sale or Goodwill or something.
Yeah, I went to look at a picture, it had been so long, I only replaced mine once, not really sure exactly what I did then
 

Attachments

bobbywalter

TRS Technical Staff
TRS Event Staff
V8 Engine Swap
TRS Technical Advisor
TRS Banner 2012-2015
TRS 20th Anniversary
Ugly Truck of Month
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 9, 2007
Messages
23,470
Reaction score
4,668
Points
113
Location
woodhaven mi
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
FORD mostly
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
BIGGER
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
sawzall?
Tire Size
33-44
My credo
it is easier to fix and understand than "her"
I pulled a 24’ enclosed trailer and Chevy ii roller yesterday. Compared to my dodge 24v this truck was a slug. I was hoping it would have done better. On hills I was constantly downshifting from 4th to 3rd and didn’t have a lot of power.

Is this normal or should I be looking to tune up anything. Seems the 300/T18 combo is really strong and beefy, just not a whole lot of horsepower. If I took this out on the highway over a mountain I would be like the semi’s in the slow lane with the hazards on the majority of my trip. The dodge seems like a locomotive compared.



these engines are awesome for a gas engine for the time periods offered... as long as you dont need to go over 40-45 mph.....or up any hills....or start and stop alot.....they will pull anything.
 

Mhfco6

Active Member
Firefighter
Joined
Aug 23, 2015
Messages
389
Reaction score
87
Points
28
Location
Virginia
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
2.9
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
0
Total Drop
0
Tire Size
235/75/15
these engines are awesome for a gas engine for the time periods offered... as long as you dont need to go over 40-45 mph.....or up any hills....or start and stop alot.....they will pull anything.
I’ve often wondered about this truck on the highway. So I guess highway speeds while hauling a trailer is out of the question? After my cluster swap I finally had a tach. Any harm cruising at 70-80 mph for 1-2 hours between fill ups?
 

Attachments

Last edited:

Josh B

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Aug 15, 2019
Messages
4,005
Reaction score
1,986
Points
113
Location
Oklahoma
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
I'm not sure about the speeds, I had mine during the 55 MPH limit days. The C6 transmission it came with would move about anything it had traction for. First gear wouldn't get you on a highway but it sure get it moving
 

19Walt93

Well-Known Member
Ford Technician
V8 Engine Swap
Joined
Nov 13, 2018
Messages
4,515
Reaction score
4,467
Points
113
Location
Canaan,NH
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
351
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
2WD
Total Drop
3"
Tire Size
235/55R16
My credo
If you don't have time to do it right will you have time to do it over?
I pulled a 24’ enclosed trailer and Chevy ii roller yesterday. Compared to my dodge 24v this truck was a slug. I was hoping it would have done better. On hills I was constantly downshifting from 4th to 3rd and didn’t have a lot of power.

Is this normal or should I be looking to tune up anything. Seems the 300/T18 combo is really strong and beefy, just not a whole lot of horsepower. If I took this out on the highway over a mountain I would be like the semi’s in the slow lane with the hazards on the majority of my trip. The dodge seems like a locomotive compared.
What does it have for gears? My 89 F150 had 3.08's behind the T18 and it worked good for me but I didn't tow anything. A 300 makes torque at a lower RPM than a 302 but 300 owners aren't even allowed to say "high RPM".
 

Mhfco6

Active Member
Firefighter
Joined
Aug 23, 2015
Messages
389
Reaction score
87
Points
28
Location
Virginia
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
2.9
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
0
Total Drop
0
Tire Size
235/75/15
What does it have for gears? My 89 F150 had 3.08's behind the T18 and it worked good for me but I didn't tow anything. A 300 makes torque at a lower RPM than a 302 but 300 owners aren't even allowed to say "high RPM".
Axle code I9, 3.73. So this things only good for towing around town and not cross country.
 

Shran

Junk Collector
TRS Forum Moderator
Supporting Member
Article Contributor
V8 Engine Swap
Solid Axle Swap
Truck of Month
Joined
Mar 4, 2008
Messages
8,701
Reaction score
4,802
Points
113
Location
Rapid City SD
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
5.0
I drove my dad’s ‘80 F100 in high school, it had a 300 and the weird 4 speed overdrive manual trans. That truck was a turd. The gears were so tall that overdrive wasn’t even really necessary. My main complaint with it was that it was a bear to start in cold weather, I probably could figure out why if I had it now but my grandpa hated it, my dad hated it, and I tolerated it for the same reasons.
 

Josh B

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
TRS 20th Anniversary
Joined
Aug 15, 2019
Messages
4,005
Reaction score
1,986
Points
113
Location
Oklahoma
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford Ranger
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
I liked my 300, it was not gutless at all, took me a lot of places. One fella I worked with offshore got stuck in a pile of sand on Galveston beach, we were stuck to the rig but it was having a refit in Todd Ship yard. We did 12 hour days as if it was drilling, and then head to the beach, or bars, depending what tour we were on.
They'd got in a bar brawl and I'd been in the back seat asleep ;) After he'd insulted my van our driller told him "that's a tough little van"
I backed up there, tied on and pulled him him out without any problem
Long as there was any weight at all in it those 16.5 got good grip, and that 300 was no wimp
 

bobbywalter

TRS Technical Staff
TRS Event Staff
V8 Engine Swap
TRS Technical Advisor
TRS Banner 2012-2015
TRS 20th Anniversary
Ugly Truck of Month
TRS Event Participant
Joined
Aug 9, 2007
Messages
23,470
Reaction score
4,668
Points
113
Location
woodhaven mi
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
FORD mostly
Engine Type
V8
Engine Size
BIGGER
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
sawzall?
Tire Size
33-44
My credo
it is easier to fix and understand than "her"
I drove my dad’s ‘80 F100 in high school, it had a 300 and the weird 4 speed overdrive manual trans. That truck was a turd. The gears were so tall that overdrive wasn’t even really necessary. My main complaint with it was that it was a bear to start in cold weather, I probably could figure out why if I had it now but my grandpa hated it, my dad hated it, and I tolerated it for the same reasons.


srod. match made in turd heaven.






they can co over 70 mph. just depends on weight an


they do make a range of "power" that is flat as a board....

f 5.0 real close or over 300 ft lb at 2k....lugging the balls off of them at 1100.... these engines have more power at any rpm then a typical 300....


though yours seems to be running close enough. keep it in oil and run the wee out of it. if it dies.....it dies.....probably just swap another 300 into it.
 

rusty ol ranger

2.9 Mafia-Don
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2007
Messages
12,407
Reaction score
7,502
Points
113
Location
Michigan
Vehicle Year
1987
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
2.9 V6
Engine Size
177 CID
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
2WD
My credo
A legend to the old man, a hero to the child...
I’ve often wondered about this truck on the highway. So I guess highway speeds while hauling a trailer is out of the question? After my cluster swap I finally had a tach. Any harm cruising at 70-80 mph for 1-2 hours between fill ups?
The 300 would handle those RPMs all day long.

But youre considerably out of your powerband at those speeds. Is that how fast you were trying to tow the trailer?

The 300 makes peak torque at 2000rpm. HP IIRC peaks at 3200. They are completly out of breath over 3500.
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Members online

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Latest posts

Truck of The Month


Shran
April Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top