300 Straight Six

[birddog321]

I rolled my B2 and the 2.8 has finally decided to clunk out on me. Since then I have been trying to decide what to do. Scrap or rebuild? I couldn't decide until I saw a 300 with trans for $100. This weekend i start on the tear out of the 2.8 and all the emissions garbage.
I need some advice on how to get this giant into my tiny truck. Cutting welding are not an issue. I've already cut the entire top off and started getting tube together for a cage. just don't want to hear "Why a 300? Why not a 302?" 302's are easier." A 300 is what I have and I want to use it.
Any advice is good advice.

 

[adsm08]

Search. It's been done. You have to notch out the fire wall to make enough room for the engine to actually fit.

I thought about this and did the measurements. IIRC the 300-6, from back of the block to the front of the fan is 1/2" shorter than the Ranger's engine bay from firewall to radiator.

 

[Sunk]

Get out your BFH and go to town, it's twice as long as your 2.8 (give or take). It's been done though.

 

[cody93]

its been done, its a very tight fit. i believe a body lift is required cause the motor is tall. Ive always had a softspot for strait sixes, someone wise man once said "V8's are like asian hookers, they'll mystify you, then rape your wallet" i wouldn't screw with one as a DD unless i could get fuel for cheap, then well, nothing will stop me from doing it! contrary to popular belief, the 300 is not a mega torque monster, but how it makes its torque at low RPMs is what makes it shine, there was some guy who swapped one in a B2 and painted it like a JohnDeere tractor, check out the "has anyone swapped in an inline 6" thread in other engine conversions

 

[adsm08]

A stock to mild V8 will do better on fuel in a light truck if not driven aggressively than the V6 will.

And yeah, the 300 just makes all it's power down below 1500R, just like the 2.9. The numbers aren't huge, but they come in at the most useful part of the RPM curve. The overlapping power strokes from the crankshaft length and cylinder arrangement doesn't hurt either.

 

[Ranger Dave (B25)]

And yeah, the 300 just makes all it's power down below 1500R, just like the 2.9. The numbers aren't huge, but they come in at the most useful part of the RPM curve. The overlapping power strokes from the crankshaft length and cylinder arrangement doesn't hurt either.

That and they're damn near bulletproof.

 

[adsm08]

That and they're damn near bulletproof.

And they'll run almost anything for oil too. My shop foreman had one a while back that he ran with 7 qts of ATF in the crank case for a week.

Said that stuff came out black as night, but it ran a lot better after that.

 

[cody93]

And they'll run almost anything for oil too. My shop foreman had one a while back that he ran with 7 qts of ATF in the crank case for a week.

Said that stuff came out black as night, but it ran a lot better after that.

just curious, what does AFT do? clean out the engine?

 

[Ranger Dave (B25)]

And they'll run almost anything for oil too. My shop foreman had one a while back that he ran with 7 qts of ATF in the crank case for a week.

Said that stuff came out black as night, but it ran a lot better after that.

When dad's 77 F-100 started running rough, he'd toss a quart of ATF in the crankcase. 500 miles later, change the oil and it'd be smooth as a baby's butt again.

 

[birddog321]

I've researched in the "Other Swaps" forum and the threads always end up being "My truck's nuts are bigger than your truck's" BS. There's only one guy that actually has good stuff but it's few and far between. Guess I'll just have to use the old noodle for this one.

 

[Junkyardexpress]

ATF is loaded with detergents

 

[cody93]

I've researched in the "Other Swaps" forum and the threads always end up being "My truck's nuts are bigger than your truck's" BS. There's only one guy that actually has good stuff but it's few and far between. Guess I'll just have to use the old noodle for this one.

yea, unfortunetly it was turned into a 302vs300vs460vs5.4Lvslawnmower engine debate what i wanted you to see was the one fella with the 300 b2, had some good pictures.

 

[birddog321]

Yea, I wish he had more posted

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I love my 300-6 but it would deff be a very tight squeeze lengthwise in an RBV. Due to the design, inline motors are naturally going to be longer than V motors.

That said, I think it can be done. Geared right it would probably make for a nice crawler, you could just idle right along in Lo range.

Although I can't really offer any help in shoehorning it into the truck, I will say that I have tinkered with my 300 a bit. Double platinum plugs and good plug wires will help it run a bit nicer, believe it or not. When I first got the truck I got some sort of "improved" copper plugs, upgraded the wires, cap and rotor. It ran pretty good for awhile then it seemed like performance was dropping off a bit along with my fuel economy. Tried going to regular autolite coppers and wasn't happy with the performance at all. Talked to a guy I know and he recommended Autolite or NGK double platinums - now the truck will actually try to get out of it's own way. Of course along the way I also replaced the fuel pressure regulator (I think the diaphram was on it's way out) and the TFI module (it tested bad). Also ended up with a new coil (weak spark).

Oh, and I did pull out a 30' tall oak tree with it.... lol

 

[birddog321]

Was it carbed or FI?