An idea for Ford from a relic Ford guy

[USMCAg]

Folks that have been turning wrench on Fords since the 90s will understand this and it's to get everyone's thoughts about it. I suggested to Ford the they revive the 300 straight 6 as an Ecoboost, with the reliability of the original, but with the ability of the Ecoboost line (my '16 2.7 Ecoboost out towed my '97 F-350...5.8L/351 Everytime). Considering the size of the Broncos and Rangers compared to earlier eras, I also suggested they could use it in Broncos, Rangers, and F-150s. What are folks' thoughts about the 300 Straight 6 returning?

Steve

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[Tricky Mike]

Inline 6s are the best. They're making a comeback all over, but I don't think Ford is remotely interested. One around 3.5L would be really fun in the Bronco.

 

[PSUTE]

300 Six was pretty much bullet proof...

 

[Medic2586]

I am a v8 guy because I love the sound having had everything from a 428 PI with Holman moody cam to a 351 Cleveland, 5.0 HO’s and a gt40 crate engine but that darn 300 six cylinder Is all but bulletproof. I like the idea of the 300 with eco boost. It would be badass!

 

[dgorsett]

I had a 300 in a 77 F150, great truck and engine. At the time I hoped the 78 Bronco would come with one, no luck until '80. A mildly rodded 300 in any classic truck would be great. (I still think @Tricky Mike should put one in his '66) I don't believe it would be right for the current Bronco, Ranger or F150. But an Ecoboost 300 in a SuperDuty or even Econoline motorhome Chasis would be cool.

 

[Fordified1]

Sure Ford should consider doing an inline 6, but smaller c.i. And newer technology. A 300 is probably too long to fit in a Bronco and is a dinosaur technologically. Honestly I’d rather have (and hear) a small V8 in a Bronco.

 

[BlueBronco]

My dad had the straight six in his late 80's regular cab long bed 2wd manual. Not much of a truck by today's standards but both truck and motor were work horses and did exactly what they were built to.

However, in it's original form it would not fit in the Bronco. It would need smaller displacement so it wasn't so dang long.

 

[Cux211]

Straight six’s are arguably the most well balanced engines on the planet I’d kill to see a twin turbo straight 6 in a bronco with at least a 3.0L displacement, hell look at the new HO hurricane engine 3.0 straight 6 540hp 520tq

 

[SHANUT]

They are not bulletproof. I had one in my 1980 F150 and I loved that truck and that engine. However, I was just a dumb kid and didn’t have enough sense to change the oil early or often enough and I ran the crap out of that thing and after about 60,000 miles, it was shot. I suspect a lot of the issues people are having with newer engines are because they are treating them like I treated mine. I do realize there was a bad batch of valves for a short time a couple years back with some of the 2.7 engines. However, we use Ecoboost engines in our trucks for work and they run for hundreds of thousands of trouble free miles because we make sure we service them more than regularly.

 

[Lowcountry Bronco]

Mazda just came out with a single turbo 3.3 Inline 6:

Mazda's new inline-six displaces 3.3 liters, is boosted by a single turbocharger, and incorporates a 48-volt hybrid-assist system that can add 17 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. The new six comes in two strengths. CX-90 Turbo models get a version that makes 280 horsepower at 5000 rpm and 332 pound-feet of torque at 2000 rpm. For top-spec Turbo S models, the power goes up to 340 horsepower at 5000 rpm and 369 pound-feet at 2000 rpm.

https://news.mazdausa.com/2023-01-17-All-New-Inline-Six-Turbo-to-be-Available-in-2024-Mazda-CX-90

I got it that it's a different platform and could be tuned higher but with Ford offering the 2.3L engine making 300 hp and 325 pound-feet of torque, and the 2.7L engine making 330 hp and 415 pound-feet of torque an all new engine would have to be substantial in both power and economy over the current offerings.

 

[jehines3]

I'd love a straight 6 as an oil burner. Although the Jeep 4.0L inline was a pretty solid mill as well.

 

[HotdogThud]

Just get an existing straight 6 and shove it in there, you'll probably be done around the same time as that mythical v8 swap that pops up here every now and then

https://store.vacmotorsports.com/bmw-race-engine-by-vac-motorsports-bmw-n54n55-p1464.aspx

 

[JBlanco]

Ford will likely ruin it by putting rattling and defective cam phasers and a rubber oil pump belt...
On a side note, you mentioned relic and 90's in the same sentence and I'm here doing math like, there is no way the 90's happened almost 35 years ago...

Ford already has a fairly recent I6 turbo.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Barra_engine

 

[MayhemMike]

The days of a push rod motor at Ford in a factory vehicle are long gone.

 

[Imaginary Friend]

The days of a push rod motor at Ford in a factory vehicle are long gone.

*cough* Godzilla 7.3 *cough*

Modernized 300 with a head based on the 7.3....yeah, I could see it.

The old 300 was my Dad's engine of choice in a pickup when you could get them. Had three, they ran forever.

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