Ford 300 cid (4.9L) I-6

300 cid, 4.9L Straight 6 Engine Specs

Ford's 300 cid "Big Six" was introduced to the F-Series platform for the 1965 model year. Its architecture is based on the smaller 240 cid I-6, with the 300's cylinder stroke being longer while sharing the identical cylinder bore. The 300 and later 4.9L straight 6 (Ford converted to a metric measurement convention in 1983) earned an incredible reputation for its strength, reliability, and low end torque during the course of its 31 years of service. The rugged, venerable 300 straight 6 featured unmatched longevity, and its relatively broad torque curve provided flexibility in a range of driving conditions. The engine was not limited to F-Series pickup applications; it can be found in a variety of vehicles and equipment, including agricultural/construction machinery, tractors, medium duty dump/utility trucks, generators, and delivery trucks. It was retired following the 1996 model year, ultimately being replaced by Ford's smaller 4.2L V-6.

Ford 300 cid (4.9L) Straight 6 Specs

Engine:

Ford 300 inline 6, later 4.9L I-6

Applications:

Various Ford F-Series 1965 - 1996

Configuration:

Inline 6 cylinder (straight 6)

Displacement:

300 cid, 4.9 liters

Firing Order:

1-5-3-6-2-4

Engine Block Material:

Cast iron

Cylinder Head Material:

Cast iron

Cylinder Bore:

4.00"

Cylinder Stroke:

3.98"

Compression Ratio:

• 8.9 : 1 for 1965 to 1972 applications
• 8.0 : 1 for 1973 to 1986 applications
• 8.8 : 1 for 1987 to 1996 applications

Aspiration:

Naturally aspirated

Valvetrain:

Overhead valve (OHV, cam in block)

Ignition:

Standard distributor type

Fuel System:

Varies w/ model year

Engine Oil Capacity:

5 qts w/ filter

Peak Horsepower:

101 - 150 hp (see table below)

Peak Torque:

223 - 283 lb-ft (see table below)

 

Ford 300 cid (4.9L) Straight 6 Horsepower, Torque Ratings by Model Year

Model Years

Horsepower

Torque

Notes

1965 - 1972

170 hp @ 3,800 rpm

283 lb-ft @ 1,600 rpm

Brake horsepower rating

1973 - 1974

101 hp @ 3,000 rpm

223 lb-ft @ 1,600 rpm

Net horsepower rating system introduced. Compression lowered from 8.9 to 8.0 : 1

1975 - 1977

• 101 hp @ 3,400 rpm
• 120 hp @ 3,400 rpm

223 lb-ft @ 1,600 rpm

2 different horsepower ratings produced during these model years

1978 - 1986

• 101 hp @ 3,400 rpm
• 115 hp @ 3,400 rpm
• 117 hp @ 3,400 rpm
• 120 hp @ 3,400 rpm

223 lb-ft @ 1,600 rpm

4 different horsepower ratings produced during these model years, all with the same torque output

1987 - 1993

145 hp @ 3,400 rpm

265 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm

EFI introduced, compression ratio increased to 8.8 : 1

1994 - 1996

150 hp @ 3,400 rpm

260 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm

1996 was last model year of production

 

4.9L (300 cid) I-6 service points

Fuel injected Ford 4.9L component location
Source: Ford Motor Company, F- Series owners manual