Most Efficient .5 Ton While Towing

MFL wrote:

blt2ski wrote:

MFL wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:


The GM 4.3 is about as solid as they come. I even preferred these over the older I6 equivalents.

Just to be clear, you are talking about/comparing to, the OLD GM I6, not the legendary 300 ci I6 from the Ford early days...right?

Jerry

Having driven the GM 250/292 I6, a Ford 300 a few times. Also having owned a 4.3 TBI and vortex versions in an Astro and Safari van. Those 4.3s were better setup for mileage pulling power and speed etc than the three I6 rigs mentioned. As I am typing, I also.learned to drive in a 3 in tree 225 or there about.
Yes those motors were good in the day. No different than a 440/454/460 V8s of yore. Good at the time, but current motors are better.
I suspect current 4.3 will be on par with son's 4.8 V8, and similar to my vortex 350 in 2500.

Marty

While the carbed versions of the Ford 300 I6 were a bit slow, and not real fuel efficient, the later FI 300s were much improved for power, both towing and not towing. Yes, the new gas engines are much improved! Even the 4 cyls are putting out lots of power, plus great economy, and lasting for many more miles than the ones of yesteryear.

Jerry

We need to keep in mind the technology of the era, during that time all engines were slow and not very efficient by today's standards. But, to my knowledge for quite a few years the 300 I6 was the only engine available designed specifically for truck use and was said to be torquey and quite rugged. And some friends of mine who had a farm and owned both a 300 I6 and a 454 at the same time said that the 300 I6 was stronger and only burned half as much fuel. They used the 300 I6 to pull their heavy trailers. That was in the early 70's and I was too much younger than they were to question anything about the situation. The 300 I6 was pre-emissions and the 454 was post emission control. In the late '90s I had two friends with 300 I6's and those two engines dissapointed me with their power.