R.I.P. Big Red Machine

BillyinStoughton · May 15, 2012

Rest in peace Big Red Machine. I was able to tally 458,000 miles on it without ever so much as pulling the valve cover...but alas, all good things must come to an end. I lost the cylinder head on it last week between the #5 and #6 cylinders. Those Ford 300 inch six cylinders might not put out a ton of power, but d*mn if they don't last.

I found an identical truck 96' Ford in Northern Illinois last weekend that only had 67,000 miles on it so it's on to the next greatest thing I guess.

I'll fix this one, but not having the same truck as my primary transportation will make me feel a bit dirty for a while. After all...I bought the old girl with 17 miles on it and that was a long time ago in a galaxy far far away.

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Bryan inIowa · May 15, 2012

Sorry for your loss. At first I thought you were talking about Kane , the WWE wrestler ,lol

Rick Kr · May 15, 2012

I hope i can get that many miles out of my 2010. With all the wiring harnesses under these newer trucks... i guess we"ll have to wait an see. I am at 58k and no problems so far.
Rick

Anonymous-0 · May 15, 2012

I have a 1995 F150 with the 300 "6" we call old purple. 307,465 and counting. Still has factory water hoses. Finally had to put a clutch in her last spring. I just went from Memphis to Alviton Ky. and picked up a frontend loader for my Jubilee with a 16' trailor. Had to go back to 3rd or 4th on some hills but pretty much ran 70 all the way.You can't beat the Fords. I load her down with the tractors on trailers and have the hitch drag the ground with loads on her. She just luggs along and keeps on going.

showcrop · May 15, 2012

What do you mean not much power? I had two of them that sure would pull a load up a hill better than the V-8s that replaced them.

BillyinStoughton · May 15, 2012

Oh they make a ton of torque and love to pull most any load...but from a horsepower and acceleration standpoint they lack a bit. Trust me though...I'm not complaining. Dollar for dollar I'm not sure I could have done better.

Anonymous-0 · May 15, 2012

yep, my dad pulled a 19' wood boat with a camper on a half ton 1967 300 six three on the tree

Anonymous-0 · May 15, 2012

Dad used to pull antique tractors. For some pulls, close to home, he used a 1985 3/4 ton 300 six cylinder stick 2wd. He put an Allis Chalmers B in the back of the truck, and on his tri axle trailer had a WC Chalmers and an A John Deere. I am sure he was grossly overloaded, but it handled the load fairly well. He didn't drive too far, nor too fast, but had plenty of power to get there and back. A couple times he opened the hood for people who didn't believe he hauled it all with a six cylinder.

Formerly PaMike · May 15, 2012

I normally say NEW trucks are a bad investment. Cost too much and depreciate too quickly, BUT I think you did well on this one. How much did it cost new?

Anonymous-0 · May 15, 2012

What kind of milage do they get? Been thinking about getting one myself?

Mark-Mi · May 15, 2012

Bought a 1982 F150 4x4 300 six cylinder new. 10,600 dollars.
I was so proud of them 300 sixes. Had one in a Button Johnson tomato harvester. You could throttle back to slow the shake mechanism down and Waller through a foot of mud.
But the one in my pick-up, well the hole truck was the biggest piece of junk I ever owned. If I had all night to type I would tell you every thing that went out on that truck.
Now, my Suburban is 25 years old and purrs like a kitten.

DoubleR · May 15, 2012

I had a couple those 300s. Just like you said, not allot of power but they go forever. They were a good engine. Maybe you'll want to find a used motor and put the o'l girl back on the road. Its hard to beat a good old truck like that. I paid 40,000 for a new O7 Chev but don't want to drive it or get it dirty. So I don't use it only to pull and haul. I only got 30,000 miles on it and it still looks new. But I miss driving a old one that I don't have to worry about.

mark in boonville ny · May 15, 2012

im glad to see your gonna fix her and no scrap it. thats whats in my 94 f150 with 104000 right now but body is about shot. i love the power these motors make better than the pos 302. last about 200k and thier about donethese will go forever. they get about 20mpg highway. 16 town. funny how these get a lot better mpg thn the new trucks. and no im sure your 2010 wont make it this far.

PJH · May 15, 2012

1982 was not a good year for Fords. I also had an '82 and it was a piece of junk. Engine, clutch, transmission, differential, even the driveshaft was out of balance and had to be replaced. Firestone tires - brakes - well, just about all of it.

It had a good radio. . . You could listen to it while you waited on the tow.

Had several other Ford pickups and they were all good.

BillyinStoughton · May 16, 2012

It stickered at $18,909 back in 96', but the new 97's were already on the lot. I squeeked it out of the dealership for at touch over $14,000. Best money I ever spent!

R.I.P. Big Red Machine

BillyinStoughton

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Bryan inIowa

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Rick Kr

Well-known Member

Anonymous-0

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showcrop

Well-known Member

BillyinStoughton

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Anonymous-0

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Anonymous-0

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Formerly PaMike

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Anonymous-0

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Mark-Mi

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DoubleR

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mark in boonville ny

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PJH

Well-known Member

BillyinStoughton

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