Is the ford 4.9 in-Line 6 a good motor?

Answer 1

The old 300 cubic inch (4.9 liter) inline 6 Ford engine is one of the most reliable automotive engines ever produced. It was basically the same as the older 240 c.i. engine, but with a longer stroke. One reason for its ruggedness is that it does not use a timing chain or belt for the cam: rather, it uses long-wearing gears. There are a number of them that have run for 300,000 to as many as 600,000 miles, with nothing more than regular oil changes and tuneups.

It was first used in Ford F-series trucks in 1965, and was produced until 1996, when it was replaced with more modern V-6 engines. During its lifetime, it was used in everything from family sedans to large dump trucks. Because of the design of its manifolds, it was easy to upgrade performance, and some were even used in racing, with up to over 350 horsepower.

With the stock single-barrel carburetor as used on the original engines, 20 mpg was a very realistic expectation. Power could be substantially increased by changing the intake manifold and mounting a larger 4-barrel carburetor, with very little decrease in mileage. Later versions of the engine were equipped with electronic fuel injection, and output on these can be increased by the use of reprogrammers.

They are still in use today in industrial equipment, including many of the small tugs, luggage belt loaders, and other equipment you see at airports, as well as a multitude of other pieces of equipment, such as ski lifts, power generators, wood chippers, and tractors. LPG or natural gas versions are often used as power plants for stationary pumps and generators.