Interesting Trivia I'm Finding

You've probably seen my post that I now have the full set of "fact books" for the Bullnose years.  And I'm using them for documenting many things.  In fact, today I got the engine spreadsheet done using them, although I started another thread to discuss whether it is too complicated or not.  (If you've not seen it please go look and tell me what you think.)

And, I got the specification sheets from the yearly facts books scanned and included in the appropriate engine page.  Along the way I learned a few things, including:

The EFId 1986 302 was rated at 190 HP @ 3800 RPM and 285 ft-lbs @ 2400 RPM
And the 4V 351HO was rated at 210 HP @ 4000 RPM and 305 ft-lbs @ 2800 RPM
We've been saying that the "little" 302 isn't very strong, but in EFI form it does quite well, and at lower RPM than the 351HO.

There were some variations in the 4.9L's output.  For instance in 1982 the max torque was 234 ft-lbs for the F250HD and the F350, but from 253 to 257 for the lighter-duty trucks.  In addition, the peak torque RPM varied from 1200 to 1600 RPM in 1982, but went up to 2000 RPM for the HD trucks in 1983.  Plus, there's a note about a reduced-overlap cam being used with manual transmissions and really tall gears.

In 1984 there's a note that says that 3.55 gears were used in many applications.  But, there's a note that says 351 2V and 4V applications use a 3.50 ratio.  So Ford thought the 8.8" wasn't the ticket for the bigger engines and slipped the 9" in instead.  Pretty well confirms what Bulldawg1081 was saying.

Anyway, as the king of trivia, I'm like a pig in slop!  

Gary Lewis wrote

In 1984 there's a note that says that 3.55 gears were used in many applications.  But, there's a note that says 351 2V and 4V applications use a 3.50 ratio.  So Ford thought the 8.8" wasn't the ticket for the bigger engines and slipped the 9" in instead.  Pretty well confirms what Bulldawg1081 was saying.

That's funny, because in all the trucks I've looked at, they very rarely ever had 3.50 or 3.55 gears. Now, I've mostly been looking at 2wd trucks, but if I've looked at 30 of them, 27 of them had 3.08 gears. In the Bricknose and 1992-up trucks, every single one I've looked at had 3.08 gears. Then again, I almost never see a truck with a 351 in it. The regular cab 2wd trucks seem to be almost always 300/6 or 302.

Were the 3.50/3.55 gears more common in the 4x4 trucks?

I've had about 5 Bullnose trucks, and all of the light duty ones had 3.50 gears.  Of those only two were 4x4.  But I'll look to see what the standard gear was for the different trucks.  Tomorrow.

the ratio in 4x4 trucks of the bullnose era was kind of the luck of the draw.. MOST has 3.50's or 3.55's but there are some that got 3.00's and 3.08's too.. I had a bronco and a truck both that came with 3.00's.. forget bigger tires!

<quote author="Gary Lewis">

There were some variations in the 4.9L's output.  For instance in 1982 the max torque was 234 ft-lbs for the F250HD and the F350, but from 253 to 257 for the lighter-duty trucks.  In addition, the peak torque RPM varied from 1200 to 1600 RPM in 1982, but went up to 2000 RPM for the HD trucks in 1983.  Plus, there's a note about a reduced-overlap cam being used with manual transmissions and really tall gears.

This is good stuff, Gary. Long ago, I read that the 4.9L engine came with a different cam for the 2.47 and possibly 2.75 rear gears. But, most will say that the cam specifications are the same for all 300/4.9L engines from 1965 up.

Regarding the different performance figures and curves of the HD engine equipped trucks, the HD engines had reduced compression ratio and the much more free flowing HD exhaust manifold, which had no heat riser capabilities. It is said that this engine was known to run all day @ 3,000+ RPMs.

Since the peak torque occurred at a higher engine speed in 1983, I wonder if the feedback system came into effect at that time for the HD engine? For light duty trucks [49 state], this change came about beginning with the 1984 model.

John - It depends on the year, F150/250/350, and engine.  But since you said "3.00" that means a 9" and to be a 300 or 302 it would have to be 1982 or prior since the 8.8" was introduced in '83 for those engines.

So here are the specs for 1982 49-State F150 4x4's:

300 six had the 3.00 as standard and the 3.50 optional

302 had the 3.00 as standard and the 3.50 optional

351W had the 3.50 standard with no options

However, with the introduction of the 8.8" in 1983 things changed.  Here are the specs for the 1983 49-State F150 4x4's:

300 six had the 3.08 as standard and the 3.55 optional

302 had the 3.55 as standard for manual transmissions and 3.08 standard for automatics with the 3.55 optional

351W had the 3.55 standard with no options.  Yes, you read that correctly - it does not say that 351W's got the 9" for '82.  Apparently that changed later, perhaps after they'd had some problems?

David - Why didn't you tell me that I didn't have 1984 specs for the 300?  I somehow missed that in my QA check, but found the gap when I was looking for compression ratios.  But they are there now.

However, looking at the '84 sheet I see the compression ration is 8.4:1 regardless of application. Further, the cam's lift is the same regardless of application.

As for the feedback carb, the '83 book says:

All Rangers with the 2.3L and 2.8L engines (non-High Altitude) and certain 4.9L, 5.0L, and 5.8L Ford light trucks are equipped with a microprocessor-controlled engine emission system.....

 
But it doesn't tell me which ones.  It has a table that should tell, but none of the 4.9's, 5.0's, or 5.8's have the little (4) footnote that says they have it.  So I cannot answer that question.  

Gary, the emission label information (VECI labels) I sent you should help with that, coupled with the pinout charts.

About the feedback carburetors in '83:
I have a 1983 4.9L and it's non-feedback. My knowledge is that all 4.9L engines switched to feedback in 1984, but California 4.9L models already had a unique feedback system.
I'm betting you that note is referring to the California trucks.

My '83 Bronco Custom 300ci was originally non-feedback, non-MCU, 3.08Ro/3.07Fo with little tires.