Death of the V8 & birth of a.... Inline 6?

PoMansRam · May 13, 2022

Remember Ford's 4.9L inline 6? The sweet spot for them was when they had port fuel injection towards the end of them in the mid 1990s. Run smooth with decent power, just sucked fuel like crazy. I remember almost pulling the trigger on a brand new 1993 F150 2wd reg cab, short box, 5spd w/ the 4.9L for about $12K. The rear bumper was another $150. LOL! Those were the days.

I also liked the inline 6 in our 2005 Chevy Trailblazer, but again with the almost worse than a V8 fuel economy.

To me I'm fine with a 6cyl of any configuration. I'm just not big on one, let alone 2 turbo chargers and all the associated equipment needed for them.

Okie345 · May 14, 2022

There gonna have turbo issues just from the people that drive them. Let alone a bad design if they actually have one. I've always let my diesels idle a few minutes before taking off and idle a few before shutting it down just to help the turbo. Short drives, people that start the truck in drive and run the hell out of them. Towing 10k and immediately shutting your truck off when you get to a gas station. I hope I'm wrong.

KeithP · May 14, 2022

Okie345 said:
There gonna have turbo issues just from the people that drive them. Let alone a bad design if they actually have one. I've always let my diesels idle a few minutes before taking off and idle a few before shutting it down just to help the turbo. Short drives, people that start the truck in drive and run the hell out of them. Towing 10k and immediately shutting your truck off when you get to a gas station. I hope I'm wrong.

You’re probably right. Going to have to treat it like it’s a diesel. Folks who have never had a diesel are going to have to learn how to slow their life down just a little.

GTyankee · May 14, 2022

Some of you mentioned that you need a V-8 to have power

I guess they never looked at gas powered Farm Tractors
You won't find many V-8s

Govtman · May 14, 2022

PoMansRam said:
Remember Ford's 4.9L inline 6? The sweet spot for them was when they had port fuel injection towards the end of them in the mid 1990s. Run smooth with decent power, just sucked fuel like crazy. I remember almost pulling the trigger on a brand new 1993 F150 2wd reg cab, short box, 5spd w/ the 4.9L for about $12K. The rear bumper was another $150. LOL! Those were the days.

I also liked the inline 6 in our 2005 Chevy Trailblazer, but again with the almost worse than a V8 fuel economy.

To me I'm fine with a 6cyl of any configuration. I'm just not big on one, let alone 2 turbo chargers and all the associated equipment needed for them.

4.9? Never knew that. Seems like back in the day we just said the CI #. Ie. Ford 300 I6, .302, 305,350. Seems like the Liter designation started with the Mustang 5.0. I remember seeing the Liter designation on the Pontiac hood scoops but it was like Greek. Just give me the c.i.d.

Govtman · May 14, 2022

GTyankee said:
Some of you mentioned that you need a V-8 to have power

I guess they never looked at gas powered Farm Tractors
You won't find many V-8s

That 300 I6 Ford was a strong motor. It had no issue smoking the tires on buddies F150. No it was not for drag strip but the I6s were dependable. My dad use to say he would choose GPs 65 Chevy PU with 232 I6 and 3 on the tree to drive it across the country.

2012RAM1500RT · May 14, 2022

I'm sorry guys, I just don't have the same excitement as a lot of the post I've seen on here over a 6 cylinder. I'm a diehard Mopar and Mopar only guy and even thou I know the slant 6 is something you can't kill without a sledge hammer it's still a 6 cylinder. I have never seen a 6 cylinder in 62 years that has impressed me. You can put turbos on them like today's 6 cylinder and they will run but take the turbos off and they are still a ........ 6 cylinder. I guess in 10 years or so (maybe less) old school guys like me will be gone and you won't have to hear our opinions but I'm so glad I lived my youth in the '70's and wouldn't change it for the world! So glad I don't have to grow up in this day and age, the choices we had were great. Not knocking the future and what people like but not something I even care to look forward to. I do remember seeing 2 old Valiants with slant 6's running the 1/4 mile at the dragstrip years ago and they ran in the 12's. They would literally blow my doors off. They sound like 2 chainsaws running wide open so I got over it quick........ Next......was my thought!

NJMOPAR · May 14, 2022

"There's no replacement for displacement"
Slap a turbo on a 4, a 6 and a V8 Hemi in the same vehicle and see who wins.

Dodge 1500 4X4 · May 14, 2022

I will never forget about a 1995 f-150 W 6cyl 300 cid, My job called for me to move to Colorado, and where I live it's a uphill battle the whole way to get to mile high Colorado I was pulling a 19ft boat half way or better I developed a rod knock because that 6 cyl didn't have the torque or H/P to pull that boat the truck had low miles on it and it was well maintained, yes I to have had my share of V-8 and I will not go back in time, like the saying no replacement for displacement!!!

2012RAM1500RT · May 14, 2022

NJMOPAR said:
"There's no replacement for displacement"
Slap a turbo on a 4, a 6 and a V8 Hemi in the same vehicle and see who wins.

That's called apple's and apple's!

Docwagon1776 · May 14, 2022

Govtman said:
4.9? Never knew that. Seems like back in the day we just said the CI #. Ie. Ford 300 I6, .302, 305,350. Seems like the Liter designation started with the Mustang 5.0.

Buddy of mine had chrome lettering reading "Almost 5.0" on the tailgate of his straight 6 Ford...

Kickboxer · May 14, 2022

Dodge 1500 4X4 said:
I will never forget about a 1995 f-150 W 6cyl 300 cid, My job called for me to move to Colorado, and where I live it's a uphill battle the whole way to get to mile high Colorado I was pulling a 19ft boat half way or better I developed a rod knock because that 6 cyl didn't have the torque or H/P to pull that boat the truck had low miles on it and it was well maintained, yes I to have had my share of V-8 and I will not go back in time, like the saying no replacement for displacement!!!

I had a 1985 F150 with the 300 6 cyl. it was not a speed demon, but this was
a strong engine. You did not develop a (rod knock), because of the engine,
sounds like detonation because of the altitude, and someone with a heavy foot
and no common sense.

Kickboxer · May 14, 2022

There is nothing wrong with a 6-cylinder engine. My most recent vehicle with
a 6 is an Audi A6, with a supercharged 3.0 V6. It is very enjoyable....

Kickboxer · May 15, 2022

I think it is time to think about the evolution of how the USA has mandated
emissions. I had a 1973 350 in a Chev. that had a smog pump and related
plumbing. Through the 70's to the 90's this was an issue. That made a 300 HP engine into a 150 HP version. This is not news.
It is better to have a 6-cylinder, free breathing turbocharged engine, than a
more smogged down V-8 when emissions matter.

Wulf · May 15, 2022

One of the most durable engines back in the day was, unless I am not remembering correctly, a MOPAR Slant 6. This newest addition, according to numerous "review" videos out there are saying that the Standard Output version of this "new and improved" Hurricane inline 6 is comparable in capability/output to the current 5.7, and the "high output" is on par with the 6.4. I think I also remember someone in one of those videos saying the engine length is just a hair over the 5.7 so it would fit without too much shoehorning into current vehicles using those motors.
From https://dodgeforum.com/articles/hurricane-twin-turbo-i-6-to-power-next-gen-charger-ram-1500/

Two New Hurricane Engines

The Hurricane engine family is introduced with two options, each featuring twin turbochargers and a 3.0-liter inline six cylinder engine block. The Standard Output engine is designed to optimize fuel economy and it will deliver more than 400 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque at 22 pounds of boost. The High Output version is optimized for performance and will deliver more than 500 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque with 26 pounds of boost.

Speaking as someone who currently has the 345/5.7 version of the HEMI in my Warlock, if I am remembering my numbers correctly, it has 395 HP and 405 ft./lbs in factory tune. I think the version that comes in the Challenger has slightly different numbers. So at least based on the truck version of the 5.7, the newer Hurricane engine does show better HP/Torque numbers. Presumably, since they are both inline 6s, they should be relatively the same length, but likely to take up more or less engine bay real estate depending on SO or HO choice.

Kickboxer · May 15, 2022

I agree the slant six was a very good engine. This new I-6 does not have any
thing related. It is an entirely new design, from Europe.

huntergreen · May 15, 2022

Kickboxer said:
I agree the slant six was a very good engine. This new I-6 does not have any
thing related. It is an entirely new design, from Europe.

Europe has been building small displacement engines with turbo engines for a long time now. The sky is not falling.

KKBB · May 15, 2022

My only experience with a 6 cylinder is the many cummins engines I had before this ram 2500 with the 6.4. It is an amazing engine. I understand it is different being gas vs. diesel, but if they do it correctly...which is a big if, it could prove to be a great thing. IMO.

PoMansRam · May 15, 2022

Kickboxer said:
I had a 1985 F150 with the 300 6 cyl. it was not a speed demon, but this was
a strong engine. You did not develop a (rod knock), because of the engine,
sounds like detonation because of the altitude, and someone with a heavy foot
and no common sense.

Very uncommon to have a bottom end issue with a Ford 300 / 4.9L I6

Unless you never changed the oil or ran it low on oil of course.

huntergreen · May 15, 2022

PoMansRam said:
Very uncommon to have a bottom end issue with a Ford 300 / 4.9L I6

Unless you never changed the oil or ran it low on oil of course.

The weak spot was the Venturi carburetor. At least on mine.

Death of the V8 & birth of a.... Inline 6?

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