[PaulF]

How much does a good motorcycle trailer cost, and I always thought the 4.0 inline 6 was the best motor in those jeeps, the v8 gets better mileage you say eh? I'll look into it. My Mom swears by jeep grand cherokees!

I was a Jeep salesman for a few years, (before Chrysler yuppy-ized the Jeep. Power windows in a Wrangler? Please). Anyway, I'm inline 6-prejudice. I had Wranglers with the 6. My wife has a Cheropkee with the 6. Fantastic indestructable contraptions. Seep oil but as long as there is some in the crankcase, they will always run.

Then I had a Ram 1500 4X with the 5.2 / 318. It was junk in my case. Would lose oil pressure instantly whilst travelling at speed. Dana rear end blew apart. I would have better off cutting off the roof, filling it with dirt and using it as a planter!

[REpozer]

I have a 1984 F150 long bed. 300 (4.9L) in line 6 with a carb.4x4 ,Granny low, 4 speed.
Great truck, could win any ugly truck competition.

 If you want a full size 4x4 that gets good gas milage , its just not physically possible, but I've been wrong more then once. Good hunting.

[1Blackwolf1]

  The best full size 4X4 I had was an '81 Dodge 1/2 ton 225 slant six with an auto.  Frekin' indestructible rusted out at 486,000 miles.  Didn't change oil after 375,000 miles...just added drain oil if it was low.  Actually gave it away at the 486,000 mile mark because had a buddy in dire straits.  He drove it about 1 1/2 years and added around 25,000 to the "clock".

  Wish I could find another with that set-up.  Always started hot, cold, in between.  I know why Moparts did away with that engine.  Ol' Blue was a sight but always did the job.  Surprisingly never broke a windshield or window..but there wasn't a straight spot on the body..and had three layers of tin in it for floor boards.  RIP.

  Will.

[PaulF]

Will, I had a Dart with that engine and loved it. The "sewing machine" is on my short list of great 6's along with one more, the 250 cu in. Chevy.

[GreenForce82]

What I am finding out is that, for the money (around 10k) I might as well get the big ole diesel. sure the filters are more and all... However, I Know that the 7.3 is very reliable and I would like to think that I would at least get the same mileage as the gassers, while getting a cooler truck and one that will last forever...I can also put a taller rear end in it and get even better higheway miles which is what I drive mostly. (40mi a day)

I Don't really like the look of the 1997-2003 F150s either, they look like big rangers, no offense to anyone that has one (ACE I think). The 1994-1996 F250/350 looks great, and the 1999-2003 Superduty I a damn good looking truck.

It isn't purely logic that drives me here, some aesthetics are involved too. The 2004  and up F150s look good but most have the 4.6 and not that that is bad but it gets 14-18 or so in real life, I know because my buddy who lives with me has one. I am one of those granny drivers anyway, hell I drive a Lincoln Continental now... so takin her easy to save fuel is no big feat for me.

Not dissin the other options I just think I am feelin the pull of the monster... and For the Buck$ I mightas well go for it....

[blueberry]

I drove a Ford E150 van with the 300 six for 88,000 miles in about 10 years.Great engine but only got 13 mpg around town. I drove my friends F 150 from So. Fla. to Tenn. and got 22 mpg with the V6 and 5 speed. 4WD will drop mpg a little. The Jeep 6 cyl. in our 88 Jeep went 201,000 miles, a lot of it  towing 3,000 lbs .After a rebuild 2 of my kids put another 45,000 miles on it. MPG was as low as 16 towing and 24 at 65 mph not towing. If you get a diesel remember oil changes can use up to 15 ots. per change using oil that is more $ than gas engine oil.

[1Blackwolf1]

Will, I had a Dart with that engine and loved it. The "sewing machine" is on my short list of great 6's along with one more, the 250 cu in. Chevy.

  Actually the 250 was a dynamo..the real workhorse for Chev/GMC was the 292 inline 6.  Mated to a four speed it was a Bull Elephant..sort of like the Ford inline 300 six.  All monsters in their own right.  Just that the duece and a quarter Mopar got 20 mpg..loaded or empty.

  Will.

[GreenForce82]

Well after actually driving an F350 I am re-evaluating my position on this...

WHAT A FRIGGIN' MONSTER!!!!

nice damn truck but whoa it was a dog and it was just too damn much truck for an Enfield, people will think I am haulin' a toy or something... the only thing visible above the bed rails would be the mickey mouse mirrors ha ha ha...

I am thinkin' about Chevy 1500 or just gettin' a Big boys Ranger (1997-2003 F150)...

I love that I can research the hell out of these trucks online, I feel bad for folks that had to go out and talk to everybody and their cousin to get an idea, before the internet age...

[single]

This is really cool,most everybody talkin up American Iron.I love the slant 6 Chrysler,always gave me good service.One of my Dodge truck actually rusted in half crosswise in the cab and collapsed one day so that the doors would not open,with me in it.The wierd thing is that was about all the rust the thing had in it.I jacked it up in the middle,welded in some 060 galvanized and kept on truckin.Had a Ranger that smoked to beat Hell but did NOT use much oil.Put in smokeless 2 cycle oil,cut way down on the smoke.On the Powerstroke,why not?Put in an Amsoil filter set up and quit changing oil,that's what I did with my Dodge.Just change filters.I now drive a 1970 Dodge with 318 HD 4 speed.It will be part of my "estate" when I die.It has  passed from outcast to celebrity,gets as much attention as my Bullet.Folks tell me they had one just like it,hated the site of the damned thing,loved it,Usually ask if it has a 318.Had a couple of Chevys,don't remember em,really,musta been ok.

[1Blackwolf1]

  That sounded like my '81 described earlier in this post.  Dad got sick of Ol' Blue because it was an eye sore.  Rust bucket supreme.. I think Dode trucks were probably rusting while being built on the assembly line.  But the slant six wouldn't die..and the 903 trans should have blown up at least ten times over.  Think I changed the fluid/filter once in it.

  Didn't burn oil but leaked bad until I replaced the oil pan gasket.  Really the only work I did to it...other than tune ups.  I miss the old girl occasionally. 

[RGT]

all you guys talking up the slant 6 got me thinking about my friends '64 Power Wagon and the slant 6 that we were so happy to pull out of it, of course the the cammed and prepped 392 hemi that took its place migth have had something to do with that, very fun truck after the conversion.

[1Blackwolf1]

  Any hemi is a good hemi.  Had a '68 Road Runner with a 426/6 pack/4 speed set-up.  Could pass anything but a gas pump.  Sold it before it could kill me.

[single]

My Citroen DS21 had a hemi.4 banger.My XJ6 inline is a hemi.But there is only ONE HEMI,aint they?

[1Blackwolf1]

  I wonder who designed the first Hemi..I know the original mopar V-8 was a 273.  Had one of those in an ancient pathugly Dodge Dart 4 door.  That was a '64 I bought for $25 at a rummage sale when I was 17.  Ran well..no rust but scary ugly.

[REpozer]

I had a 77 Dodge Aspen, with a slant six, all I did to was change all fluids and adjust valves, while it was running.
I was third owner .It was originally owned by a little old lady and then a missionary ..no kidding , so everything was nice.
The biggest disappointment was lack of trunk space. The fuel tank was in the trunk. The car was really an ugly dork mobile which lead to a kind of counter culture coolness.