like every automotive Q the answ is in "What is the application?"
An auto is a system (w/several sub-systems, even ele as several - charge, start. run, lights/dash.gauges, sensors, etc, etc). What U do to 1 prt effects the others. Change an engine = change other stuff...of suffer.
I have the EB. It was a woods "wrk truck" for 37 yrs. It hada i6 170/2.8. It is getting retired to 70%rd / 30% off rd & hasa i6 4.1, 5 speed rather than the 3 speed (1 under for crawl, 1 over for interstate OD). The i6 isa low rev tq-er. no tire spin like the bent8. Currently training my da (soon to own) on a *** manual...
OK, ok, short answ: "It depends"
/OR/
Y not the 4.9/300? It has been named "the gasser that's a diesel." and is ford's million mi motor (like MB OM617 turboed Diesel, the 2 slanties frm MOPOWR, etc)?