Anybody know anything about F100s?

[JamesH]

Hi all

Anyone had any experience with F100s before they saw the Light?

Some engines better than others etc. I heard they handle like a cake of soap but are pretty good utes all round.

[Redback]

As far as i'm aware they had only 2 V8s up until they untroduced the F150,
the 302 and 351 windsor and the 250 straight 6 and were all good motors strong drive train but weak axles not a bad 4WD but really heavy and clumsey in the bush.
I had a 68 F100 tray back, last of the American imports with the 302 windsor and dual exchaust, what a swwweeeeet sound.

I LOVE THEM style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

Baz.

[incisor]

there was a canadian built model or two as well from memory..

i love em, but cant afford to run em style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

[JDNSW]

Originally posted by Redback
As far as i'm aware they had only 2 V8s up until they untroduced the F150,

Baz.

Actually the last one I had anything to do with had a side valve engine, not either of the ones you mention..... but that was a few years back, some time in the 1950's, and it wasn't new then.

[Redback]

Originally posted by JDNSW+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JDNSW)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-Redback
As far as i'm aware they had only 2 V8s up until they untroduced the F150,

Baz.

Actually the last one I had anything to do with had a side valve engine, not either of the ones you mention..... but that was a few years back, some time in the 1950's, and it wasn't new then.[/b][/quote]

Thats why i said as far as i'm aware style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif the 1950s was a bit before my time seeing as i was born in 55, but i think the side valve was a 250cubic inch straight 6, the later 6 was of coarse an OHV 6.

Baz.

[101RRS]

My dad had a six and my brother a 308 - both 2wd. The 308 had a limited slip diff and with the ground clearance and V8 grunt could go most places a 4wd would go - slow steep hills and some sand wouold stop it. I used the V8 to recover my old series 1 landy a few times.

With a lot of US commercial type vehicles the chassis was a bit twisty and with excessive use over rough ground the chassis could develop cracks. In the Navy we had Broncos and they were suffering cracks to the body (not an issue on the F100) and chassis.

Overall though, I found them comfortable on the road (floaty) but a bit big in the bush. A really good honest vehicle that did what it was designed to do very well - was a good tow car as well.

Garry

[JDNSW]

Originally posted by Redback+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Redback)</div><div class='quotemain'>
Originally posted by JDNSW@
<!--QuoteBegin-Redback
As far as i'm aware they had only 2 V8s up until they untroduced the F150,

Baz.

Actually the last one I had anything to do with had a side valve engine, not either of the ones you mention..... but that was a few years back, some time in the 1950's, and it wasn't new then.

Thats why i said as far as i'm aware :D the 1950s was a bit before my time seeing as i was born in 55, but i think the side valve was a 250cubic inch straight 6, the later 6 was of coarse an OHV 6.

Baz.[/b][/quote]

As far as I am aware Ford has never sold a side valve six in Australia, and I would be surprised if they had ever made one. The first six cylinder Ford sold in Australia was the Zephyr, which was overhead valve. I am pretty sure the F100 had a side valve V8 until it went to a pushrod V8, and the six was not fitted until much later. (Talking about Australia here)
As garrycol said, a good solid vehicle, albeit a bit big for bush tracks. Once you go to four wheel drive though, you have the usual problems of fitting four wheel drive to a chassis designed for two wheel drive - the chassis is subjected to stresses it wasn't designed for and the whole setup tends to be compromised compared to a four wheel drive designed from the ground up. But Ford seem to have done a better job than some of their competitors.

[incisor]

am dam sure the old f100 Canadian engine is a 360 cubic inch six cylinder

was very economical for it's size i remember....

[Redback]

Well there ya go i always thought that they were imported from the states up until 68 (assembled here from 68 to late 70s) with either a V8 or straight 6 and that the V8 OHV was the Canadian windsor 302 & 351.
I'm only talking the later models though as i'm not familiar with pre late 60s F100s.

The Cleavland 351 V8 US model was only in the Bronco, of coarse i could be wrong as you might be aware by now. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

Baz.

[JamesH]

I have a mate who loves them without having had any experience and has his eye on a neighbour's 6 cylinder 2wd which sounds honest. i just wanted to get a feel for what they are like.

On the weekend I had my first drive of one and in one and must say I loved it. Room in the cab and the big bench seat.

This brute was a 4wd trayback on a farm and he had dropped a 6.2 V8 diesel in it - had a lovely sound though I'm sure dropping a GM engine into a Ford has to break some kind of code of conduct.

As I mentioned earlier on another thread I love the very early Broncos too.

[VladTepes]

James

There guys are local to me:

http://www.fseries.com.au/

and seem pretty good - I was chatting to them when I nearly bought one prior to "seeing the light" as you say style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

They have an email and would probably be happy to answer any questions your mate might have.

[Redback]

My opinion of them is, that they are a great truck, reliable, strong, smooth on the road, comfy, heaps of room in the cab and tons of room in the back, they are just a great allround work horse, i'd buy another one in a heartbeat if i could afford one style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

Baz.

[DiscoTDI]

I know they are big style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

My brother had a later model F150, all I remember is they kick arse :twisted:

[LandyAndy]

Hi James
I had one supplied as a farm ute with my last job.
4.1 six 2wd,soft marshmallow suspension,brilliant for a fast dash across the paddock,not real user friendly on a gravel road.
They are thirsty,with adequet power from the 6,the V8's have the grunt but are big drinkers.
Things to watch for,RUST,CHASSIS CRACKS(look about where your feet sit).They chew ball joints,but the end isnt replaceable,you need to replace the complete steering link,steering box wear,they end up like steering a boat,cracks around the steering box mounts,rusty fuel tanks,look for petrol stains under the tank.
Good load carrying capacity,they are huge.
Andrew

[JDNSW]

Originally posted by incisor
am dam sure the old f100 Canadian engine is a 360 cubic inch six cylinder

was very economical for it's size i remember....

Not sure what "old" is - but my point is I'll bet it was overhead valve not side valve, if it was a six, although I could be wrong - I really don't know that much about Fords!

[abaddonxi]

Had one, now I've got a Landy.

No comparison.

Cheers

Simon

[rick130]

had an F100 prior to the Landy.
The V8's used up to the F150 were 302 and 351 Cleavland's. These were excellent, big, burly engines that take well to a little 'work'. My 351 had 302 closed chamber heads with 4V valves (11.5:1 CR), port matched headers, Scorcher racing dizzy (my custom advance curve for LPG) with a Holden spread cap and HEI, reasonable cam, etc, running on LPG, which made the whole deal reasonably economical.
The F150 used a fuel injected engine based on the Windsor.
The big six used in the early-mid seventies was a 300 cu in Ford (Canadian ?) six. From about 1980, they also started to fit the Aussie 250 cross flow six to them as a fuel economy measure.
On top of what the others have said, the C6 auto was a good gearbox, as were the 4 speed manuals, and although very agricultural in action, they were bloody strong.
The 9" diff centre was OK, although the axle tubes would crack with overloading and rough use (ooops :oops: )
A few Ford blokes I know weren't that impressed with the Dana 44 rear ends fitted to the F150's, and to be fair, the D44 is a smaller CWP than the 9".
The manual steering was about 7 turns lock to lock (I'm not exagerating !) and heavier than anything I've ever used before or since. It was quite funny to throw the keys to someone and ask them to move it, particularly on a building site. They would invariably come back to tell me that the steering lock was jammed on. :wink: therefore, unless you're a masochist (I must be) power steering is a must.
I never had to replace a tie rod end or king pin, (the later ones used ball joints) and my old bus had over 500,000km when it was taken off the road.
They float and wallow all over the place, so a good set of shocks all round are essential, and I fitted a K-Mac anti-roll bar to the front of mine to help tame it.
A stock Defender kills the old Effie in on road handling, but I do miss the thrust of that 351.