My Grandpa had old sixth gen. green and beige F-100 with 300 inline 6. It ran forever. Unfortunately, they sold it after his death. I have always liked them since riding around in them as a little boy. How much can one tow? Do they have rust problems?
What years are 6th generation F-100s?
stuart in mn wrote: What years are 6th generation F-100s?
73-79
In that case, they're good trucks. Unless you live in the desert, expect to find rust.
In reply to stuart in mn:
I don't remember my grandpa's having any rust and it lived in a barn.
I have had one since 1998. I am the 2nd owner. I found it in Hemet CA, a rancher traded it to my uncle's gmc dealership as the air conditioner had broken. It is a short box with a 4" lift, 390ci, 4spd. I added a detroit locker and installed a heater( it had a/c but no heater from factory) The only issues that I ever have are broken left motormounts and u-joints. I guess a 390, locker and 33 12.50 15 mud tires, and a heavy foot may contribute to both of those problems. I live in Michigan and keep it off the salty roads and rust is not an issue yet. It drives great on dirt , ok on pavement. I would like to upgraded to disc brakes on the front, drums are not so good after crossing streams. Get one
The biggest problem you'll have is with that 300 I6, you'll never find a reason to replace it, ever! Awesome mill.
It will depend on where you live, I suppose, but in Minnesota most of them rusted away a long time ago although that isn't necessarily limited to Ford trucks; any vehicles of that era will have suffered from rust. Look for rust in the cab supports in particular, also in the radiator support. Disk brakes are an easy upgrade, brakes from trucks up through 1979 at least are a bolt in affair. The mechanicals bits are pretty durable. The kingpin bushings in the front twin I-beam suspension can wear but that's not a big deal to replace. There are a number of places that sell reproduction parts for them; Carolina Classics, Auto Krafters and Dennis Carpenter are three I can think of off the top of my head.
I used to own a '65 F-250 and now have a '66 F-100; 1965-1979 are all very similar under the skin.
The last couple years of that generation are typically seen as a very good off-road or mudding truck. At least that what a couple of magazines' 10 tens list have said, and my dad for that matter.
Tough as nails.
I'd have another one in a heartbeat. My 7th gen (I guess that's what it is) is the next best thing and it has the 300.
Shawn
Regarding rust, wiki (we all know how incredibly accurate wiki is) says:
In 1976, the F-series became the best-selling truck in America, a position it has continued to hold since. This generation is noted for the durability of the body panels as Ford used extensive amounts of galvanized sheet metal to fight corrosion. 1977 was the first year for smaller cowl insignias moved near the windshield and the last year for the medium-duty F-500.
As much as I love my Ford, they're only the top seller because GM and Chevy are considered different companies.
Shawn
Trans_Maro wrote: As much as I love my Ford, they're only the top seller because GM and Chevy are considered different companies. Shawn
And I have yet to understand why that is. Seriously, there's NOTHING GMC sells that's not a rebadged Chevy.
More on topic - my dad has a bought-new '77 F-150 and a '79 Bronco. Fantastic trucks. The '77's getting some rust around the rear wheel arches, but they're both nigh indestructible elsewise.
I thinking that the F-100 from that year range will be my first truck once I get out of college. What kinda gas mileage does a 300 get?
96DXCivic wrote: I thinking that the F-100 from that year range will be my first truck once I get out of college. What kinda gas mileage does a 300 get?
My last-year-of EFI 300 gets around 15-20 mpg if I drive it like a sane individual.
I imagine the carbed ones are a bit less.
The nice part is, those numbers don't seem to get any worse when she's fully loaded with a slide-in camper.
Shawn
I always loved that generation of Ford trucks.
I have had some experience with some Fords of that vintage, a 1979 Bronco Custom to be specific. Was used as a hunting truck by my grandfather for years and nothing else, lived under a garage until about 4 years ago. Did enjoy the fiberglass roof, one of the largest convertibles made once that thing came off. Paint is ok but the interior is mint. Everything works but the radio and it's only so-so. Very tough drive train, motor runs great but still manages to SUCK power wise and drink way more gas that it should be able to but what can you expect from a Ford V8? 351 windsor i think but may be a cleavland (edit: its some frankin motor called a midland? never heard of it personally)? My dad had visions of a 460 but that has yet and is unlikely to materialize, My argument starts and ends with SBC and he will hear none of that.
It is for sale BTW.....
Trans_Maro wrote: As much as I love my Ford, they're only the top seller because GM and Chevy are considered different companies. Shawn
I have also seen numbers showing ford out selling GM and chevys COMBINED for some years
Add me to the 300/I6 fanboi club. I LOVE LOVE LOVE that engine. Gas permitting, a 300/I6 bronco would be my IDEAL DD.
I had a '78 f100,bought used in '85 or so. V-8,auto & a/c. Very dependable. No matter how I drove it I got around 10 mpg. I recall having some minor transmission linkage problem with it,other wise it was dependable. Sold it locally in '96. Saw the owner in 2004 I think it was & he said it was doing fine except the a/c quit working. The guy who bought it from me sold it a couple of years ago but I saw it at Lowes last week. I certainly got my money's worth out of it.
JohnGalt wrote: 351 windsor i think but may be a cleavland (edit: its some frankin motor called a midland? never heard of it personally)?
Besides the 351C and 351W they also had a 351M that was used in a lot of trucks at that time. http://www.projectbronco.com/History/history_of_the_ford_351m.htm
I hope I can find one like my grandpa's. It came in the most classic '70s colors; disco brown and green with a green interior. It was awesome.
I had that 300 I6 engine in 3 different vehicles (car, van, pickup). Never had any trouble with any of them.
My nephew has that engine in an old pickup he is currently drivng. As best we can figure it has somewhere over 300K miles on it and has never been rebuilt.
I had a 69 f100 (gen 5 I guess) shortbed with a 2bbl 390 and manual everything. That's the only vehicle I've ever sold that I regret. Great truck. Got 12 mpg loaded, unload, puttering or wide ass open. Which was 80mph.
351M was a 335-series block motor made by destroking a 400M. Same engine family as the 351 Cleveland - Cleveland heads swap right on, and are a good bump in power for the M motor.
That's what my father did to his along with a holley double-pumper on a high-rise intake, and that thing will flat eat a chevy 350 for lunch.
Nowadays, Trick Flow even makes heads for the 335-series motors... I'd love to see what those and a 4-barrel would do on my 400. 
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