Bullnoses on Film
#31
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One did influence the other, so I've been told.
It takes quite awhile to redesign a vehicle. Concept drawings, clay models, full size prototypes, proof testing. There was a heck of a lot of wind tunnel testing as well.
Which means that the 1980 -1981 hood letters were technically not a carryover from the 1978 - 1979 model trucks, but rather the 1978 - 1979 model trucks "borrowed" the hood letters from the newer (but not released yet) 1980 - 1981 model trucks?
#32
I remember you saying that before and I decided not to comment then, but I can't pass it up again. Were they trying for barn-door drag coefficients? Are these trucks really better than the earlier trucks? I keep being surprised by the amount of wind noise, and that's not good for low drag.
#33
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I remember you saying that before and I decided not to comment then, but I can't pass it up again. Were they trying for barn-door drag coefficients? Are these trucks really better than the earlier trucks? I keep being surprised by the amount of wind noise, and that's not good for low drag.
Still designed like a brick? yes...
Just because it had wind tunnel testing doesn't mean they knew how to use it well. After all, the 1980 was the first design that used wind tunnels.
Ford F-Series Truck History, 1980 - 1986
#34
Better in areodynamics than the last "generation", yes.
Still designed like a brick? yes...
Just because it had wind tunnel testing doesn't mean they knew how to use it well. After all, the 1980 was the first design that used wind tunnels.
Ford F-Series Truck History, 1980 - 1986
Still designed like a brick? yes...
Just because it had wind tunnel testing doesn't mean they knew how to use it well. After all, the 1980 was the first design that used wind tunnels.
Ford F-Series Truck History, 1980 - 1986
1981 Ford F-Series Truck Updates
In 1981, Ford made changes that focused on better fuel mileage by offering:
A 4-speed overdrive manual transmission on F-150 4X4s
A 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission on 2-wheel drive models equipped with the 5.0L V-8
A 4.2 liter V-8 for 2-wheel drive F-100s (only offered in 1981 and 1982)
A 4-speed manual with O/D in 4x4's? A 4-speed auto with O/D? In '81?
In 1981, Ford made changes that focused on better fuel mileage by offering:
A 4-speed overdrive manual transmission on F-150 4X4s
A 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission on 2-wheel drive models equipped with the 5.0L V-8
A 4.2 liter V-8 for 2-wheel drive F-100s (only offered in 1981 and 1982)
#35
I agree!
It claims:
Huh????? No 400 in 1980? My 1981 has one....
It claims:
In 1980, radial tires became standard on 2-wheel drive F-Series trucks. The 400 and 460 cu.in. engines were removed from the line-up, leaving the 300 cu.in. 6-cylinder and 302 and 351 cu.in. V-8s.
#37
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That's a good read, but I kinda doubt bits of it:
1981 Ford F-Series Truck Updates
In 1981, Ford made changes that focused on better fuel mileage by offering:
A 4-speed overdrive manual transmission on F-150 4X4s
A 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission on 2-wheel drive models equipped with the 5.0L V-8
A 4.2 liter V-8 for 2-wheel drive F-100s (only offered in 1981 and 1982)
A 4-speed manual with O/D in 4x4's? A 4-speed auto with O/D? In '81?In 1981, Ford made changes that focused on better fuel mileage by offering:
A 4-speed overdrive manual transmission on F-150 4X4s
A 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission on 2-wheel drive models equipped with the 5.0L V-8
A 4.2 liter V-8 for 2-wheel drive F-100s (only offered in 1981 and 1982)
The manual 4-speed overdrive was the Clark (Tremec) unit, Transmission Code B.
Here is the 1981 4x4 brochure options pages where it clearly states the 4-speed OD tranny was an option in the Performance section...
http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/for...2/bilder/6.jpg
http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/for...2/bilder/7.jpg
#38
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"Areodynamic design, Smooth Lines, Reduced Airdrag... "
Here are some examples...
http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/for...2/bilder/2.jpg
http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/ford/81fp/bilder/2.jpg
They were quite proud of their new areodynamic design, reading all the literature of the day. Not saying there wasn't room for improvement. And for a first attempt at it, it's not horrific in my view. Compared to todays vehicles though, yes ours are designed like bricks.
If you want to pay for the Areodynamic wind tunnel test results, here is the evaluations document for the 1980 F-series. I can't find it for free online. Louis T. Duncan was the Areodynamic engineer at Ford at the time the 1980 was designed.
Aerodynamic Evaluations of the 1980 F-Series Light and Medium Trucks and the 1978 CL-9000 Heavy Truck
Some info of Louis T. Duncan:
Louis Duncan | ZoomInfo.com
And another example of the 4-speed OD in 4x4's being optional.
http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/for...2/bilder/3.jpg
#39
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Yes, that is clearly an error.
The last 400 installed in a F-series was in 1982.
Those could have been backstock engines though as it's not the first time I heard the 351M and 400 were discontinued in production 1980. That doesn't mean they didn't have a load of engines they couldn't install.
I found this at...
History of the Ford 351M
The last 400 installed in a F-series was in 1982.
Those could have been backstock engines though as it's not the first time I heard the 351M and 400 were discontinued in production 1980. That doesn't mean they didn't have a load of engines they couldn't install.
I found this at...
History of the Ford 351M
#40
When I found my 400, the power steering pump brackets, oil pan, and motor mount perches were all correct for a 1980-1982 truck. The engine block itself was cast in 1978. One exhaust manifold was cast in 1978, the other in 1979. One cylinder head was cast in 1977, the other in 1978.
I find it extremely hard to believe that the owner of the Bronco cobbled a 400 together out of parts from at least three different 400's, and made the attempt to source the correct 1980 parts that would fit the Bronco.
I'm fairly certain my 400 was originally installed in a 1980-1982 truck, although it sat in storage since March 1978 when it was originally assembled, at least according to what the date stamp says on the front of the block.
I find it extremely hard to believe that the owner of the Bronco cobbled a 400 together out of parts from at least three different 400's, and made the attempt to source the correct 1980 parts that would fit the Bronco.
I'm fairly certain my 400 was originally installed in a 1980-1982 truck, although it sat in storage since March 1978 when it was originally assembled, at least according to what the date stamp says on the front of the block.
#42
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Drive angry in the first part thier is a old beat up Fseries bullnose.
Pure Country has one but thats been said.
In the parking lot of one of the Bars in the movie Harley Davidson is a Fseries Bullnose thiere I know because my dad had a side part in that movie.
I think I saw one in the movie 8 Seconds not the truck the main charcter that for some reason I can't rember his name drives but in the background.
In the movie Flicka with Tim Mcgraw the first one when they go to the rodeo I may have seen one I am not sure I was to busy fascinating over that Chevy (I love 90s Crew cab Chevys).
Fire in the sky has 1 I believe the movie about Travis Walton I live in the same town as him and he has a bulnose flatbed sitting over there.
I know thier is more but I can't think of them right now.
Trav
Pure Country has one but thats been said.
In the parking lot of one of the Bars in the movie Harley Davidson is a Fseries Bullnose thiere I know because my dad had a side part in that movie.
I think I saw one in the movie 8 Seconds not the truck the main charcter that for some reason I can't rember his name drives but in the background.
In the movie Flicka with Tim Mcgraw the first one when they go to the rodeo I may have seen one I am not sure I was to busy fascinating over that Chevy (I love 90s Crew cab Chevys).
Fire in the sky has 1 I believe the movie about Travis Walton I live in the same town as him and he has a bulnose flatbed sitting over there.
I know thier is more but I can't think of them right now.
Trav
#44
There's a bullnose in the current TV show 'Falling Skies' - I believe it's an 83-86 model, as it has cable supports for the tailgate, rather than the straps.
They've also got a 78-79 dent in there, and had some old POS Dodge truck until the aliens blew it up at the end of the last season. Part of the premise of the show is that the aliens used an EMP pulse to knock out most human technology, so there are quite a few older cars and trucks on the show.
They've also got a 78-79 dent in there, and had some old POS Dodge truck until the aliens blew it up at the end of the last season. Part of the premise of the show is that the aliens used an EMP pulse to knock out most human technology, so there are quite a few older cars and trucks on the show.