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Has anyone ever thought to compare some of the ways Ford saved money and was able to offer a cheaper truck than GM back in the 70's? Since I bought my 78 F150 4x4 4 years ago and I also own a 1979 GMC 4x4, I have learned a lot about the Fords.
In looking at some of the basics, not necessarily the options, here' s what I have noticed:
Ford's door panels are smaller and don't cover the majority of the door.
The headliners don't fully cover the roof.
There was no parking brake warning light on the 73-79 models, only the hydraulic system light. (But my factory owner's manual says there is one)
The steering columns did not have locks and the ign switch was still on the dash.
The seat belt buckles did not sit up right in a boot. (All the GM's did, and there was an optional silver looking buckle)
The alternators still used external regulators
The starter motors still used a remote solenoid.
Most models only had one horn note and no relay, although you could get two notes-but only with cruise control.
Except for the 6 cylinders, the V8's still used a rod connected to the accel pedal instead of a cable. (79 models only did use a half cable connected to a rod)
Anyone ever notice that the 4wd shift **** attachment to the rod looked like something was left off in the design? The way the **** screwed on to the rod left a large gap between the two, as if a bushing or cover was left out of the equation. The threaded part of the rod was still exposed after the **** had been screwed on. I always felt like the **** should have bottomed out against the ticker part of the rod below the threads.
Ford was still using an ammeter instead of volt meter for its gauges and a dated design for the other gauges using a control regulator that gave inaccurate readings.
As far options went, intermittent wipers were rare as was tilt steering in the Fords.
There was no option at all for power windows or locks.
Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy my Ford. It's a daily driver in the warmer months even though my GMC rides smoother due to the suspension. Just some observations I've made over the years.
When new the GM trucks were almost 20% cheaper, there was a lot of GM trucks sold. It's also why there is a huge aftermarket. The Ford trucks especially if you went 4x4 or crew cab went to almost 10k new in 79. The GM trucks were sold in surplus cheap. They found a way to use subpar sheet metal that wasn't galvanized and reduced the frame thickness. How about the self folding GM hoods because a stiffening rib was too expensive? All of these trucks have a horn relay, dual hi and low was an option but there is definitely a horn relay on the passenger fender next to the starter solenoid. Another Ford plus is the fact you don't have to shim the damn starter.
No leg room in the Chevy. Plenty in the Ford.
Frame brakes at steering box in Chevy. Not in Ford.
Frame bends in half at cab in Chevy, Not in Ford.
All Chevy trans fit all Chevy motors. Smart. Ford seems like they are all different
Ford just puts "C" and "H" on temp gauges... Chevy puts actual numbers.
Can't put more than 35" tires on a Chevy without a monster lift or else cutouts. Fords for the most part fit 33's or even 35's stock. This continued throught the 90s and even the current ones. (This is probably why Chevy's seem to be more desirable for being lowered)
No Supercab in Chevy. Chevy didn't make a Crewcab until '73
Seems like a lot of those 70's Chevy's had a fuel tank on each side, instead of both on one side (I might be totally wrong on that)
Pluses to both I guess. I get tired of having to remind Chevy people to stop slamming my doors though. They close easily.
All of these trucks have a horn relay, dual hi and low was an option but there is definitely a horn relay on the passenger fender next to the starter solenoid. I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, especially to a revered member, but this is incorrect.
1978/79 F100/350, Econoline & Bronco with factory installed Speed Control have a horn relay, but without Speed Control, there isn't a horn relay.
With Speed Control, the horn relay attaches to the Speed Control amplifier, located adjacent to the fuse box.
About 10 years ago, someone asked where the horn relay was located on a 1978. I knew the answer, but decided to wait and see if anyone else did.
No one gave the correct answer until the last post I read, Dennis had chimed in and set the record straight.
The Fords had more style than the GM trucks in those years, and during the Bumpside era as well. More curves on the Fords, whereas the GM trucks of those years were maybe a little too boxy. Heck, I'd say that the '72-and-later Dodge/Plymouth trucks had a little more style than the GM entries. But the '73-and-later GM trucks still had more style than the '70s last-gen International Harvesters - not that I wouldn't love to have a Corn Binder pick-up from the early '70s...
Ford was still using a lot of old-school stuff on these trucks. The basic steering column architecture goes back to the 1960s, as does the ignition switch. The floor-mounted headlight dimmer goes way back as well, and was well on its way out by '79. In the late '90s, this girl I knew rented a pretty big newer Ford U-haul truck to move, and it still had the dimmer on the floor - I couldn't believe it.
Both Ford and GM are known for letting passenger cars be the guinea pigs for new technology, while keeping older proven designs around longer in trucks, in the interest of reliability. You could still get a Y block in a Ford truck in 1964, and Chevy kept the 348 in trucks as late as '66 or '67. I don't know enough about Dodge trucks to know if they did anything like that, but I wouldn't doubt it.
I guess my thinking was wrong that the GM trucks were more expensive during the time. It just seemed that the Ford's had a lot of cheaper stuff. I did know that the 77 & older models did have a horn relay, should have made that more clear with regard to the 78 and 79 models.
As far as legroom goes, I feel that both of my trucks are similar, but the Ford's seat sits up higher giving greater thigh support. My legs actually aim down towards the pedals whereas in the GM truck they extend straight out.
I am more comfortable in the Ford for sure from a seating stand point. In fact, when I rebuilt my seat and installed a new cushion, I padded it up tight and raised it with rubber bumpers off the fame about an inch and a half. It sits up very high and very firm. People get in it and love it.
GM is about style over function. When people have a hard time lining up the body panels on a Ford hood, door, fender, cowl. Go look at the same year GM with the hidden wiper cowl. A arm front suspension. Don't get me wrong GM had some great looking trucks but IMO they were not meant to haul the loads and work in the fields. I think the 73 Chevy didn't even have drip rails over the doors. GM was better with the power accessories but by 83 all the most of the power locks and windows were inop, while we were still cranking the windows and using a key. Don't tell me about GM "phantom wipers" I still like dimmer on the floor and wiper on the dash. Didn't mean to turn this into a rant but the Ford to me was like putting on a pair of everyday shoes and every time I had to drive a Chevy it was like WTH. But in the end they are both American iron, I like both for their separate ways but will always buy a Ford.
I think I probably see more '73-'79 Ford pickups on the road, than I see '73-'86 GM pickups. But I think I see more square-body C60s than F600s from the Bumpside and Dentside eras.
Most of the time, the big 3 played tit-for-tat when it came to vehicles. I wonder why GM never countered with an extended cab in the 70's to compete with the Ford Supercab and Dodge Club Cab? I know Ford introduced the Supercab in '74. Is that the same year Dodge introduced the Club Cab? The first GMC/Chevy extended cabs came out in 1987, I think. Correct me if I'm wrong, though.
I had 2 bad experiences with "square body" ( lol gotta love the names millennials give things) 73-87 Chevrolet products. Had a 74/75 ish that the steering interlock from the column mounted ignition switch failed and it locked up when I went around a corner. I bought a curb and a fire hydrant that day. Next was an 86ish military CUCV. Great, right? 14 bolt full floater corporate posi, danaD60 front, np205 T case.....just awesome running gear EXCEPT....6.2 Litre junk cold blooded, burned glow plug, 24v over 12 garbage electrical system, underpowered heap of GM dung. A good thing this wasn't our primary tactical vehicle or Wed have been dead. As a range and fire control vehicle, it barely made enough power to get unstuck in deep mud. I think a stock 6 cylinder with all of the smog equipment made more torque than this thing. Oh, and rust. Lots and lots of glorious rust, rust so bad that motor T couldn't keep up with it during regular PM cycles. Never again.
It was obvious at this time, that ford clearly was a superior truck. If the US military had chosen ford 1 tons for their CUCV program, they'd still be in service today. Just a much better engineered, higher quality truck.
Most of the time, the big 3 played tit-for-tat when it came to vehicles. I wonder why GM never countered with an extended cab in the 70's to compete with the Ford Supercab and Dodge Club Cab?
I know Ford introduced the Super Cab in '74. Is that the same year Dodge introduced the Club Cab?
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dual hi and low was an option but there is definitely a horn relay 
on the passenger fender next to the starter solenoid.
