What is a "Heavy Half" ?
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From: Catlin USA
What is a "Heavy Half" ?
I found a 78' or 79' Super Cab 4x4 for sale. I have only seen it from a distance, but called the owner about it tonight. He said that it was a "heavy half". I assume it is a half ton (F150), and he did say that it had 5 lug wheels on it. He stated it was a heavy half, because it had a factory 3/4 ton steering box. Is that all there is to it? I knew Chevy's made a heavy half in the 70's, but never knew what that consisted of, or that Ford offered something similiar. Just curious, I guess I'll know more tomorrow.
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From: SD
All 4x4 supercabs were made with front leafs - even the 1/2 tons. Because of the longer wheel base, Ford used a F250 chasis, and all F250 4x4s have front leaf springs.
As Dennis said, Ford made a lighter 1/2 ton (F100) and a heavier 1/2 ton (F150), starting in about '75 - prior to this there was no F150. Under a certain GVW required emissions equipment, so Ford (and Dodge/Chevy) just made the trucks a little heavier to be over the weight limit - and so there was no need for emissions equipment until the laws got stricter a couple years later. Then Ford eventually dropped the lighter F100 completely.
Marty
As Dennis said, Ford made a lighter 1/2 ton (F100) and a heavier 1/2 ton (F150), starting in about '75 - prior to this there was no F150. Under a certain GVW required emissions equipment, so Ford (and Dodge/Chevy) just made the trucks a little heavier to be over the weight limit - and so there was no need for emissions equipment until the laws got stricter a couple years later. Then Ford eventually dropped the lighter F100 completely.
Marty
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From: SD
Right, at first it was. But by the early '80's Ford stopped making the F100, thus making the standard 1/2 ton the F150.
Marty
Marty
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From: Rhode Island
Originally Posted by 73Custom
All 4x4 supercabs were made with front leafs - even the 1/2 tons. Because of the longer wheel base, Ford used a F250 chasis, and all F250 4x4s have front leaf springs.
As Dennis said, Ford made a lighter 1/2 ton (F100) and a heavier 1/2 ton (F150), starting in about '75 - prior to this there was no F150. Under a certain GVW required emissions equipment, so Ford (and Dodge/Chevy) just made the trucks a little heavier to be over the weight limit - and so there was no need for emissions equipment until the laws got stricter a couple years later. Then Ford eventually dropped the lighter F100 completely.
Marty
As Dennis said, Ford made a lighter 1/2 ton (F100) and a heavier 1/2 ton (F150), starting in about '75 - prior to this there was no F150. Under a certain GVW required emissions equipment, so Ford (and Dodge/Chevy) just made the trucks a little heavier to be over the weight limit - and so there was no need for emissions equipment until the laws got stricter a couple years later. Then Ford eventually dropped the lighter F100 completely.
Marty
Well.. he got in a 78 f-150 supercab 4x4 a few months back .... and ummmm it had coils up front... If the truck wasnt already crushed and gone I would take a pic and post it..
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Originally Posted by dynamic
Well.. he got in a 78 f-150 supercab 4x4 a few months back .... and ummmm it had coils up front... If the truck wasnt already crushed and gone I would take a pic and post it..
Marty
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From: Catlin USA
A buddy of mine re-did a 79' F250 Super Cab 4x4 about 5 years ago (which is when I really started to want one). He had Dana 60's under it, and made a swap with a local junkyard for all the parts he needed to change the front end over to coils, and to put a 9" 5 lug rear in it. I'll have to ask him what exactly he came up with. His whole reasoning behind this, was the fact that he already had a nice set of rims and tires for a 4wd, but they were 5 lug. Odd, to create so much work for himself just to save on some new tires and rims. It rode pretty nice though when he was through with it. Ended up getting nearly $12,000 for it when he was through with it on ebay. It was brand new from top to bottom though when he sold it. With the money he made from this truck, he completely went through a Crew cab 4wd and made it just as nice. Later sold it on ebay as well. When I get through with mine, I'm keeping it.
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The truck looked factory.. I looked it all over, as I do all the parts trucks he gets in .. and all the frame rivets and such were still intact... I scavenged a few things from the engine compatment of this truck, so I was in and out of the wheel well a few times to get the parts off...
Im gonna say Ford made the truck this way...
Im gonna say Ford made the truck this way...
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