I wouldn’t call this Ford truck a survivor, it has clearly had some work done to it over the years, but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be fun to have! Under the hood is a 390 V8 paired to a C6 with a B&M floor shifter. The shifter definitely isn’t factory original, but when you do massive burnouts in it, you probably won’t be too worried about originality. You can find this clean big block driver here on eBay in Anderson, California with a current bid of $6k and no reserve.
While pickups are becoming more desirable to collectors, I think the desirability of this one revolves around its engine and price. It would be hard, if not impossible, to find a big block muscle car for this kind of money. It won’t necessarily offer the same experience as a muscle car, but it will still be an absolute blast to drive! Being a truck engine means it doesn’t have the kind of high end power of the car version, but with some upgrades you can easily increase horsepower well above the 201 it was rated at from the factory. This one already has a set of headers, so it would be worth asking the seller if any other upgrades have already been installed.
The interior is looking fairly original, with the exception of the B&M shifter of course. I’m going to guess this was originally equipped with a column shifter and an aftermarket setup was the only option for moving it to the floor. It looks alright, but I’d be alright with the original column setup. Other non-original features include a stereo system and some added gauges. I love having music in my cars as much as the next person, but why do people have to cut holes for massive speakers in the door panels? Thankfully, parts for these trucks are readily available, so you could remove the speakers and relocate them somewhere out of sight.
It isn’t perfect, but this looks like a nice driver that will put a smile on your face every time you take it for a spin (just be careful or you might literally spin it). And given all the customization that has already been done, this is one you can personalize and not feel too bad about. So what things would you change on it? Or would you leave it as is and just drive it?
If that’s the original powerplant, it would be a 360 – Ford did not offer the 390 in pickups.
Engine
For both two-wheel and four-wheel drives, the 1972 Ford F100 had a standard six-valve engine with 240 cubic inches of displacement and a bore that measured 4 inches in diameter and a stroke 3.18 inches in depth. The two-wheel drive model had the option of 302-, 360- and 390-cubic-inch V-8 engines, while four-wheel drive had the option of upgrading to a 360-cubic-inch V-8 engine. The 390-cubic-inch engine had a bore of 4.05 inches in diameter and a stroke of 3.78 inches. The 360-cubic-inch engine had the same diameter bore with a stroke that was 3.5 inches in depth. The bore for the 302 V-8 measured 4 inches in diameter and 3 inches in depth. The 360 and 390 V-8 motors were equipped with a 635-square-inch radiator to help cool the engine. All models used a three- or four-speed manual transmission.
Are you positive that only a three or four speed manual was available? No auto option?
Steve there absolutely was an automatic available, I have 2 F100s (a 66 and a 71) right now that have automatic transmissions. Also an automatic transmission is mentioned as optional in the Standard Catalog of American Trucks.
I had a 390 in my 1971 F-250 Camper Special, and it was the motor it was born with.
They absolutely did, I’ve had multiple F100’s with their original 390ci under the hood.
Sorry, guys – you’re not correct. The only FE engines ever installed at the factory in 67-72 Ford pickups were the 352 (in 67) and 360 (68-72). Lots of people thought they had 390s, but that wasn’t the case.
And I will admit “never” is a word I shouldn’t be using, because anything is possible. I’d love for someone to prove me wrong by posting a VIN containing the H engine code. :)
Took me 25 seconds to open my Standard Catalog of American Trucks, turn to the year 1971 for Ford F100’s and find “Powertrain options: Engines: 300 cid Six. 302 cid V-8, 360 cid V-8, 390 cid V-8” Standard engine on an F-100 for 1970 was the 240 cid Six.
And not to break ba**s but I just bought a 1966 F100 with a factory 352 cid (“Y”) code in the title and on the VIN plate, so saying that 352 cid wasn’t available until 1967 is, also, incorrect.
HHah, just goes to show you should never believe some random guy on the internet! ;) Obviously, I was incorrect. Mea culpa.
Also, for the record, I never said the 352 wasn’t available prior to 67. Even I’m not that dumb. :)
Took me all of two minutes to find a ’67-’72 Ford truck with a factory installed 390 engine that has the ‘H’ code in the 4th digit of the VIN.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1969-Ford-F-100-Base-Standard-Cab-Pickup-2-Door-/222618992403?hash=item33d5203f13:g:hB4AAOSwzPBZma4H&vxp=mtr
My dad had a ’69 Ford truck that had the factory 390 in it. We had a slide-in camper and took the truck on vacation from VA to CA.
Although Ford did offer the 390 on (2 wheel drive pickups only) in 1972. The Y in the VIN of this truck represents a 360 was installed at the factory in San Jose California.
I’d drive her daily as is, as long as the CD/stereo worked fine (and I’m GM born and bred)!
So many things that I would change, but the basics? 2WD short-box Ford of the fifth generation with an automatic (yeah, yeah; normally I prefer a manual also but for this thing? You can have the clutch pedal) and the larger V8?
Oh, yes please. I’d have preferred one of the earlier models but this will do.
Sano!
Love these 70’s Ford short bed trucks 2 or 4 wheel drive.
my 73 f250 camperspecial came with a 390
I don’t usually post to sites online but Theodoric got my goat. Vin tag from my 68 F100. Enough said!!
How did they get that little white car in the bed?
Hi all from Albuquerque, ford f100 owner have had 4 sold 2, and yes it is also true from this dry state 390’s do come factory off the production line, not everyone is mistaking 360’s for 390′ but they look the same, now I’m not trying to be the genius on the page but if more then one say yea mine came with a 390 or the vin is a h code y code, I’ve done home work hmmmm wake up and smell the coffee let’s see there’s a F10H F10Y F11H F11Y F25H F25Y F26H F26Y WHICH IF YOU DECODE THE VIN FOR LORD SAKE IT TELLS YOU 360 390 ETC……. GOOD DAY
This 390 looks souped up so I’m sure it has plenty of get up and go,and I like the floor shifter too. Great looking cruiser. My dad owned a ’71 and a ’74. The71 was a dog with that 360 and automatic transmission.
“I love having music in my cars as much as the next person, but why do people have to cut holes for massive speakers in the door panels?”
People do this because it’s their car and therefore theirs do with how they choose. It always bugs me when people question other people’s choices about modifications. It’s an old pickup truck, not the Mona Lisa. It’s like when you are at a car show and some guy peers under your hood and says “you know what you should do is…” Just take a look and move on if you don’t like it.
with the gas tank behind the seat ,space for “decent sized” speakers is quite limited.(especially if you want to hide out of sight)
“why do people have to cut holes for massive speakers in the door panels?”
Not much other place to put speakers if the gas tank is behind the seat…
There’s a nice little kit you can buy that puts a pair of speakers on the roof kind of near the rearview mirror in case one doesn’t want to cut holes in the door panels. It’s not the best thing in the world, but it does the job and isn’t too pricey.
To me I don’t really care what engine is in this truck the Ford F-100 to me is a classic and nothing should change in a truck this nice.
Put my speakers in the kick panels. Used originals as template to make new panels out of 1/4″ plywood then covered over with fabric that matched originals. Can’t see speakers, all looks original. My F100 is a ’56, but probably not that much different
The 360 was a dog. If an owner can’t tell whether they have a 360 or a 390 by driving it, I guess they aren’t car people. It is beyond me how anyone could mistake a 360 for a 390 unless the 390 was on it’s last legs and only firing on 7 cylinders.
go me a ford f100 1972, 360, 4 on the floor any day of the week over a Chevy and long bed candy apple red