Ford F-Series Pickup Trucks, 1980 - 1986 - About - News & Issues (blog)
1980 - 1986 Ford F-Series Pickup Trucks At first glance, you might think the redesigned 1980 F-Series looks a lot like trucks from the previous generation, but examine the pickups more closely and you'll see that they are shorter and narrower,... Wind tunnel testing helped Ford determine where rounded lines and altered panel fit would reduce wind drag. Using plastic for the trucks' front inner fender panels added to the overall weight reduction, and also eliminated an area prone to rust. Ford tackled another rust-prone area by redesigning cab and bed areas to minimize spots where dirt and mud could accumulate. Ford moved the F-Series ignition switch to the steering column and incorporated a steering lock into the assembly. 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. 1981 Ford F-Series Truck Updates In 1981, Ford made changes that focused on better fuel mileage by offering: A 4-speed... Source: trucks.about.com
