1979 Ford F-100 Custom 1/2 Ton Pickup LWB Specifications

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The 1979 Ford F-100 Custom LWB (long wheelbase) pickup truck was part of the sixth generation 1973 to 1979 family of Ford F-Series vehicles. Ford introduced the F-150 model in 1975 to address tougher federal emission standards and to handle a heavier payload. The F-100 remained in production until 1983 when Ford finally replaced it with the F-150. The long wheelbase F-100 was available in regular, extended and four-door crew cabs.

Power

The 1979 F-100 Custom LWB was the base model F-Series Ford truck. Its standard engine was the 300-cubic-inch in-line six-cylinder. It featured a single barrel carburetor with a 4-inch cylinder bore and a 3.98-inch stroke. With an 8-1 compression ratio, it generated 120 horsepower and 223 foot-pounds of torque. The torque allows the truck to accelerate quickly and haul heavy loads. Three V-8s were available as options. The 302-cubic-inch V-8 had a 4-inch bore and 3-inch stroke with a 9.5-1 compression ratio and two-barrel carb. It generated 134 horsepower with torque capabilities reaching 295 foot-pounds. The 351 Windsor V-8 had a 9-1 compression ratio, 4-inch bore and 3.5-inch stroke to develop 156 horsepower. A less common V-8 available for the F-100 was a 400-cubic-inch V-8 based on Ford's 351 Cleveland V-8. It wielded 136 horsepower 310 foot-pounds of torque. Three- and four-speed manual transmissions and a four-speed automatic matched the F-100's engines.

The F-100 Custom LWB regular cab and extended cab versions sat on a 133-inch wheelbase. In contrast, the standard wheelbase for the F-100 was 117 inches. The Super Cab version, which featured four doors and could seat up to six adults, rode on a 139-inch wheelbase. A 155-inch wheelbase version was available in all U.S. except California. The long wheelbase version had a gross vehicle weight rating of up to 5,600 lbs. depending on the option package and F-100 model.

Standard equipment on the 1970 F-100 were vinyl panels with cloth inserts on the interior doors, black molded trim throughout the cab, simulated chrome door lock buttons, padded headliner, sound deadening padded to reduce road noise and a color-keyed vinyl bench seat.

Option packages were numerous. Options included air conditioning, fog lamps, cruise control, engine block heater for owners in colder climates, heavy-duty engine cooling package for owners in high temperature areas, simulated leather steering wheel, sport steering wheel, forged five-slot aluminum wheels, tinted glass and dual electric horns. Cargo box choices were the standard Fleetside, or flat-paneled bed, or the Flareside, which had the rear wheels placed outside the cargo box with protruding wheel wells. A four-wheel drive version also was available.