Ford F-100/F-150
1973–79 4x4

Factory gearing, tires, angles and brakes for the F-100/F-150, and what the usual upgrades do to it. Every number is from the maker's own figures unless the calculators say otherwise. A few figures here are still waiting on a factory document; the calculators mark them.

Use this truck in the calculators
133 in wheelbase
in
Axle ratio3.5–4.11Factory, by trim
Crawl ratio55.3:1Best trim: F-100 4x4 (1974 spec) (G78-15B tires)
Angles37.5 · ~17.2 · —°Approach, breakover, departure (~ estimated)
Highway mpg9Estimate, not EPA rated

Trims

3 we have figures for
TrimTireTransmissionAxleAnglesClearanceOpen
F-100 4x4 (1974 spec) (G78-15B tires)27.64-speed manual, 3-speed automatic3.5 / 3.7 / 4.1137.5* · ~17.2 · —7.8 in*Use →
F-100 4x4 (1976 spec) (H78-15B tires)28.14-speed manual, 3-speed automatic—37.5* · ~17.2 · —7.8 in*Use →
F-150 4x4 (L78-15B tires)28.94-speed manual, 3-speed automatic—37.5* · ~17.2 · —7.8 in*Use →

* The maker doesn’t publish this figure for that trim, so it shows the closest trim’s (same tire where we have one), or a close relative’s that shares the same body or front end. Hover the star to see which.

~ Estimated from the wheelbase and ground clearance. No maker has published it for this truck yet.

Size

Wheelbase
133 in
Height
76 in
Body
Pickup
Stock tires
27.6, 28.1, 28.9

Transmissions and low range

4-speed manual (New Process NP435, 6.69 low)
6.69 · 3.34 · 1.79 · 1
3-speed automatic (Cruise-O-Matic / SelectShift, C6)
2.46 · 1.46 · 1
Low range, np205
1.96:1
Low range, np203
2.01:1

Axles

Front
Dana 44 solid front axle (full-floating drive axle per Ford)
Rear
Ford 9-in (light-duty half-ton rear)
3.5 ratio
F-100 4x4 (1974 spec) (G78-15B tires)
3.7 ratio
F-100 4x4 (1974 spec) (G78-15B tires)
4.11 ratio
F-100 4x4 (1974 spec) (G78-15B tires)

Brakes

Front rotor
11.72 in, 298 mm
Front caliper piston
73.0 mm
Rear drum
11.03 in, 280 mm
Rear
drum

Suspension

Front
4x4: radius arms, coil springs
Rear
leaf springs, solid axle
Rear layout
Leaf springs

Fuel economy

Highway, not EPA rated
about 9 mpg
Where it comes from
Owner average, 22 trucks, mixed driving (1979 F-150 (mostly 302/351M/400 V8, mixed manual/auto))