1972 Ford F100 Specifications
by Kent Tukeli
Ford has manufactured a plethora of F-series pickup trucks since 1925, providing drivers with decades of automotive service. The Ford F100 pickup was the smallest model of F-series for the 1972 lineup. The truck catered to both casual and professional drivers by offering different engine options and a customizable box and chassis.
Dimensions and Capacity
The 1972 Ford F100 had a standard gross vehicle weight of 4,450 lbs. and a desired payload of 945 lbs. for both the 6.5- and 8-foot pickup box. The 6.5-foot pickup box was upgradable to a gross vehicle weight of 5,500 lbs. with a desired payload of 1,835 lbs. The 8-foot box had the same gross vehicle weight capacity, with a slightly smaller desired payload of 1,730 lbs. The F100 had an overall length of 182.5 inches and a wheelbase of 115 inches (for the 6.5-foot box unit). The 8-foot box increased the overall length to 202.3 inches and the wheelbase to 131 inches. Flareside pickup models have a tailgate opening of 54 inches for the 8-foot box and 49 inches for the 6.5-foot box, while the styleside pickup model has a tailgate opening of 65 inches for both boxes.
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.
Body Features
1972 Ford F100 two-wheel trucks featured a Twin-I-Beam front suspension system with the front axles attached to large coil springs that helped absorb the impact. The four-wheel model utilized a full-floating suspension system. The rear end had progressive leaf springs and the rear axle had hypoid gearing for better strength and fit. 1972 Ford F100 pickup trucks had steel frames with double-layered doors that were reinforced. The hood also had a dual-layer construction and the front bumper was chrome with heavy-gauge steel underneath.
Writer Bio
Kent Tukeli has been writing for business and media organizations since 2007, including Valnet Inc., Top Affiliate Publishing and Mirvish Productions. He honed his skills at the University of Toronto, earning a Bachelor of Arts in English literature.
