1981 Ford F-150

The 1980-1986 Ford F-150 is the seventh-generation F-Series, known among owners as the Bullnose for its rounded grille and faired-in headlamps. For 1980 Ford gave the F-Series an all-new cab, body, and chassis, the first ground-up redesign of the line since 1965, with flatter panels and a sloped hood shaped to cut drag and improve fuel economy after the 1970s oil shocks. The most significant chassis change for the Ford F-150 was the arrival of Twin-Traction Beam (TTB) independent front suspension on the 4x4 for 1980, built around a Dana 44 front axle, while two-wheel-drive trucks used the related Twin-I-Beam layout. The engine range centered on the 300-cubic-inch (4.9L) inline-six as the base unit, with the 302 (5.0L) Windsor V8 above it. For 1980 the larger V8 was the carried-over M-series (351M/400), and the lighter 351 Windsor replaced the M-series V8s during the generation as a fuel-economy move; the 460 was not offered in the half-ton in these years. Mid-generation the Ford F-150 moved toward fuel injection: the 302 gained central fuel injection for 1985 and sequential electronic fuel injection for 1986.