Car and truck engine comparison

Discussion in 'Ranchero Tech Help' started by Alan in Alabama, Nov 30, 2021.

  1. Alan in Alabama

    Alan in Alabama In First Gear

    Messages:
    22
    Location:
    Alabama
    There are lots of internet sites with technical information dealing with Ford pickups, much, much more than Ford cars. Google searches most often take you to a Ford pickup truck website. Is this information transferable? Is an "H" engine identical, car or truck, from a given year? Or were cars and trucks subject to different EPA regulations during the Ranchero era? Was the Ranchero considered a car or a truck by the EPA?
     
  2. handy_andy_cv64

    handy_andy_cv64 In Maximum Overdrive SILVER MEMBER

    Messages:
    14,003
    Location:
    New Braunfels, TX
    First, Ford classed the Ranchero as a 'truck,' by virtue that it was designed to haul cargo, and not necessarily passengers. Then, when regulations went into place for emissions, because it was based on a car chassis, it was more or less rolled into the CAFE standards, whereas trucks were not. It was still a handful of years till trucks were added. The VIN code, IMHO, was always an arbitrary choice by Ford. I mean, there were three different engine architectures for the 'H' code 351 CID displacement-Windsor, Cleveland, and 'modified Cleveland.' so you have to pay attention to which specific engine you get. As for stats, more or less, each displacement usually had the same output for which carburetor was installed in those mid-to-late '70s engines. Remember, up to about 1972, engines showed output at their crankshaft, whereas after then, the standard was changed to reflect the parasitic drag the drivetrain, exhaust and accessories put on the engine. Then add in the emission changes in '74-'75, and yes, engines can have differing outputs listed for displacement, carburetion and whether the engine received 'improved combustion' modifications to meet the standards.
     
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  3. Hillbilly

    Hillbilly In Maximum Overdrive

    Messages:
    6,505
    Location:
    Winchester, TN.
    Also, don't know when it changed but actual trucks like the F series had flat tappet cams installed while the equivalent car engines came with roller lifter cams. This was true in the late 1980's but might have changed in the mid 90's.
     
  4. plumcolr

    plumcolr In Maximum Overdrive SILVER MEMBER

    Messages:
    1,854
    Location:
    Freehold NJ
    Going back, earlier truck version engines often had cam profiles designed for more torque lower in the rpm curve (sorta an early version of an "RV cam"), and often had different internals such as high nodular cast or forged steel cranks and rods. Also lower compression. Dunno when that all ended.
     

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