Looks like an average ‘80s F-150, but it runs the quarter mile in the mid-12-second range.
Ford F-Series pickups from the 1980s were rugged, hard-working machines, but one that they were not is fast. However, with a little work these old workhorses can be transferred into impressive performance pickups and the video above is a fine example of classic Ford truck potential.
This video comes to us from the YouTube channel of Willy Hiebert and it features a 1986 Ford F-150 that looks stock while laying down similar quarter mile times to modern muscle cars. That is impressive, but what makes this old F-Series even more impressive is the minimal amount of upgrades needed to get into the 12-second range with a 4,000-pound truck.
Turbo F-150
There isn’t much information with the video above, but in digging around online a bit, we found more information on this 1986 Ford F-150.
It is powered by an original 5.0-liter truck engine with a stock block, crank and rods, but a set of Keith Black pistons help handle the boost with a 9.5-to-1 compression ratio. The owner has also added a set of Trick FlowTwisted Wedge cylinder heads, a Ford Performance F303 camshaft, a bigger throttle body, a high volume fuel system and a 72-millimeter turbocharger.
The turbocharged V8 sends its power to the rear wheels by means of a built C6 automatic transmission while a set of drag radials helps make the most of the power. We don’t know the engine output, but this old F-150 gets off of the starting line and down the track in a hurry, so it is making solid power, even at just five pounds of boost.
Storming Down the Track
In the video above, the turbocharged F-150 is taking on a motorcycle, which is hardly a fair fight, but the truck actually holds its own against the bike. The motorcycle gets out to a small early lead, but the Ford truck keeps the race close through the top end, looking to come up just short of the win.
However, win light aside, this 1986 F-150 got to the eighth mile in 7.8 seconds while stopping the quarter mile timer with a 12.77. While there are faster trucks on the road, especially when we look at newer models, you would never guess that this rough of half-ton would run this well on the drag strip.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
