1985 F-150 Estate Sale Find - "Buried Treasure"

Hey Everyone, I introduced our project in the new member forum here, but wanted to show some new pictures and talk about what is being tackled first this week. This is our new 1985 F-150 that we picked up at a local estate auction. From all accounts, it appears to have sat for the last 8 or so years. We got her towed, and are starting the inspection of everything. Here are some new pictures to share: As you can see she is quite dirty! We've nicknamed her "Buried Treasure", as she was sunk down in the mud, with lots of mud dauber nests in the underside. Overall she doesn't look all that bad for being 36, and neglected for the past 8 or so years. We're hoping that we found her in the nick of time! First orders of business this week are to get her cleaned up (remove that carpet and leaves from the bed!) , get her back in a garage, and start on all the fluid changes. More updates as they come! Thanks for tuning in...

Looks good to me. I love it when they're all still intact in original condition like this, at least you have a good baseline as a starting point, no matter what direction you take. SOO many of these trucks are all butchered and chopped up by now it makes it very difficult to troubleshoot what all of the previous owners have done.

The very early build date of 09/84 explains why the truck is carbureted. A few months later, all of the 302's were changed over to EFI (I believe in January or Feb of 1985).

Heater core must have been leaking? I assume that is why it was bypassed. They're cheap of course, but a little bit of a pain to change on a Non-AC truck.

I agree with Cory, it is great to get one in original condition, even if dirty.  The hacks sometimes make it very difficult to figure out what they've done.

One thing I spotted is the TFI ignition module sticking off the distributor.  Those were notorious for failing due to the heat they were subjected to, so Ford later moved them to the fender and extended the wiring.  That can be done to this truck, but that assumes you'll want to keep it running the emissions system that is on it, which probably includes a feedback carb.

Another approach if you aren't required to keep the emissions system in tact is to go with a DS-II ignition system.  But we can talk about that as you get into it and find out what works and what doesn't.

Good luck and happy treasure hunting!

Sweet!
The dash pad is in amazing shape.

That bed rug is a blessing in disguise.

The former owner had quite a collection!

Thanks! Yeah no kidding on the collectors collection and that bed rug. I was a little shocked to see the rug and tried to hide it back up at the auction, a lot of the other trucks had several inches of mud/debris and from what I've read a lot of these beds rusted out closest to the cab given rain would just sit there.

The bed should drain, but if those rotting leaves were sitting directly in it everything would be plugged up.

Which direction are you, from the circle?

Thanks Gary for the info on the TFI ignition module. Some of the wiring there was chewed up by the looks of it, so some things to consider when replacing.

Quick update here to this project thread in case folks have some interest.

LOTS of work done over the past several weeks by local experienced professionals given this truck was a hornets nest of things to get done just to get started.  

Lesson Learned I guess.
 

I haven't yet gotten to some of the things yet like the TFI ignition module, but the good news is that it's running! Bad news is that there is an issue with the transmission as it does not like going into reverse (likely why it was parked), so now working to get the issue diagnosed so we can move on. The current transmission is a C5. (Engine is a 302)

So far this is what has been completed on the truck:
• All new belts
• Changed all fluids
• Gas tank change, lines, fuel filter, fuel pump
• New distributor cap & rotor
• New radiator cap
• New front brakes – calipers, rotors, pads
• New spark plugs, spark plug wires
• New carburetor (old carb was toast!)
• New master cylinder
• New battery
• New shock/strut assembly
• New to me wheels
• New tires

Pictures coming over the next few days. It hasn't yet been fully cleaned up, but that too is soon.

I'm very thankful for this forum, as I'm gauging there is yet more work to find in this truck that I'll need some your expertise to help fix.  What's been done so far is a good start!

Hope everyone has a good weekend-

You've done, or had done, a whole lot of work!  Well done!  Can't wait to see the pics.  

Thanks for the update.
That's quite a lot accomplished!

Hopefully the shifting problem will get resolved and Buried Treasure can start stretching her legs after a long nap.

You have a good weekend too!

AWESOME!!!  Following!!!

Hey a quick update.

The transmission was sent off to be rebuilt earlier this week, expecting it back at some point late next week.  So hopefully will have this all wrapped up to be operational around the first week of February sometime.

Here is a before and after brief pic ahead of the transmission being reinstalled, and lots more scrubbing coming along with re-attaching the fender badge that is missing in the pic below.

I will update when she is all put together, pictures of the engine bay, bed, etc.

Truck looks great!

It is responding to your attention and efforts!

This is what we mean when we say "That'll buff right out!"

The truck looks great.  👍

Excellent!  You are going to be sooooo pleased!  

More pictures!!!  Great job!!!!

I'm interested in what's parked behind the truck.

J10 or a Wagoneer?

I will find out and take some pictures.

Planning on dropping by later this week when the transmission arrives.

Stay tuned!