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1985 F150 Bullnose 4x4 Project

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Rembrant

Re: 1985 F150 Bullnose 4x4 Project

Gary Lewis wrote

Yes, nice haul! And, nice trailer. I like aluminum trailers - that's what it is, right?

Yes it is Gary. It is 54" X 8 ft all aluminum. It has a ramp also but it is folded back and is laying under the cab. It is surprising how much wind resistance the ramp causes when it's up, so I try to leave it flat as often as possible. This would be the new version of my trailer below:

https://www.alumaklm.com/utility/single-axle/548-utility-trailer

At 350 lbs it is significantly lighter than the steel trailers in the same size....but it also cost 50% more. The size is perfect for behind a small car...the 54" deck width makes the fenders visible in my mirrors, but that's about it.

I had always had trucks, and I would much rather have a truck now, but this trailer gets me by in a pinch. I use the car for my work, and the MPG is very important.

Of course my carrying capacity is limited, but it gets me by for now;).

1994 F150 4x2 Flareside. 5.0 w/MAF, 4R70W, stock.
1984 F150 4X2 Flareside. Mild 302 w/ 5spd. Sold.
1980 F150 4X4 Flareside. 300i6 w/ 5spd. Sold in 2021.
1980 F100 4X2 Flareside. 351w/2bbl w/NP435. Sold in 1995

Gary Lewis

Re: 1985 F150 Bullnose 4x4 Project

Administrator

That is a really nice trailer! Light enough to move by hand, which makes getting it out/putting it up so much easier than my trailer, but big enough to do some serious work.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

85lebaront2

Re: 1985 F150 Bullnose 4x4 Project

Administrator

In reply to this post by Rembrant

Those are great trailers, I have one that I bought several years ago.

Bill AKA "LOBO" Profile

"Getting old is inevitable, growing up is optional" Darth Vader 1986 F350 460 converted to MAF/SEFI, E4OD 12X3 1/2 rear brakes, traction loc 3:55 gear, 160 amp 3G alternator Wife's 2011 Flex Limited Daily Driver 2009 Flex Limited with factory tow package Project car 1986 Chrysler LeBaron convertible 2.2L Turbo II, modified A413

Rembrant

Re: 1985 F150 Bullnose 4x4 Project

In reply to this post by Rembrant

I pressure washed the '85 cab out this morning to remove any and all dirt, debris, and of course whatever residual salt and road grime got on it during the 330 mile drive home. With the exception of a few small holes in the floor, it is really very solid. Going to need lots of Ospho and more sand blasting, but it will clean up OK. There are a couple bends in the bottom "lip" of the rocker panels, but they should be able to be straightened out OK. (You can see the original '85 cab all wrapped up in the background. Once I get this one patched and painted, I'll switch over the interior.)

Now here is a question for the experts...looks like somebody took a hole saw to the firewall and drilled a hole directly above where the hydraulic clutch master cylinder fits. It's not a big deal, and I will weld a disk back in there to fill the hole, but why on earth would somebody do that in the first place?

grumpin

Re: 1985 F150 Bullnose 4x4 Project

Radio(s)?

Dane
1986 F250HD SC XLT Lariat 4x4 460 C6-Sold
1992 Bronco XLT 4x4 351W E4OD
1998 GMC Sierra SLE K1500 350 4L60E
Arizona

Gary Lewis

Re: 1985 F150 Bullnose 4x4 Project

Administrator

In reply to this post by Rembrant

Dunno. But it was well done. Presumably they used a large body plug and passed wires through it?

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Rembrant

Re: 1985 F150 Bullnose 4x4 Project

After cleaning the replacement cab out completely (it was full of snow when I picked it up), I found two loose items inside. One a bracket that I'm pretty sure has nothing to do with the truck, and a bolt that at first glance seems like an automotive part.

Anybody recognize either item before I chuck 'em in the scrap bin?

The bolt is a metric M8 x 100 (about 4" long) with a flanged 10mm hex head.

No idea what the bracket is...

Gary Lewis

Re: 1985 F150 Bullnose 4x4 Project

Administrator

The bolt is probably a body mount bolt. I had several that looked like that in my hands today. But I don't know what the bracket is for.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

salans7

Re: 1985 F150 Bullnose 4x4 Project

I've pulled three bullnose trucks and one bricknose truck apart and none of them had a bracket like that. Toss it unless you want it for something else.

Rembrant

Re: 1985 F150 Bullnose 4x4 Project

Ya, I figured. It doesn't look like a truck part, but figured I should ask anyway. In the scrap bin it goes.

Ray Cecil

Re: 1985 F150 Bullnose 4x4 Project

Parts truck for 4x4 parts????

https://knoxville.craigslist.org/cto/d/morristown-ford-f150/6860515337.html

Cory, I haven't read through the entire thread, so maybe you don't need any more parts. Just thought the year, and wheel base would match what you are trying to build.

Later.

1988 F250 Supercab Longbed 7.3 IDI, C6, 1356, GEARVENDORS, 4.10 Sterling with autolocker

1986 F150 302, C6, 9" 2.75, Wood Flatbed

Rembrant

Re: 1985 F150 Bullnose 4x4 Project

Ray Cecil wrote

Cory, I haven't read through the entire thread, so maybe you don't need any more parts. Just thought the year, and wheel base would match what you are trying to build.

Later.

No sir, I'm all good right now for parts...I think! I have a whole second truck now, it's just that in it's current state it looks like piles of rusty parts...lol. Building the truck is going to be a slow process...

Rembrant

Re: 1985 F150 Bullnose 4x4 Project

A slight change in direction with the '85 project truck...

The 302 is gone, and it has been replaced with this:

This is an old 240 that has been for sale down the road from me for quite a long time. I had been ignoring it mostly, but Jonathan pointed out that it can be easily converted to a 300, so that is the current plan. Stay tuned for more updates on this soon...

1986F150Six

Re: 1985 F150 Bullnose 4x4 Project

Administrator

This post was updated on .

And, with the 240 head, the converted 300 will have ~.5 pt. higher compression ratio!

Notice that on a 240 engine, the harmonic balancer has 2 grooves while the 300 normally has 3.

Ray Cecil

Re: 1985 F150 Bullnose 4x4 Project

In reply to this post by Rembrant

Nice. There is that one I posted on here awhile back. Still on craigslist too....hmmm.... higher compression....hmmmm.....how about you turbo the smaller displacement engine? Would make higher revs, better power numbers, more fun to drive.....maybe

1988 F250 Supercab Longbed 7.3 IDI, C6, 1356, GEARVENDORS, 4.10 Sterling with autolocker

1986 F150 302, C6, 9" 2.75, Wood Flatbed

Rembrant

Re: 1985 F150 Bullnose 4x4 Project

In reply to this post by 1986F150Six

1986F150Six wrote

Notice that on a 240 engine, the harmonic balancer has 2 grooves while the 300 normally has 3.

I see the dipstick is in a different location as well. Is the 300 in the pan?

I made a deal with a guy that is pulling a "shot" 300 out of a Bullnose. I'm hoping to use the crank and rods from that engine as well as the intake, exhaust, etc, etc. Both are very cheap so I'll have a running 300 for much less than rebuilding the trashy 302 that was in this truck:).

1986F150Six

Re: 1985 F150 Bullnose 4x4 Project

Administrator

Rembrant wrote

1986F150Six wrote

Notice that on a 240 engine, the harmonic balancer has 2 grooves while the 300 normally has 3.

Both are very cheap so I'll have a running 300 for much less than rebuilding the trashy 302 that was in this truck:).

Torque monster! There is a reason the 300 was offered by Ford in the F600s and the 302 was never offered in anything larger than the F250.

Steve83

Re: 1985 F150 Bullnose 4x4 Project

Banned User

In reply to this post by Rembrant

Rembrant wrote

Is the 300 in the pan?

My truck's original 300ci & the '95 4.9L are here:

Rembrant

Re: 1985 F150 Bullnose 4x4 Project

Steve83 wrote

Rembrant wrote

Is the 300 in the pan?

My truck's original 300ci & the '95 4.9L are here:

So is the difference between the 240 and 300, or are the two different locations just a generational thing? You can see on my picture above the dipstick is up close to the fuel pump. Was the 300 like that at one time as well?

I assume it makes no difference otherwise and has no effect on anything else?

Frank Wyatt

Re: 1985 F150 Bullnose 4x4 Project

The engine in my F 150 does not have the provision for the rear mount dipstick so it has the dipstick in the oil pan. I also have a spare engine that does have a rear block mounted dipstick like Steve's. That is the only difference that I have seen. Any 240 can be made a 300 by changing the crank rods and pistons and vice versa. There were some differences in the heads when EFI was put on the 300 as well as an early 240 head with a smaller combustion chamber that is desirable but getting rare to find.

1981 F 150 Custom 300 ci with a fully rebuilt 1968 240 head Carter YFA T-18 3.25 9" rear 2WD
dual gas tanks
1990 Lincoln Town Car 5.0 AOD
Home town Mc Kenzie, TN

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