'85 Flareside: archeology and mysteries

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'85 Flareside: archeology and mysteries

SCFlareside
All,

An '85 Flareside came up not too far from me, and long story short... ended up managing to get it.  Truck has a lot of patina on the outside, but the more I looked at it the better it got.  Was sitting in back of a guy's house... he'd bought to restore but didn't get to it so was selling.  He said that he bought it from a farmer who "had it forever"

Made about an hour and a half trip home today on the highway, no problems other than a bit of a pull to the right, and some interesting noises from the left front during slow speed turns.  Engine ran like a champ.  Can tell the first thing I want to address are brakes, then steering...

Will post more pics shortly but this truck is really complete.  AC is all there and compressor kicks on but it's not cold.  Everything else works... even the cruise control...(!)

Truck shows about 39,000 miles on the odo.  I am inclined to think that it's 139k, not 239k for a few reasons even though the exterior is pretty sun - bleached and rusted.

- Wear on the foot pedals and other areas is minimal
- Door hinges are great
- General "original-ness" of the truck
- I believe the original bed floor is in the truck (was a CA truck for a while)

Will try getting the Carfax to confirm maybe.

Anyway, on to a few interesting things on the truck:

1.) It has a fuel injected 300 in it.  I didn't think the '85 trucks with 300s were EFI?  The truck's VIN seems to indicate an EFI 302 instead.  Probably a transplant later, but it looks very well done, thought it was factory at first.

2.) The truck sits up a bit more in the tail, higher rake angle than normal.  Checked out the rear springs and they have five leafs, quite the hearty spring pack.  3/4 ton maybe?  

3.) Will post pictures of inside.  Full interior is blue, except for the grey rubberized floor (no carpet)  and GREY kick panels.  Question:  Was this typical for Ford, to use different color kick panels to match the floor?  If so, I'll want to restore it that same way.    I believe this was an XL.  It also has chrome door card trim.  

4.) The steering wheel or at least the trim was replaced because it's rosewood, but the cruise control buttons on it all work.  The dash is the normal '85 burlwood.

Thanks all!

SC Flareside





1985 Flareside 4x4, Silver, 302, AOD, BFG Mud 33x12.50s.  California truck with 140k original miles :)  (and slowly going up)

1977 F250 4x4 Highboy, Dec '76 production.  NP435 4 Speed, NP205, 4:10s.    Military 36.5s
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Re: '85 Flareside: archeology and mysteries

SCFlareside
right side
1985 Flareside 4x4, Silver, 302, AOD, BFG Mud 33x12.50s.  California truck with 140k original miles :)  (and slowly going up)

1977 F250 4x4 Highboy, Dec '76 production.  NP435 4 Speed, NP205, 4:10s.    Military 36.5s
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Re: '85 Flareside: archeology and mysteries

SCFlareside
Springs- 3/4 ton??
1985 Flareside 4x4, Silver, 302, AOD, BFG Mud 33x12.50s.  California truck with 140k original miles :)  (and slowly going up)

1977 F250 4x4 Highboy, Dec '76 production.  NP435 4 Speed, NP205, 4:10s.    Military 36.5s
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Re: '85 Flareside: archeology and mysteries

SCFlareside
Grey kick panel?  Pedal pads are nice
1985 Flareside 4x4, Silver, 302, AOD, BFG Mud 33x12.50s.  California truck with 140k original miles :)  (and slowly going up)

1977 F250 4x4 Highboy, Dec '76 production.  NP435 4 Speed, NP205, 4:10s.    Military 36.5s
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Re: '85 Flareside: archeology and mysteries

SCFlareside
Bed
1985 Flareside 4x4, Silver, 302, AOD, BFG Mud 33x12.50s.  California truck with 140k original miles :)  (and slowly going up)

1977 F250 4x4 Highboy, Dec '76 production.  NP435 4 Speed, NP205, 4:10s.    Military 36.5s
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Re: '85 Flareside: archeology and mysteries

grumpin
Nice find! Flaresides are cool!
Dane
1986 F250HD SC XLT Lariat 4x4 460 C6-Sold
1992 Bronco XLT 4x4 351W E4OD
1998 GMC Sierra SLE K1500 350 4L60E
Arizona
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Re: '85 Flareside: archeology and mysteries

ArdWrknTrk
Administrator
In reply to this post by SCFlareside
Congratulations!
You've brought home another orphaned puppy to keep you home and busy, and out of trouble.  

Looks like a fun project.
What are your plans?
 Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.
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Re: '85 Flareside: archeology and mysteries

Rembrant
In reply to this post by SCFlareside
Haha Ken, I knew you couldn't resist buying this truck!!...lol.

So are you going to sell the black one now?

That EFI must be a swap. As far as I'm aware, the 300 was carbed until 1987. Only the 302 got EFI part way through 1985.

Are the old SBF engine perches still there...or is there evidence that they were? I'm not sure if they need to be removed or not to install a 300.
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

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Re: '85 Flareside: archeology and mysteries

Gary Lewis
Administrator
Cool!  

I agree with Cory, I don't think the 300 got EFI until '87.

As for the kick panel, I've never seen them a different color than the door panel/card.
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

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Re: '85 Flareside: archeology and mysteries

FuzzFace2
If the VIN said 85 with a 302 and it has  FI 300 in it wonder what the frame VIN has to say?
Could it be a cab swap?

On the kick panels I would think they would match the others. Now a black rug with other inside colors I can see.

On my phone I can't really see the pictures so can't wait till on my pc.
Dave ----
Dave G.
81 F100 flare side 300 six / AA OD / NP435 / 2.75 gear
http://cars.grantskingdom1.com/index.php/1980-Ford-F100?page=1
81 F100 style side 300 six/SROD parts truck -RIP
http://cars.grantskingdom1.com/index.php/1981-Ford-F100
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Re: '85 Flareside: archeology and mysteries

SCFlareside
Good point Dave, I'll look at the frame VIN as well.  Still, I don't think it's a cab swap... at least it wouldn't have been due to rust being a factor, maybe some other reason?
1985 Flareside 4x4, Silver, 302, AOD, BFG Mud 33x12.50s.  California truck with 140k original miles :)  (and slowly going up)

1977 F250 4x4 Highboy, Dec '76 production.  NP435 4 Speed, NP205, 4:10s.    Military 36.5s
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Re: '85 Flareside: archeology and mysteries

SCFlareside
In reply to this post by Rembrant
:) I'm thinking that I'll need to sell the black one, or this one within the next several months.  The CHO (Chief Home Officer) is very understanding but won't likely tolerate two trucks forever...
1985 Flareside 4x4, Silver, 302, AOD, BFG Mud 33x12.50s.  California truck with 140k original miles :)  (and slowly going up)

1977 F250 4x4 Highboy, Dec '76 production.  NP435 4 Speed, NP205, 4:10s.    Military 36.5s
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Re: '85 Flareside: archeology and mysteries

FuzzFace2
What no "his & her" trucks?

It does not look that bad from here so maybe a quick fix use for a bit and if the wife does not want "hers" then up for sale it goes.
Being it is not black the body does not need to be 1000% straight.
Dave ----
Dave G.
81 F100 flare side 300 six / AA OD / NP435 / 2.75 gear
http://cars.grantskingdom1.com/index.php/1980-Ford-F100?page=1
81 F100 style side 300 six/SROD parts truck -RIP
http://cars.grantskingdom1.com/index.php/1981-Ford-F100
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Re: '85 Flareside: archeology and mysteries

SCFlareside
Ok I just did a Carfax on the truck out of curiosity, confirmed some suspicions:

The truck was sold and lived in Palmdale, then Burbank California for the first 19 years of it's life.  Get this:  that first owner only drove about 5k / year, you can see the pattern of mileage because of the regular CA emissions checks.  By the time it was sold and moved to North Carolina, it was 19 years old with 91,500 miles.

The farmer who owned it in NC bought it in 2005; he noted that it had an engine with "almost no miles on it", so assuming that's when the 300 was put in

Farmer put about 45k miles on it between 2005 and 2014; sold locally to owner #3...

Bought it just now, October 2019 as owner #4 with 139k on the clock.
1985 Flareside 4x4, Silver, 302, AOD, BFG Mud 33x12.50s.  California truck with 140k original miles :)  (and slowly going up)

1977 F250 4x4 Highboy, Dec '76 production.  NP435 4 Speed, NP205, 4:10s.    Military 36.5s
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Re: '85 Flareside: archeology and mysteries

Gary Lewis
Administrator
Neat to find out that stuff.  Now you'll have a reason to start a build thread.  What'cha gonna call the truck?
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

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Re: '85 Flareside: archeology and mysteries

ArdWrknTrk
Administrator
Skunkworks is the most prominent thing I know of from Palmdale...
 Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.
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Re: '85 Flareside: archeology and mysteries

Steve83
Banned User
In reply to this post by Gary Lewis
Gary Lewis wrote
As for the kick panel, I've never seen them a different color than the door panel/card.
The only factory 2-tone interior in these trucks was the '91 Silver Anniversary Edition Bronco.

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Re: '85 Flareside: archeology and mysteries

Ray Cecil
In reply to this post by SCFlareside
YES!! Another Flareside!!!

We need to have an annual Flareside Meet on the Easy Coast. Seems like most the Flares on this site are East of me. And I am only in Louisville KY.

Anyway, I love the Flaresides. I cannot wait to see where you take this project.

My blue interior is ALL blue. No gray. That is likely not original kick panels, IMHO.

If you decide to do away with the FI 300, let me know. I have the original carb 300 in mine. Been thinking about my options for it...

I have an 87 Bronco FI 302/C6 sitting in the back yard. If you want to do a 4x4 conversion, we might could work something out.
1988 F250 Supercab Longbed 7.3 IDI, C6, 1356, GEARVENDORS, 4.10 Sterling with autolocker

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


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Re: '85 Flareside: archeology and mysteries

Rembrant
In reply to this post by FuzzFace2
FuzzFace2 wrote
Could it be a cab swap?
Looks like the original cab...it has the Flareside filler panels in the corners above the steps.
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

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Re: '85 Flareside: archeology and mysteries

reamer
This post was updated on .
Looks to be the original bed wood too.

You can help us all out with a mystery, in the left side of the bed, up against the headboard (in the bed) take a close-up photo of the bed wall lip and bolts. Notice if the left side corner and the right side corner have different amount of bolts.

Now look underneath by the gas filler tube, do you have the "mysterious piece of square stock" ???
Thanks
1986 F-150 Flareside 4x4, 351, 4-v, ZF5 speed. AC, Cruise, Tilt, Slider, Digital clock, Radio, Lariat seat, Pwr doors/locks
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