Bullnose Enthusiasts Forum

Backyard Bullnose finds, good and bad

Classic

List

Threaded

103 messages Options

123456

Rembrant

Re: Backyard Bullnose finds, good and bad

I finally got to talk to the owner of this old Bullnose today (The original truck from the beginning of this thread). He said he bought the truck new in 1981. He says he'll let it go cheap....really cheap!!

Judging by the look of the frame, it would break in two if you tried to move it. Maybe the leaf springs and the drive shaft would hold it together;).

Not much there to salvage unfortunately. Fiberglass fenders, trans/transfer case, diffs maybe.

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

Oz Econoline/F100

Re: Backyard Bullnose finds, good and bad

That rear bar would be worth putting aside

Rembrant

Re: Backyard Bullnose finds, good and bad

Oz Econoline/F100 wrote

That rear bar would be worth putting aside

Yeah, there are a few parts I'd take off of this truck. The SRW would be one, although I didn't look closely at it's condition, and it may be more trouble than it's worth to remove. I checked with a local shop last fall and they quoted me something like $450 installed for a new one (That's CDN, not USD).

The other pair of trucks I looked at earlier in the week had a few parts there as well. There's a good Flareside rear bumper there, laying on the bench set of one of the trucks, and what looked to be a salvageable tailgate...although again, it may be more trouble than it's worth to repair since they are available new.

Gary Lewis

Re: Backyard Bullnose finds, good and bad

Administrator

In reply to this post by Rembrant

I've never seen a frame that far gone. If that is indicative of the rest of the truck, or at least the parts underneath, then it wouldn't be worth even "cheap". But things like the roll bar, bull bar, and maybe the rear pumper might tip the balance.

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

Rembrant

Re: Backyard Bullnose finds, good and bad

Gary Lewis wrote

I've never seen a frame that far gone.

The truck was more than likely parked there because the frame was broken. It's been there for a long long time. One of the others I looked at this week, equally sunk into the ground, was parked there in the 1990's.

Some of these old vehicles rusted out from the salt air, just sitting in the driveway...lol.

Gary Lewis

Re: Backyard Bullnose finds, good and bad

Administrator

I can tell you from recent experience that getting a truck out of the ground is a chore. And it takes a lot of jacking individual corners to get under them. I can't see that one coming out in one piece w/o damaging things.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Rembrant

Re: Backyard Bullnose finds, good and bad

Gary Lewis wrote

I can tell you from recent experience that getting a truck out of the ground is a chore. And it takes a lot of jacking individual corners to get under them. I can't see that one coming out in one piece w/o damaging things.

I won't be moving the thing, but I may be interested in some parts. I was thinking of grabbing the 4-spd stick to somehow graft onto my 5spd to keep the interior looking correct-ish. Not that it matters much, but the one thing that bugs me about my 5-spd swap is that straight stick. It seems like every Bullnose with a manual trans I look into has a different "crooked" shifter stick in it.

This junker has a stick like in the pictures below...any idea what tools I would need to remove it?

Gary Lewis

Re: Backyard Bullnose finds, good and bad

Administrator

I don't know because I don't know what transmission that is. But, if you can find out, or have some of the guys on here tell us, what tranny it is then I should be able to look it up.

You could ask a question about that by starting a new thread in the main section.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

reamer

Re: Backyard Bullnose finds, good and bad

Curvy stick is a NP435 4 sp.
I get the roll bar Gary,

In the shot of the tailgate, look at the tree growing between the body and the bumper, its been there a while!
Usually if you see the rear chrome bumper "puckering" around the bolt holes, it has "rust expanded" from the backside...

1986 F-150 Flareside 4x4, 351, 4-v, ZF5 speed. AC, Cruise, Tilt, Slider, Digital clock, Radio, Lariat seat, Pwr doors/locks

Gary Lewis

Re: Backyard Bullnose finds, good and bad

Administrator

Ok, I should have known that it is an NP435.

As for the tools required the shift lever from one, strength and a disregard for pain. It is a PAIN! The instructions are on Page 4 here (Driveline/Transmissions/Manual Transmissions/NP435, and they call for a special tool - Kent-Moore J3108. But I've done it with several rags and a pair of gloves to protect my fingers. You push down HARD and turn the cap and it unlocks. Eventually.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Rembrant

Re: Backyard Bullnose finds, good and bad

In reply to this post by reamer

reamer wrote

Curvy stick is a NP435 4 sp.

Was the NP435 common behind the 300/6?

One of the Flareside 4x4 trucks I looked at last week had a 302, and it had a different stick again. It had some bends in it, but wasn't as curvy as the NP435.

Gary Lewis

Re: Backyard Bullnose finds, good and bad

Administrator

Yes, the NP and 300 were a common combo. Good workhorse combo.

The 302's didn't have much torque so they could put the lighter-duty transmissions behind them. But the 300 had enough torque to work. However, because they were the base engine you see them set up two different ways. First, for economy with high-geared rear ends and a light-duty OD tranny. Or, as a low-priced work truck with the heavier-duty tranny like the NP and something like a 3.50 rear axle ratio.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Rembrant

Re: Backyard Bullnose finds, good and bad

In reply to this post by Gary Lewis

Gary Lewis wrote

As for the tools required the shift lever from one, strength and a disregard for pain. It is a PAIN! The instructions are on Page 4 here (Driveline/Transmissions/Manual Transmissions/NP435, and they call for a special tool - Kent-Moore J3108. But I've done it with several rags and a pair of gloves to protect my fingers. You push down HARD and turn the cap and it unlocks. Eventually.

OK, one more quick question then...how is the rubber boot attached to the tunnel cover? Phillips head screws? If I can get back there I might grab the stick out of this thing, and I might as well grab the boot if it's still intact and undamaged.

Gary Lewis

Re: Backyard Bullnose finds, good and bad

Administrator

This isn't the NP, but I don't find one for the NP and think they were done this way:

And the AMK Products catalog says the 52743-S screw is:

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Rembrant

Re: Backyard Bullnose finds, good and bad

Awesome, thanks Gary!

Gary Lewis

Re: Backyard Bullnose finds, good and bad

Administrator

You never know what someone has done before, so don't bet that they are Phillips. They could be cabinet/slotted or even hex-headed. But I'm sure you'll be prepared for anything.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Rembrant

Re: Backyard Bullnose finds, good and bad

In reply to this post by reamer

reamer wrote

I find it interesting that the Flareside is/was so popular "up there"...

Hey Reamer,

Check out this Flareside in Quebec;).

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-voiture-collection/laval-rive-nord/camion-antique/1361963049?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

Gary Lewis

Re: Backyard Bullnose finds, good and bad

Administrator

Man, it is amazing how those fender skirts make the rear of that truck look fat. At first glance I thought it is a DRW Flareside.

And, the saying about "There is no accounting for taste" left out a bit - "or the lack thereof".

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

reamer

Re: Backyard Bullnose finds, good and bad

All I can say is

1986 F-150 Flareside 4x4, 351, 4-v, ZF5 speed. AC, Cruise, Tilt, Slider, Digital clock, Radio, Lariat seat, Pwr doors/locks

1986F150Six

Re: Backyard Bullnose finds, good and bad

Administrator

In reply to this post by Gary Lewis

Gary Lewis wrote

Man, it is amazing how those fender skirts make the rear of that truck look fat. At first glance I thought it is a DRW Flareside.

Gas mileage aerodynamics!

123456