Bullnose Enthusiasts Forum › Projects

My 1984 F150 2wd Flareside Project "Blue Mule"

Classic

List

Threaded

1206 messages Options

1 ... 32333435363738 ... 61

Rembrant

Re: My 1984 F150 2wd Flareside Project "Blue Mule"

Ray Cecil wrote

Cory, I know a guy who is going to want this special Medium Blue paint code for his blue flareside. Do you think you could get the paint code from them and any other related info a guy might need? Ya know, cause I know a guy who would need it.

Ha! I'll see if I can get the code for the guy you know.

This project is still going to be slow progress for a little while. I've been swamped at work, and I'm away the next two weeks on work trips.

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

Ray Cecil

Re: My 1984 F150 2wd Flareside Project "Blue Mule"

Rembrant wrote

Ha! I'll see if I can get the code for the guy you know.

This project is still going to be slow progress for a little while. I've been swamped at work, and I'm away the next two weeks on work trips.

He will much appreciate that effort.

I am also having to put mine on hold. But only for a week. The up side is, I get to see Gary and check out his progress around the shop on his projects! See ya in a few days Gary!

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

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

Gary Lewis

Re: My 1984 F150 2wd Flareside Project "Blue Mule"

Administrator

In reply to this post by Rembrant

Cory - Those are beautiful!!!

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: My 1984 F150 2wd Flareside Project "Blue Mule"

Things have been moving pretty slow with the old Blue Mule project lately. I have been on the road with work living out of a suitcase for two weeks and I just got back into the swing of things again this morning. A friend of mine came over to help me lift the shell of the new bed on to the frame. So far it is all assembled with SS hardware and everything looks great. Fit and finish is great so far.

Things will start happening a little quicker now over the next few weeks. I have some more parts on order from LMC, Ebay, and Mar-K. I'll pick up the new bed wood this week, and I have to get some parts sand blasted and cleaned up, and I still have to have the fenders, steps, and tailgate hinges painted blue.

One more week of work, and then I'm off for a week of vacation and I hope to get a whole bunch of work done to the old girl while I'm off.

Progress...slow but sure...lol.

Ray Cecil

Re: My 1984 F150 2wd Flareside Project "Blue Mule"

Looking great Cory. Cannot wait to see the final results. Also cannot wait to do the same to my blue flare.

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

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

Gary Lewis

Re: My 1984 F150 2wd Flareside Project "Blue Mule"

Administrator

In reply to this post by Rembrant

Yes, it really DOES look GOOD! You are going to be so proud!

It is a bummer that work tends to get in the way, but if you are doing a staycation then maybe you'll get a lot more done? I'll bet you can't wait.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

grumpin

Re: My 1984 F150 2wd Flareside Project "Blue Mule"

Nice!

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

Rembrant

Re: My 1984 F150 2wd Flareside Project "Blue Mule"

Thank you gentlemen! Progress feels good!

I hope to be installing the wood floor next weekend and get everything drilled and test fitted so I can remove it all and finish it with some type of varnish...not sure what yet, but likely a Spar Marine type varnish.

One more week before vacation, so I'm getting excited to be able to spend a few solid days working on this to get it 'closer' to be finished....well, finished enough so that I can drive it.

Rembrant

Re: My 1984 F150 2wd Flareside Project "Blue Mule"

Got some more junk back from sand blasting this afternoon...

I had the tailgate chains sand blasted and then I primed and painted them with aluminum engine paint. New ones would be nice of course, but these will work just fine for 2019 with a new $5 set of covers on them.

I spray painted a spare set of tailgate hinges I had for test fitting purposes and the old single stage rattle can matches up pretty well with the base/clear on the bed sides. I'm impressed. However I do have a snafu...the newly installed stake pockets are not perfect, and the hinges end up being cocked on a bit of an angle once tightened down. Not sure how I'm going to rectify this yet, but I think I'll have to get the hinges machined to put an angle on the mounting faces.

Gary Lewis

Re: My 1984 F150 2wd Flareside Project "Blue Mule"

Administrator

Those things look really good. And I can't see the angle on the hinge of which you type. Which way do they angle?

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Rembrant

Re: My 1984 F150 2wd Flareside Project "Blue Mule"

Gary Lewis wrote

Those things look really good. And I can't see the angle on the hinge of which you type. Which way do they angle?

You can see it in these pics. One pic makes the angle look more pronounced than it is...but it's bad enough it won't work. The problem is that the stake pockets I welded on were not bent 100% perfectly on that back side. You can't tell unless you know it's there...but it is obviously causing a problem with the hinge mounting. I think I'll get the mounting flanges machined on a bit of an angle to even them back out. I'll have the spare set done first and see how it works out.

Gary Lewis

Re: My 1984 F150 2wd Flareside Project "Blue Mule"

Administrator

I see, said the blind man. Any chance that you can bolt one down to something and bend it by placing a rod in it for leverage?

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

FuzzFace2

Re: My 1984 F150 2wd Flareside Project "Blue Mule"

In reply to this post by Gary Lewis

Gary Lewis wrote

Those things look really good. And I can't see the angle on the hinge of which you type. Which way do they angle?

What he said but is the gate side pointing to the rear sill panel?
If so can you make a wedge spacer to put between the hinge & pocket base?

I had to make spacers for both sides in that same place to space the gate away from the sill as it hit it when opening & closing. I used the same fender spacer floor tile traced the hinge on it and cut & drilled holes and works great.

The chains came out looking good as new. I don't have access to a blaster so I just painted them silver.
I used bike tire tube over the chains with a drain hole at the bottom.

BTW truck is looking good
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

Rembrant

Re: My 1984 F150 2wd Flareside Project "Blue Mule"

In reply to this post by Gary Lewis

Gary Lewis wrote

I see, said the blind man. Any chance that you can bolt one down to something and bend it by placing a rod in it for leverage?

That's not a bad idea either Gary...I was trying to think of a way to bend the mounting ears, but your suggestion might just do the trick. I can mount the hinge(s) to a bench at work and then use a bar or a piece of pipe to bend them...or at least attempt to.

Dave,
I thought of doing angled shims to correct them, but the only problem with that is that it would push the bottom of the gate out a little bit. It might be OK, I'm not sure. I'm going to try bending them first...if that doesn't work I'll machine them, and if that doesn't work I'll shim them;).

Thanks Gentlemen!

Gary Lewis

Re: My 1984 F150 2wd Flareside Project "Blue Mule"

Administrator

Take a measurement of how far the "nose" of the hinge needs to move to be parallel, mount it up to the bench, measure what space you have there, and then bend it to the right distance.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Rembrant

Re: My 1984 F150 2wd Flareside Project "Blue Mule"

In reply to this post by Rembrant

More Flareside rebuilding adventures this morning while...er...I mean before work!

For those not familiar with them, the Flareside fiberglass fenders have metal brackets at the front and rear of the fender, and they are notorious for rusting away...at least up here. All four of them on my 1984 were completely disintegrated and rusted away. They were bad enough that somebody had put some extra screws right through the fenders to keep them from flapping around.

Anyway, I had planned to use the brackets from a spare set of fenders I had, but after removing the brackets I found that three of the four were rusted out and were beyond use. Of the one that I was left, I used it as a template to make all new ones out of stainless.

Interesting to note...they look like they're 90 degree bends, but they're not...they're tighter...more like 85 degrees.

Got the new brackets all installed and dropped the fenders and steps off for paint this morning. When they actually get around to painting them is another story, but hopefully it will be quick;).

Anyway, they should be good now for another 35 years and many more on top of that!!

Stupid rust.

1986F150Six

Re: My 1984 F150 2wd Flareside Project "Blue Mule"

Administrator

Hmmmm? You could produce these for resale!

Rembrant

Re: My 1984 F150 2wd Flareside Project "Blue Mule"

1986F150Six wrote

Hmmmm? You could produce these for resale!

Ha...yes, I suppose so! Somebody was looking for assistance with these a while back I think on FTE. He was complaining about his fenders flapping loose on the bed sides. They're pretty simple pieces, and not worth much unfortunately.

1986F150Six

Re: My 1984 F150 2wd Flareside Project "Blue Mule"

Administrator

1986F150Six wrote

They're pretty simple pieces, and not worth much unfortunately.

Until one needs them!

Ray Cecil

Re: My 1984 F150 2wd Flareside Project "Blue Mule"

In reply to this post by Rembrant

Nice. Cory, as usual, is inspiring me. However, I cant seem to catch a break to capitalize on the inspiration.

I wonder if my brackets are rusted out. Fenders seem solid to me. I will have to check.

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

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

1 ... 32333435363738 ... 61