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My 1984 F150 2wd Flareside Project "Blue Mule"

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salans7

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

Thought this was in WHYDTYTT. Oops.

Carry on.

Rembrant

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

Time for the strippers!!

Truck is going into the body shop on Tuesday for paint (the front half anyway), so this weekend's project is to remove the front bumper and grill, mirrors, wipers, door panels and as much as I can get out of the door, then pull the whole bed, etc, etc...

I also have to swap on the passenger front fender, so that means laying on my back on the floor and drilling more bolts out!

But the old thing might be worthy of attending some late season cars shows...September, and maybe even late August.

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

ArdWrknTrk

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

Administrator

You could always drive to Gary's GTG......

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.

Rembrant

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

ArdWrknTrk wrote

You could always drive to Gary's GTG......

Oh man, I'd love to...and I'm going to one of these days. I think I'll be cutting it a little too close this year between having my truck finished (and ready for a journey like that).

Heck, It's an 800 mile drive for me just to get to the lower corner of Connecticut!

Anyway...

Maybe in 2020, we'll see. I'll need a lot of prep for a trip like that in a 35 year old truck. Cruise control is almost a must, and I haven't even gotten to that. September might be OK without AC...but it's also on my to-do list...

ArdWrknTrk

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

Administrator

I'd love to go back to my great uncles place in Dingwall, at the northernmost tip of CBI.

His story goes, that back in the day. ('50's-'60s?) They discovered treasure on his beach.
This is from the ship french nobility fled Canada in when the British won.

Of course, he was not a Canadian citizen, so it went to the government.

I rode my RD400 up there back in the '70's.
It was BEAUTIFUL! 🤩

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.

ArdWrknTrk

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

Administrator

In reply to this post by Rembrant

"only" 800 miles???

Drop by any time!

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.

Gary Lewis

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

Administrator

In reply to this post by Rembrant

Cory - That's a lot of work for a weekend. Wow, I'm impressed!

As for the show, I sure hope you do make it, and soon! Over time the crew from here is going to edge out the "others". It'll be our "reunion", although each year we'll have new family members we've never met before.

Looks like both you and Shaun might be aiming for 2020.

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"

My old bull is just about ready for the body shop. All that is left to do really is to remove the bed and pull the grill and mirrors. I have to drive it 20 miles to my work where I'll finished disassembly (body shop is on the same street, so I'll drive it over there as stripped down as I can get it).

The bumper was a real pain...I had to drill all four mounting bolts out. I'm getting good and tired of drilling and cutting bolts off on this truck...lol.

Spent some time cleaning up the frame horns so that it is all clean and ready for reassembly.

Question(s) for the experts...

The truck was painted sometime previously...or touched up, whatever...and things the grill/headlight bezels were only taped off. Therefore there is some blue paint on the edges of the headlight bezels. Would I be safe taking lacquer thinner to try and remove that paint or will it ruin the finish on the bezels?
I do plan to replace them, but not this year.

Second...
cleaning up both front and rear chrome bumpers. Again, they will likely be replaced at some point, but definitely not in 2019. SOS Pads have always been my go-to for cleaning up old dull chrome, but I figured I'd ask you guys if there is anything better or and method I don't know about??...Any tips or tricks would be appreciated.

FuzzFace2

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

On the head light doors will it flake off?
If I was to use thinner I would try on the bottom or a place out of sight first.
If it works then maybe finish it with rubbing compound or use the compound only.

I cant tell but does your truck have the valance that goes between the fenders and between the bumper & grille? Should be body color but is maroon in my picture.

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

Gary Lewis

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

Administrator

In reply to this post by Rembrant

You are really making good progress, Cory! It won't be long now!

As for your questions, I don't know about using lacquer thinner on the headlight doors or the grille. They are plastic underneath and the thinner might harm them. But, Dave's suggestion of trying it somewhere that can't be seen is a good idea. And then finishing up with polishing compound is a good idea as well.

On the bumpers, I use chrome polish instead of steel wool or SOS pads. I think it gives a smoother finish. And, it is what I'd use on the grille and headlight doors as well.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Rembrant

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

In reply to this post by FuzzFace2

FuzzFace2 wrote

I cant tell but does your truck have the valance that goes between the fenders and between the bumper & grille?

My truck has it, yes, but it is not installed in this picture. The fenders that I put on the truck are only temporary placements. The body shop ordered two new fenders. I had these ones from the '85 I scrapped.
I've been doing everything possible to keep the labor hours down for the bodyshop, and part of that was hacking the old fenders off. Most of the bolts were rusted and stuck, so I spent a lot of time removing them and cleaning behind them, cleaning up the fender liners, etc, etc. It's really just to make things easier for them, which in turn is cheaper for me.

The shop wanted to supply the fenders in case they have any fitment issues they can just return them for replacements. The driver's door shell I had to order out of the US. The "stone guard" or whatever that front valance between the bumper and grill is called I actually had a NOS Ford piece that I bought locally. Other than that they'll be doing both cab corners, and those I also bought locally.

FuzzFace2

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

It sounds like you have it under control just did not want you to send the truck off for paint and they not have that /part.

I also hear you on pulling everything apart and back on with better parts to keep the $$ down.
Wished I could have done something to keep labor hours down

but has not cost me $$ for labor

Dave ----

Rembrant

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

In reply to this post by Gary Lewis

Gary Lewis wrote

You are really making good progress, Cory! It won't be long now!

As for your questions, I don't know about using lacquer thinner on the headlight doors or the grille. They are plastic underneath and the thinner might harm them. But, Dave's suggestion of trying it somewhere that can't be seen is a good idea. And then finishing up with polishing compound is a good idea as well.

Well I took the risk of using the lacquer thinner on the headlight doors and it worked. I used a small piece of white Scotchbrite, and the paint did come off. You pretty much have to let it soak a little bit. I couldn't scrape it off and I couldn't simply wipe it off...the thinner needs to sit on it a bit before it wipes off. The headlight doors and associated parts are not in terrible condition for their age, and I don't mind them looking a little bit weathered (Isn't that weathered look a thing these days?...lol). I'm going to repaint all of the tabs black...can't really see them anyway.

The upper grill trim piece (the metal one) had a noticeable dent in it that was driving me crazy. I laid it flat on the bench on a soft rag and then hammered the inside with a piece of wood, and the dent is almost completely gone...I don't think you'll even see it afterwards.

This old junk is going to look pretty good!

Gary,

Question for ya...
I've been running a black 82-86 grill in my truck. It was an original Ford part that a local guy was selling a couple years ago and I kinda liked it. Not sure if it is staying or not, but I'm curious...can you remind me again which trucks did come with the black grills? Was it just the Broncos?

The number on the back of it is E2TB-8150 A/B if that is any help.

Gary Lewis

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

Administrator

Cory - Glad the thinner worked and didn't damage the headlight doors. Well done!

As for the weathered look, I do hope that's a "thing". I took the headlight doors off Big Blue yesterday and saw how badly faded they are. But if I start painting or powder coating everything that is to go back on I'll never get this back together.

On the grille, there wasn't a completely black one in the 1982-86 range. As you can see from the snippet below (Exterior/Exterior Trim & Moulding), they even substituted a light argent & black one for the all-black 1980-81 unit when those ran out, so they must have been fairly close in looks.

I'll check the E2TB 8150-A/B ID # later in the cross reference and see if I can confirm this, but I'll bet you have E2TZ 8150-A, the light argent and black one from '82. For whatever reason the guru's at Ford tended to turn E2TZ into E2TB and then play with the suffix to create an ID # from a part #.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Rembrant

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

Gary Lewis wrote

On the grille, there wasn't a completely black one in the 1982-86 range. As you can see from the snippet below (Exterior/Exterior Trim & Moulding), they even substituted a light argent & black one for the all-black 1980-81 unit when those ran out, so they must have been fairly close in looks.

I'll check the E2TB 8150-A/B ID # later in the cross reference and see if I can confirm this, but I'll bet you have E2TZ 8150-A, the light argent and black one from '82. For whatever reason the guru's at Ford tended to turn E2TZ into E2TB and then play with the suffix to create an ID # from a part #.

Gary,

Maybe what I have is the dark charcoal grill? Or maybe it was painted at some point I guess? It's just that it doesn't look like it was painted...it just looks like faded plastic.

LARIAT 85

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

In reply to this post by Gary Lewis

Fair warning: any existing parts (headlight doors, mirrors, bumpers, trim molding, etc.) that are on your truck now that look "pretty good" are going to look "pretty bad" against a nice new paint job.

Ask me how I know.

Lucille: 1985 Ford F150 XLT Lariat

*Colors: Dark Canyon Red exterior, Canyon Red interior
*Engine: 5.0, CompCams 31-230-3, "Thumper" E7 heads, Edelbrock Performer intake, Autolite 4100 carburetor, DuraSpark II ignition, Thorley Tri-Y headers, Flowmaster dual exhaust, H-pipe.
*Drivetrain: AOD transmission, 3.55 gears, 2wd.

Rembrant

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

LARIAT 85 wrote

Fair warning: any existing parts (headlight doors, mirrors, bumpers, trim molding, etc.) that are on your truck now that look "pretty good" are going to look "pretty bad" against a nice new paint job.

Ask me how I know.

Rick,

Completely understood!

In my case it's a matter of scraping by with what I've got for the reason of this season, and I'll worry about new grill parts later. I'll leave that for easy peasy winter project stuff;).

Gary Lewis

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

Administrator

In reply to this post by Rembrant

Cory - I forgot to look in the cross-ref today. Sorry.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Rembrant

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

Gary,

I've been calling the grill black, but now that I look at it again, it's actually dark grey...so maybe it is the dark charcoal version? I was just curious what level trim trucks had them or if they were just random, etc.

Gary Lewis

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

Administrator

I think the way to tell is the price lists. Not sure how many I have, but I have the '85 and '86 ones on the website.

Looking at the '86 one, I see these grilles:

Base truck: Light argent with bright surround grille was standard

XL Flaresides: Chrome grill was standard

XLT Lariat (available Styleside only): Chrome grille was standard

But I don't see anything about dark argent. And I don't have those dealer facts books on the website. So, I plan to do some sleuthing tomorrow. I hope.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

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