My 1984 F150 2wd Flareside Project "Blue Mule"

Looking good Cory
I was wondering who would have their truck painted and together first you or me  I think you will beat me.
I still need to paint the fenders (2 colors), tail gate & running boards and put everything else back in / on.
Again looks great.
Dave ----

Ray Cecil wrote

Thats it. Time to rebuild and paint mine.

lol. It's a slippery slope Ray, be careful...lol. Once you start tearing into that stuff, it's difficult to stop.

FuzzFace2 wrote

Looking good Cory
I was wondering who would have their truck painted and together first you or me  I think you will beat me.

Dave, if I do, it's only because I'm cheating by paying a shop to do the body work...lol.

They're telling me I should have it back by the end of Tuesday. The truck was in the oven, but they still want it to sit over the weekend for the paint to harden up some more.

I don't have a whole lot to do to it when I get it back.

1. Install mirrors and wiper arms.
2. Install grill and front bumper.
3. Install rear bumper and license plate bracket.
4. Install new speakers in doors, run speaker wires, etc.
5. Install new driver's door switch (The one for the dome light).
6. Install interior door panels.
7. Install door gaskets/seals.
8. Fix issue with fuel sending unit in tank.
9. Install bed back on frame.
10. Install gasoline in the tank and drive!

Knowing you, you will have it banged out in a weekend
Dave ----

Well, I'm running out of time here, and fast. The truck has barely moved at all this season, and by the time she's all back together and cleaned up inside and out, I'll basically just have October and a little time in November. It's hit or miss really. November can be really nice here, albeit a little cool. Problem is, we often get a dump of snow sometime in November...or freezing rain, whatever, and out come the salt trucks. Once that happens, the season is over for the Blue Mule. It doesn't stay that early, but it's enough to make a mess of the roads.

Man, I am so ready to see the final product of this build. Ive not commented much in here, but ive been following along.

My blue flareside is showing its age. It still gets a lot of attention, but it could use a full restoration.

Im loving my 300 straight. And im going to play around with it a little more. Im actually wondering if a mustang or late model f150 4.6 would be a fun swap. I totalled a low mileage grand marquis, and sold the whole car for $300. I should have ripped the drivetrain out and saved it.

The 4.6 has no balls in the low rpm range though, in stock form. Id have a lot of money in a cam upgrade. Luckily, the flaresides arent too heavy, so it might not be too bad of a match.

I like that blue, you may have mentioned it but what color is it?

Nice color.

TheScatch wrote

I like that blue, you may have mentioned it but what color is it?

It's Ford code "3P", aka Medium Blue Metallic, used on the trucks between 1982-1984. I guess should say it's a revised code 3P, as the original I believe was a single stage, and it is now base/clear.



We have another member on here (RayCecil) with an '82 that is the same 3P color code.



I'm sure Ford pumped a zillion of these trucks out in this color, but I haven't found a lot of them to compare to. I spent some time Googling for trucks with the 3P paint code one time and all I found was the truck below, and I know nothing about it.

Cory, I think this photo is sexier.....

Ray Cecil wrote

Cory, I think this photo is sexier.....

Ray, I went looking for a picture of you truck and the one I posted was the first one I found...lol.

Great lookin' truck man!

Seeing yours (and others) makes me feel like my paint color is correct. I keep looking at my truck and think it's the wrong color since I was so used to looking at the old faded and multi-shaded blue that was on it before.

Rembrant, I wonder if you're the one who replied to my comment a few days ago on another forum about Flareside vs. Stepside.

Also, after looking at these pics I wonder if I shouldn't search for a flareside bed instead of trying to repair the crunch on the rear of my bed.

You can build a flarside bed from parts on LMC. If I was starting with a short wheelbase truck, first thing I would do is sell the styleside bed and build a flareside.

Rembrant wrote

Seeing yours (and others) makes me feel like my paint color is correct. I keep looking at my truck and think it's the wrong color since I was so used to looking at the old faded and multi-shaded blue that was on it before.

Cory, my blue is slightly different than stock. Ive got new paint flaking in a few spots and you can see the original blue vs the new. New paint is for sure brighter.

Randy wrote

Rembrant, I wonder if you're the one who replied to my comment a few days ago on another forum about Flareside vs. Stepside.

Also, after looking at these pics I wonder if I shouldn't search for a flareside bed instead of trying to repair the crunch on the rear of my bed.

Yessir, that was me.
You have to be careful where and when you use the term "Stepside" online as it causes some people's blood pressure to rise...lol.

Where are you located? There was a guy on Facebook yesterday in I believe South Carolina that was selling a complete step side....err...I mean Flareside bed for $100 bucks. It looked to be in pretty good condition too, although the wood was all gone out of it.

Rembrant wrote

Where are you located? There was a guy on Facebook yesterday in I believe South Carolina that was selling a complete step side....err...I mean Flareside bed for $100 bucks. It looked to be in pretty good condition too, although the wood was all gone out of it.

I'm in the Fort Worth, Texas area. I suspect that,  if I found a good flareside bed within driving range, I could disassemble it and cart it home in my swb.

Yeah, that colour is VERY sharp Rembrant! Really like that. Will be nice to see it on the road, of course. I was in Amherst area for a wedding in the summer and I don't know where you live, but i kept hoping i'd see your stepside cruisin past somewhere  

gtanns wrote

Yeah, that colour is VERY sharp Rembrant! Really like that. Will be nice to see it on the road, of course. I was in Amherst area for a wedding in the summer and I don't know where you live, but i kept hoping i'd see your stepside cruisin past somewhere  

I'm just outside of Halifax...between the city and Peggy's Cove. There weren't many opportunities to see my truck on the road this season unfortunately. I took it back and forth to Dartmouth a small handful of times for car night in Woodside, or to take it to work, and that was it. It was really only on the road for a couple weeks in July, and it's been in the body shop now since the beginning of August. In any case, I'll have it back this week and It will be back on the road by the end of the week. If all goes well I'm going to try and make the last couple car shows around...there's one near Bridgewater next weekend, and another in Moncton the week after that. Other than that, I just want to drive it, so I might even try to squeeze in a lap around the Cabot Trail if everything is working as it should;).

I see your truck is coming along well. Nice work man!

Got the old girl back late today. Couple pics in front of the body shop. Bed will be going on tomorrow as soon as I sorted out the fuel sender issues. Then grill mirrors new badges wipers and bumpers.

Man, that looks good!