New Member...Yay!

Gotta find the time to get into the gritty of it! Glad to see a few of you guys recognize me from the other sites. Pretty cool how we can cross between them.

Speaking of write ups, is there anything on the website yet about the relay harness upgrade for our headlights?

Yes, there sorta is: Electrical/Lighting/Headlight Wiring Harness.  But it doesn't tell you how to build one, although it has a link to a how-to on FTE.  But, personally it is easier, cheaper, faster to buy one.

Oh, and here's a sort of companion piece: Lighting Upgrades.  It is just in a project thread, and I've wondered if it needs to be upgraded and given its own page.  The issue, as I see it, is the proliferation of the LED replacement bulbs, which can't work properly in the stock reflectors.

Anyway, tell me what you think - and don't worry about my feelings.

Quick scans says everything looks A++ as I would write it. I too, also would buy and have bought at least 5 of the premade harnesses. Highly recommend them.

Also, one picture of yours...it seems and I have never noticed this until now, that radiators have at least 2 different mounting styles...what year did that change from the "over the top strap" style to the tabs on the radiator that screw into the support style as seen in later trucks and also 85-86 supports?

Radiator supports, radiators, and hold-downs changed in '85, as shown here: Cooling Systems/Radiator Support.  And, notice the tab on how to use an '85-96 radiator in an '80-84 support.

Learn something new everyday.

My dad was onto something when he swore 85/86 were their own breed from the rest of them. Even if it was subtle and not as major as 80/81.

Yes, 1985 had a number of changes.  The paint line changed, as well as the trim.  And the interior door panels got new, soft covers. But in 1985.5 there were a number of internal changes, like in the fuel systems.

And in '86 the wire colors changed subtly as the old hash marks and dots Ford had used for decades got dropped for just stripes.  Then in '86 the idiot light option went away, but the 2G alternator was introduced.


Lots of changes.

His is an early (Feb '85) so it has a lot of really, really weird stuff going on with it.

It's a base 6600lb F250. 300-6/C6/NP208. Originally...now has had several 351W's.

Axles are a D44 TTB HD and Dana 60 semi float geared 3.73 FRONT AND REAR.

Anyone that knows anything about these trucks knows that the 3.73 D60 and 61 were strictly 2wd Econoline axles and that that ratio was never factory offered in a TTB. 3.54 is...as the door tag on the truck also states it has...truck was purchased 2 years old from the original owner who had passed away. What is also unique is that the door tag also states the rear is axle code 23...which is a D60 3.54 open rear end. This is definitely a Trac-lok rear end and the front also has a unit in the diff. This truck was not ordered with these and they were never changed or modified. To confirm, I will have to dig, but somewhere I have the axle tags from each diff and they both have the famous 3L73 code on them. I was never able to locate the BOM number on the rear end. I was able to confirm with Dana-Spicer that the TTB in this truck is legitimate and was produced how ever may be extremely rare possibly even 1 of 1; records they have show that center sections were produced by Spicer at the time. We are chalking this up to the truck being built just weeks or days before the change to Sterling axles were introduced and that Ford was simply using up stock to get rid of it, and this particular truck got the oddball. The rest of the axle is the same as any other 44 HD. Another odd bit is that the rear axle has axle retainers not unlike a 9" and does NOT have C clips for the axle shafts like a standard semi float 60. This axle does NOT have full floating hubs at the wheels. Bearings are pressed in and somewhat difficult to find at parts stores.

If that's not weird enough, this truck also has the storage rack behind the seat, and carpeted map pockets which were an XLT option I beleive. Theres a few other oddballs, namely the under hood courtesy light and others. Cant think of them right now though!

Forgot to mention. 02/85 is the date, 93118 production sequence. Canadian built. Definitely subjected to odd parts.

I can't wait to see the thread on this truck!  You've gotta document that thing.

But, I fully agree - Ford threw nothing away, so if they ran low of axles for one truck they would substitute.  And it appears that's what they did on this one.

I've got a pretty good write up on FTE, I'm going transfer most of the content over and do a proper write up of it's full history.

I havent done it yet due to the sheer amount of content and itll be a good few hours to type.

Theres quite a bit I still dont know about it honestly. Its had quite the life!

Have you done a Marti report?

No but it has crossed my mind.

Curious though. The original sheet under the seat got destroyed. Theres nothing stock left on it these days.