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Weird old basic truck

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Chris Guthro

Weird old basic truck

Good day guys! Scored this old 83 today. Been after it for a year now. It came from California and sat an hour away from me for about 10 years when a old fella died and left it to the previous owner. It wasn’t registered or anything. It’s basically the most original truck your going to find ! 300 with a aod and a 3.08 geared 8.8. It’s still got every bit of pollution gear. It’s had a few interior panels swapped out but I have them here out of a similar coloured truck. It was missing the tailgate but had an old truck here with the same colour scheme. Anyone know the color code for that paint? Previous owner thought he’d help it by brushing red primer over the spots where it was sun baked ahah

Southern frame off 1984 f150, 70’ 460 and 4 speed toploader
Southern 1984 f150 pull truck, 600+ horse 460 np435
Southern 1992 beater f150 302 auto (for now)
Californian 1983 bare bones f150 2wd {unknown plans}
About 15-18 parts truck ahah

Rembrant

Re: Weird old basic truck

Nice find Chris. Doesn't take long looking at those pics to know that it isn't from around here;).

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

Gary Lewis

Re: Weird old basic truck

Administrator

Well done! Original is hard to beat. But I thought it had a camo paint job on the bed until you told me what it is.

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

Chris Guthro

Re: Weird old basic truck

It’s basically untouched other then some interior peices. I’d say they put a hood and a fender on it at some point. But did a nice job! The manual steering is a first for me. All the smog equipment is there and works. I took some laquer thinner and a scotch brite to some of that red primer. I’ll try and get most of it off!

Rembrant

Re: Weird old basic truck

Chris,

What is that black thing on top of the steering box? It looks like something to keep that plastic cup/guard over the rag joint from rotating? Is it a factory piece or something that was jury rigged in there?

Rembrant

Re: Weird old basic truck

In reply to this post by Chris Guthro

Also interesting...and maybe an '83 only thing, I see there's a stamping/knockout for a manual clutch master, but also a rubber plug for the mechanical clutch linkage. I guess in 1983 there were both mechanical and hydraulic clutches depending on the truck eh? My '84 does not have that rubber plug for the mechanical linkage...obviously they removed it after '83.

ArdWrknTrk

Re: Weird old basic truck

Administrator

Diesels and 460's got the hydraulic clutch in '83, Windsor pattern trucks (including the 300) got it in the '84 M.Y.

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: Weird old basic truck

Administrator

I don't think I've ever seen a manual steering truck. That thing is BASIC!

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

ArdWrknTrk

Re: Weird old basic truck

Administrator

At least it won't pee off the bottom of your hood and all over the engine compartment if you try turning with the engine off.

Really, it's one less thing to go wrong with a farm truck...

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.

FuzzFace2

Re: Weird old basic truck

In reply to this post by Gary Lewis

Gary Lewis wrote

I don't think I've ever seen a manual steering truck. That thing is BASIC!

But it has power brakes.
My 81 F100 had P/S but manual brakes with a T18 that I am thinking was also an upgrade?

Cool truck
What is the plan for it?
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

myrl883

Re: Weird old basic truck

The plastic cover on the steering shaft is original. I don't think I've ever seen a truck WITHOUT one.

I parted a similarly equipped truck a year ago, but it had even less. Short box ("standard in the day), 300, 3 speed manual, manual steering and brakes. Until then, I had never seen one so stripped down.

Ford Parts Monkey since 1985
1981 F100 Flareside - Black, 302-4V Roller/AOD
1986 F150 Flareside - Medium Fire Red 302/AOD
1989 F150 Standard Cab 4x4 - Dk Shadow Blue 302/AOD
1993 F350 4x4 Crew Cab - 7.3 IDI/ZF-5
I think it's a sickness...

Rembrant

Re: Weird old basic truck

myrl883 wrote

The plastic cover on the steering shaft is original. I don't think I've ever seen a truck WITHOUT one.

No no...I wasn't referring to the cover, I was asking about the black piece on top of the steering box. It must be to keep the plastic cover from rotating? On a power steering truck, that cover hooks on one of the power steering lines to keep it in place.

myrl883 wrote

I parted a similarly equipped truck a year ago, but it had even less. Short box ("standard in the day), 300, 3 speed manual, manual steering and brakes. Until then, I had never seen one so stripped down.

I looked at one locally here a couple years ago that was being parted out. Bare bare bones. It was a 300 with 3-on-the-tree, manual steering and manual brakes, and of course just the warning lights for Oil and Alt instead of gauges. It was either an '80 or '81, I forget now. Those bare bones stripper trucks seem to be way more common in the very early 80's models...the closer you get to 1986 the fewer stripped down trucks you see...at least in my experience.

Chris Guthro

Re: Weird old basic truck

well im kinda thinking the plans, first thing first is definatley adding power steering! so if anyone is needing these parts let me know haha. hooked to my car trailer and it was a nightmare to backup! Im thinking of honestly adding a set of f350 rear leafs, a sterling 4;10 and a set of 2wd f250 I beams. make it a nice little work horse, trailer hauler.

FuzzFace2

Re: Weird old basic truck

Chris Guthro wrote

well im kinda thinking the plans, first thing first is definatley adding power steering! so if anyone is needing these parts let me know haha. hooked to my car trailer and it was a nightmare to backup! Im thinking of honestly adding a set of f350 rear leafs, a sterling 4;10 and a set of 2wd f250 I beams. make it a nice little work horse, trailer hauler.

Are you pulling the same car trailer all the time or different trailers?
Not knowing what motor, transmission and rear gear I don't see why it cant pull the trailer.

P/S is nice but the trick is you have to be moving when you turn the wheel.
I learned to drive and took my drivers test on a non-P/S van and never had problems as long as I was moving. Oh I also pulled a few trailers with that same truck.

My 81 F100 flare side with P/S & brakes, NP435 (granny gear), 2.75 rear gear is a back up for my car trailer. I do have to say I have not pulled the trailer yet but don't for see any issues once I get the truck wired for brakes.
Dave ----

Chris Guthro

Re: Weird old basic truck

Didn’t do much to the truck other then clean the interior out and swap dash pads. I mounted the wheels and tires for the street truck build on it just for curiosity sake haha. Like the look. Gave the truck lots of personality

Gary Lewis

Re: Weird old basic truck

Administrator

I like the dash. Big improvement.

But I'm not sure I like the tires & wheels. They seem a bit small. Or "new". Something just doesn't seem right with the patina of the truck, although I can't quite put my finger on what it is.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Chris Guthro

Re: Weird old basic truck

I agree, I’m on the fence. But curiosity was killing me haha. I haven’t warmed up to the 300 and aod with 3.08s either haha

Gary Lewis

Re: Weird old basic truck

Administrator

Man, those are tall gears when that AOD locks up. The calculator says with 30" tires you'll be turning 1500 RPM at 65 MPH, which is marginally low for being able to pull hills, even with a 300. But if it does you'll be sipping gas.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

ArdWrknTrk

Re: Weird old basic truck

Administrator

At the other end of the spectrum I have 32's, 4:10's and a 460.

I got 8.7 mpg at 100 this trip. 😳

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.

Chris Guthro

Re: Weird old basic truck

I found at like backroad speeds out of overdrive it wasn’t bad. But as soon as she shifted your boot had to be into it. Wasn’t fun ahha. I’m trying to talk myself out of a mild 460 and a 2wd zf and use it for towing