Whick grill do ya like better: 80-81 or 82-86?

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Whick grill do ya like better: 80-81 or 82-86?

BullnoseHunter02
personally, really depends on my mood, honestly, I kinda like the 1980 and 81 grills a bit better on these trucks. Any prefrence here?
Hunting for a Bullnose, single cab, 8 foot bed, decent shape with little to no rust! and under 10k in near or around the STL Mo area, (Illinois is a valid option aswell!)
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Re: Whick grill do ya like better: 80-81 or 82-86?

Gary Lewis
Administrator
I agree.  A friend on FTE called the 80-81 grille the LGG - Last Great Grille.
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

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Re: Whick grill do ya like better: 80-81 or 82-86?

Ken Blythen
No,no,no.......sorry!  But it's just gotta have a blue oval!  
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Re: Whick grill do ya like better: 80-81 or 82-86?

Rembrant
Ken Blythen wrote
...it's just gotta have a blue oval!  
I'm with Ken.
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

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Re: Whick grill do ya like better: 80-81 or 82-86?

Nothing Special
In reply to this post by Ken Blythen
Ken Blythen wrote
No,no,no.......sorry!  But it's just gotta have a blue oval!  
I mentioned this several years ago on a thread on the same topic in that other forum, but someone told me that the last time before the '82 F-series grill that the blue oval was used on a Ford car or truck was the 1931 Model A.  My first car was a 1929 Model A Tudor Sedan (bought as a father-son project when I was 10 years old).  My second vehicle was a 1985 F-250HD.

Se definitely a blue oval for me!
Bob
Sorry, no '80 - '86 Ford trucks
"Oswald": 1997 F-250HD crew cab short box, 460, E4OD, 4.10 gears
"Pluto": 1971 Bronco, 302, NV3550 5 speed, Atlas 4.3:1 transfer case, 33" tires
"the motorhome": 2015 E-450-based 28' class C motorhome, 6.8L V-10
"the Dodge": 2007 Dodge 2500, 6.7L Cummins
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Re: Whick grill do ya like better: 80-81 or 82-86?

LARIAT 85
In reply to this post by BullnoseHunter02
I think it depends on the truck.

I actually purchased both grilles for my own truck as I was restoring it because I couldn't make up my mind which style I liked better.  Although the Ford oval grille is correct for my 1985 model, I thought that the earlier 1980/1981 grille with the FORD hood letters would look more unique and "classic."  In the end, I decided that the Ford oval grille looked better on *my* truck.  

However, I think the earlier 1980/1981 grille and FORD hood letters looks much better on a Flareside truck.

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.



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Re: Whick grill do ya like better: 80-81 or 82-86?

Ray Cecil
I like the blue oval with the 80 clear turn signal lenses.
1988 F250 Supercab Longbed 7.3 IDI, C6, 1356, GEARVENDORS, 4.10 Sterling with autolocker

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


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Re: Whick grill do ya like better: 80-81 or 82-86?

BullnoseHunter02
In reply to this post by BullnoseHunter02
yeh, looking at em now, it really depends in the truck, honestly, and how its painted, the Broncos kinda look better with the earler grills, and the F150s kinda look better with the blue ovals, but idk, it comes down to the paint and rims for me to decide which grill i like better. i do prefer the 80 and 81s though.
Hunting for a Bullnose, single cab, 8 foot bed, decent shape with little to no rust! and under 10k in near or around the STL Mo area, (Illinois is a valid option aswell!)
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Re: Whick grill do ya like better: 80-81 or 82-86?

Ford F834
Administrator
In reply to this post by BullnoseHunter02
I’m fond of the 80/81 grille just because it looks older... more antique/classic somehow. The later one with the oval and larger cross bars looks a little tougher. As already said it depends on the truck.
SHORT BED 4-DOOR DIESEL: 1986 F350 4x4 under construction-- 7.3 IDIT ZF5+GVOD

STRAIGHT SIX 4X4: 1981 F150 2wd to 4x4-- 300 I6 close ratio diesel T19, hydroboost brakes, Saginaw steering

BIG F: 1995 F-Superduty under construction— converting to 6.9L IDI diesel ZF5+DNE2
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Re: Whick grill do ya like better: 80-81 or 82-86?

salans7
As a kid, I didn't like the trucks without blue ovals because my dad's trucks all had blue ovals. But when I turned 15 and purchased a 1980 F150, there was no blue oval to be found. I swapped the grilles out, but I ended up going back to the 80-81 grille because it looked better with the FORD on the hood. Now, I prefer the 80-81 trucks over the 82+.

I will admit that the 82-86 grille is much cleaner. However, painting the argent bars of an 80-81 grille black tends to hide them and make them look much cleaner as well.
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Re: Whick grill do ya like better: 80-81 or 82-86?

Angelo Voltura
Definitely a blue oval guy. The 80-82 grilles look weird on these trucks to me, didnt fit the body as well as say the 78 79 did.
1978 F150 351W
1979 F150 "410M"
1979 F100 302
1979 F250 400
1987 F150 300
1990 F150 302
1991 F150 300
1995 F150 (1985 clip swapped) 300
1997 F250 351W
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Re: Whick grill do ya like better: 80-81 or 82-86?

LARIAT 85
In reply to this post by salans7
I like the letters on the hood as well.  I went with the correct 1982 - 1986 Ford oval grille for my truck, but added "LARIAT" hood letters.  I think it almost looks stock:











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.



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Re: Whick grill do ya like better: 80-81 or 82-86?

salans7
LARIAT 85 wrote
I like the letters on the hood as well.  I went with the correct 1982 - 1986 Ford oval grille for my truck, but added "LARIAT" hood letters.  I think it almost looks stock:
I really like that, can't say I've ever seen somebody put Lariat on the hood.
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Re: Whick grill do ya like better: 80-81 or 82-86?

BullnoseHunter02
I know there was a Lariat hood ornament like there was for the Explorer, but yeah, never seen Lariat spelled out on the hood. Thats cool!
Hunting for a Bullnose, single cab, 8 foot bed, decent shape with little to no rust! and under 10k in near or around the STL Mo area, (Illinois is a valid option aswell!)
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Re: Whick grill do ya like better: 80-81 or 82-86?

LARIAT 85
Thanks!  Notice that the letters are in the same font as the 1980/1981 FORD hood letters.  Except - like the other 1982 - 1986 emblems - these are stick-on plastic emblems.  The letters came from a Ford Freestar Limited, so they are OEM Ford parts!

I don't think there ever was a "LARIAT" hood ornament.
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.



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Re: Whick grill do ya like better: 80-81 or 82-86?

BullnoseHunter02
Related image Found one. its the red with 3 lions on top of each other. One more reason i like the Lariat trucks! I actually didn't know there was a hood ornament till i started looking!
Hunting for a Bullnose, single cab, 8 foot bed, decent shape with little to no rust! and under 10k in near or around the STL Mo area, (Illinois is a valid option aswell!)
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Re: Whick grill do ya like better: 80-81 or 82-86?

Gary Lewis
Administrator
I hate to burst your bubble, but that hood ornament has nothing to do with Lariats.  It was an available part that could be put on any truck, including the little Broncos and Rangers, as shown here:

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

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Re: Whick grill do ya like better: 80-81 or 82-86?

BullnoseHunter02
ohhhhhh.... hmm, intresting anyway lol. Yeah, looks like the Explorer was the only trim level with a hood ornament. Go figure its at the top of the line!
Hunting for a Bullnose, single cab, 8 foot bed, decent shape with little to no rust! and under 10k in near or around the STL Mo area, (Illinois is a valid option aswell!)
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Re: Whick grill do ya like better: 80-81 or 82-86?

Gary Lewis
Administrator
In reply to this post by Gary Lewis
Actually, the pic you included was of an earlier hood emblem.  Note the "D3AZ", which indicates that emblem was first used in 1973.  And, the "A" indicates it was intended for use on a car, not a truck.

So, that particular emblem isn't the one that would have been available for the Bullnose trucks.  But, I cannot tell you what the differences are.

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

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Re: Whick grill do ya like better: 80-81 or 82-86?

BullnoseHunter02
Wow, didnt know that. Was the hood emblem a common feature people ordered? I dont think i have ever seen it on a truck!
Hunting for a Bullnose, single cab, 8 foot bed, decent shape with little to no rust! and under 10k in near or around the STL Mo area, (Illinois is a valid option aswell!)
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