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'81 flareside 4x4 project

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Gary Lewis

Re: '81 flareside 4x4 project

Administrator

I agree. And as you pointed out, the easiest way to check continuity on that circuit is with the coil disconnected as it will make readings on a VOM questionable.

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

nmchuck

Re: '81 flareside 4x4 project

Thanks Jim and Gary, I looked at it again after getting off work. You are correct the wires I am looking for are the black with light green dots and the green with yellow. I was off on the continuity of the black/green stripe wire yesterday. That was in position 1 of the cluster connector, I instead found a black with green dot wire in position 12 and confirmed continuity. too many black/green combos to the cluster, that's my excuse anyway

I also validated continuity on the dark green/yellow wire all the way to the coil with the horseshoe disconnected. So basically, it appears the wiring checks out. I'll put the cluster back in tomorrow to see if taking everything apart and cleaning again made a difference and it miraculously started working, a fella can dream!

Chuck
1981 flareside 4x4, C6, 351M

nmchuck

Re: '81 flareside 4x4 project

I got the tach working!!

After taking the cluster in and out many times, removing the tach and looking at it multiple times, cleaning the brown goo from the circuit board more than once and confirming every electrical feed to the tach, I managed to figure out the problem.

Turns out the ground between the tach and the circuit board was the problem. There are two small retainers on the brass pegs that mount everything together that hold the whole thing tight. These were a bit loose and the brass peg that touches the circuit board for the ground was pulling away when I tightened the brass nuts from the tach to the plastic housing. Since this is hidden once the plastic housing is on, it was not obvious and I had to figure it out with trial and error.

I laid on more solder on where the brass leg for the ground touched the circuit board, put it back together for what seemed to be the 20th time and it worked! Small, hard won victory, which made my day...

Chuck
1981 flareside 4x4, C6, 351M

Gary Lewis

Re: '81 flareside 4x4 project

Administrator

Congratulations!!!! Those are the best victories!

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

ArdWrknTrk

Re: '81 flareside 4x4 project

Administrator

In reply to this post by nmchuck

Perseverance pays off!!!

It may not count as a miracle but you've got the tach working.
And better yet you've proven out everything from the coil to the distributor and the module. 👍

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.

nmchuck

Re: '81 flareside 4x4 project

In reply to this post by Gary Lewis

Spent some time getting the valve covers sealed up this weekend, nice to get that finished up.

For an experiment, I swapped the wheels and tires with my old bronco. I wanted to see the difference an 8" rim makes, and the rims are nearly identical eagle alloys. The bronco has 16" rims with 305 75 16 tires, the flareside has 33 1250 15's. The tires are basically the same size, so this was an easy swap.

I actually like the narrower rims on the truck, and the 10" rims look great on the bronco. The narower rims on the flareside tuck the tires into the fenders a little better which should keep it a little cleaner, at least that's my theory. There are so many more tire size options with the 16" rims that I think I'll keep them on the truck in the event I pull some of the lift out of it.

Here are a couple photos to show the results.
10" wide rims:
with 10" wide rims

8" wide rims:
with 8" wide rims

Thanks, and let me know what you think of the change.

Chuck
1981 flareside 4x4, C6, 351M

ArdWrknTrk

Re: '81 flareside 4x4 project

Administrator

Looooking goooood!

(If you were a fan of '70's sitcoms you might get that)

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: '81 flareside 4x4 project

Administrator

In reply to this post by nmchuck

I think I like the narrower wheels on the Flareside. To me a Flareside is more of a street truck than a Bronco, so mentally I expect to see narrower tires and wheels on them.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

grumpin

Re: '81 flareside 4x4 project

I like both!

Chico and the man!

Dane
1986 F250HD SC XLT Lariat 4x4 460 C6-Sold
1992 Bronco XLT 4x4 351W E4OD
1998 GMC Sierra SLE K1500 350 4L60E
Arizona

Rembrant

Re: '81 flareside 4x4 project

In reply to this post by nmchuck

I prefer the fat 10's, but they both look good!

I may have asked before, but is that a Jeepster Commando in the background??

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

nmchuck

Re: '81 flareside 4x4 project

Thanks for the replies fellas, the good news is that I can always swap them back if I change my mind. The tires that were on the bronco are in much better shape, too. I really need to start working on that rig again, but it's on the backburner for now.

Rembrant, that indeed a '70 Jeepster Commando. My brother seems to have an obsession, he has three of them. This one ended up at my place since he ran out of room. We nicknamed this one the big ugly, it's rough body wise, hardly a straight panel on it and someone went nuts cutting out the rear wheel openings. The cool part is there is no rust, so it is definitely going to get fixed up. It has the Dauntless V6, three speed manual and runs and drives. Needs the clutch looked at soon though as it is difficult to drive and doesn't release entirely when depressed.

Too many projects around here, which I guess is a good problem to have!

Chuck
1981 flareside 4x4, C6, 351M

Rembrant

Re: '81 flareside 4x4 project

nmchuck wrote

Rembrant, that indeed a '70 Jeepster Commando. My brother seems to have an obsession, he has three of them. This one ended up at my place since he ran out of room. We nicknamed this one the big ugly, it's rough body wise, hardly a straight panel on it and someone went nuts cutting out the rear wheel openings. The cool part is there is no rust, so it is definitely going to get fixed up. It has the Dauntless V6, three speed manual and runs and drives. Needs the clutch looked at soon though as it is difficult to drive and doesn't release entirely when depressed.

Cool! My uncle was a hardcore Jeep guy and he had one of these Commandos back in the 70's. I remember riding in it on the beach (back when when we could do that kind of thing). He replaced it in 1981 with a now equally Rare CJ-8 Jeep Scrambler. Thanks for sharing.

nmchuck

Re: '81 flareside 4x4 project

It’s been a while, still working on it slowly, although I have been busy with family and holidays.

Picked up a used bumper from a good buddy that was on a wrecked 93 style side bed. Modified it a little to better match the flare side bed.

This rascal is heavy, the plate where the ball mounts and receiver are welded is 1” thick and the rest of the bumper is 1/8” plate. Let me know what you think!

Chuck
1981 flareside 4x4, C6, 351M

ArdWrknTrk

Re: '81 flareside 4x4 project

Administrator

This post was updated on .

Nice job!

Tucking the corners sure does help.

*Wrong emoticon....

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: '81 flareside 4x4 project

Administrator

Yes, tucking the corners made a huge difference!

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

grumpin

Re: '81 flareside 4x4 project

In reply to this post by nmchuck

I agree! Looks nice! Good job!

Dane
1986 F250HD SC XLT Lariat 4x4 460 C6-Sold
1992 Bronco XLT 4x4 351W E4OD
1998 GMC Sierra SLE K1500 350 4L60E
Arizona

mat in tn

Re: '81 flareside 4x4 project

that looks awesome!

nmchuck

Re: '81 flareside 4x4 project

Thanks for the comments, I’m pretty pleased with the results too.

On a different topic, can you steer me in the right direction on the cab corner filler pieces for a flare side? I am guessing there are pieces that fill this gap on flare sides

I have tried to find good photos or diagrams but have not been succesful so far.

Chuck
1981 flareside 4x4, C6, 351M

Gary Lewis

Re: '81 flareside 4x4 project

Administrator

I think the cabs are the same between Flareside and Styleside trucks. So I'd look at Tabco for the cab corners and my paint/body man got the ones for Dad's truck there.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Rembrant

Re: '81 flareside 4x4 project

In reply to this post by nmchuck

nmchuck wrote

Thanks for the comments, I’m pretty pleased with the results too.

On a different topic, can you steer me in the right direction on the cab corner filler pieces for a flare side? I am guessing there are pieces that fill this gap on flare sides

I have tried to find good photos or diagrams but have not been succesful so far.

Chuck,

The Flaresides had little flat filler panels that were riveted in place. They fit into the depressed edges of the cab corners, and they had very slight crease down in the inside that matched the cab. Here's a picture of mine below...these are new pieces I had made up when I had my truck painted. They were riveted in place, but the shop also put seam sealer between them and the cab.

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