Rembrant

The info below is not my own but copied previously and filed. I believe I cut my outer panels a hair wider at 15 1/4" or 15 3/8". I wanted a smaller gap between them...personal choice, nothing more. "The middle piece is 22 1/2 inches wide by 78 1/2 inches long. The two outer pieces are 15 3/16 at their widest point. I then suggest you set the side panels and draw your lines to cut the wheel wells out with the jig saw or tool of your choice." I had saved the pic below from SCFlareside a year or two ago when he cut his own boards. They would be 78 1/2" long for sure, but the individual widths I cannot say. There was a member on here not too long ago that did the earlier wood style and cut their own boards...what was his name now?>..I saved pics, but can't remember the name...

There is a set advertised below as being 15x8", but I can't tell from the pics if they actually are or not... https://www.kijiji.ca/v-tires-rims/norfolk-county/5x5-5-15x8-ford-wheels/1455445112

So, how difficult would it be to match the original color of the wheels if one had to repaint a set?

I can provide some more measurements, no problem at all Gary. The only delay on my part is that my truck is currently in pieces in about three different locations...lol. An interesting thing to note is that 4 of the metal strips are in the same locations on both Flareside bed wood floor styles. See below the original wood version/style with 7 boards and 6 metal strips: And then the 7/82 and later version with the plywood and 6 (simulated) boards and 5 metal strips: The interesting part...maybe only if you're a Flareside nerd...lol, is that the outer two metal strips are in the exact same locations on both bed floor styles. The old style has two metal strips down the middle, and the later style has only one metal strip down the center. The other 4 strips are in the same bolt holes in the crossmembers and sills. Nobody sells a kit that replicates the late '82-1987 plywood floor. All of the aftermarket wood floor kits are of the 7 board/6 strip variety, which goes back well before the Bullnose era. If you go with the later style like Reamer and I have, you're pretty much on your own. Lots of guys buy the pre-made kits, but lots of guys cut their own boards too.

This forum is where you need to be if you have a Bullnose.

It works for diesel Volkswagens. If you replace the factory dual mass flywheel with a single mass flywheel (a fairly common mod) one of the side-effects is transmission chatter.

The outside dimensions of the wood floor would be 78.5" long, and 54" wide. The original floor was 3/4" thick. The thickness is determined by the spacing on the front and rear sills. If you go with a thicker wood, it won't fit in the end sills. Here is what mine looked like before installation. I went with approximately 3/8" gap between sections. And after installation with metal strips on top. (Two strips are covering gaps, and the other three are just sitting on top of the plywood.) However...I have to note that they were special strips that were flush on the bottom side (for surface mounting). They came with a used bed I purchased and have no idea where they came from originally. They are not the original Ford strips. The new strips you buy now are made to sit "into" grooves in the boards. See below:

This old thing looks to be well preserved, and a relatively early Bullnose example with a Nov 1979 build date. Price is reasonable, isn't it, for what it is? https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/cto/d/winnetka-1980-ford-350-lariat-original/6961205361.html

Dave, Came across this truck while searching for other stuff and naturally thought of you;). https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/ctd/d/mcalester-1985-ford-f150-she-runs-as/6959271901.html

Cool stuff Gary! Peggy's Cove is pretty famous as far as Light Houses go. It's just a few miles down the road from us. Another popular one is the Portland Head Light in Maine. That's another big tourist attraction. I'll be taking a drive out to Peggy's Cove this afternoon to get some pictures of the waves. Hurricane Dorian is just rolling in now, with the "Eye" scheduled to arrive in a couple hours. Peggy's Cove and surrounding areas are under a voluntary evacuation notice right now. Waves will be huge. Generator is all gassed up and we're all stocked up on storm supplies. Time to batten down the hatches! Cartoon from the local paper yesterday! If I had the money to just randomly buy 1980's stuff, I'd have one of these. That would get some attention on car night. https://williamsport.craigslist.org/cto/d/picture-rocks-1986-mustang-ssp/6969664787.html

I get that. I actually like the weathered, dented, rusty and patina look. I could have easily lived with that if I still had original paint, etc. My problem was with the lumpy body fill that had been stuffed into the front fenders and cab corners, bed, etc...it did not look good. My default is for everything to look "nice", and it's difficult to ignore that mindset... If I bought the truck below, I'd leave it just as it is. I quite like that weathered and original look. https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/ctd/d/mcalester-1985-ford-f150-she-runs-as/6959271901.html

Oh man, that shifter boot is an obscure part among obscure parts... It's hard to find a shifter boot for any of the shifters let alone a one year wonder. I have a spare 4x4 shifter boot that came out of a Bullnose Bronco, but I don't know what year it was. I'm pretty sure it is the later version.

Gary, The original Ebay ad is long expired and is NLA, but you mentioned earlier in the thread that you spoke with the guy(s)? at Davis to get permission to save and host the pictures. The link below is the dealer that had the truck on Ebay (In Richmond VA iirc) https://www.davisautosales.com/

There was some kind of adhesive foam strip behind the seal from the factory on my truck. I just peeled it off not too long ago. It's about 1/2" wide and looks like it was probably 1/8" thick when new?

Well, not only did it recently sell on MECUM, it was also previously sold by Davis Auto Sales as they are the ones that had it on Ebay.

Well, I don't know about who sold it on MECUM, but I can tell you that someone else DID buy it to flip it...lol. It's now on Long Island being sold by the "original owner"...:nabble_anim_confused: https://longisland.craigslist.org/cto/d/brightwaters-1984-ford-pickup/6963954361.html

It will be important to know what his intentions are...as in what style of wood floor. Ron/Reamer and I would be two of the very few people that went with a plywood floor with surface mounted metal strips. Most people do go with actual boards with the metal strips sitting in grooves in the wood. I have the Mar-K instructions which shows how to do all this if making your own boards. If it's plywood and surface mounted strips, it's pretty straight forward...but the surface mounted strips are very hard to find (if not impossible).

That would have been me. I can provide any measurements needed, but my bed is currently sitting in the warehouse at my work, and I'm at home right now. First thing Tuesday am I can post info.

I just wish that they were worth more money.:nabble_smiley_cry:

Thank you Gary for sharing my excitement...lol. Who doesn't love a Bullnose with a fresh coat of paint, right? Apparently there was a dent and a few cups of fill in the front edge of the hood. Never know what you're going to find under the paint I guess. Still...it's going to look so nice when it's all finished. To think that even in it's previous grungy~lumpy~faded and blotchy~multi-colored and body~filled state I was still getting thumbs up on a the street and compliments on it everywhere!

Excellent! I'll be doing the same shortly;). Thanks Grumpin. The guys are down to bare steel on the hood and roof, and the new fenders and doors are on and awaiting alignment. This thing might actually be in the paint booth this week. Fingers crossed!

Lookin' good Ray!

That short box would be worth some money if it is a straight as it looks. I bought new bumper bolts from LMC if that is what you’re referring to about the fasteners?

Cool stuff Gary! Peggy's Cove is pretty famous as far as Light Houses go. It's just a few miles down the road from us. Another popular one is the Portland Head Light in Maine. That's another big tourist attraction. I'll be taking a drive out to Peggy's Cove this afternoon to get some pictures of the waves. Hurricane Dorian is just rolling in now, with the "Eye" scheduled to arrive in a couple hours. Peggy's Cove and surrounding areas are under a voluntary evacuation notice right now. Waves will be huge. Generator is all gassed up and we're all stocked up on storm supplies. Time to batten down the hatches! Cartoon from the local paper yesterday!

Well that's interesting. Dipstick goes into the side of the oil pan? It goes into the block on my 302...I just assumed the 351 would be the same. Looks great Ron. Love seeing the fresh paint. My engine was originally Ford grey as well but I was a sucker for that dark blue and had to do it.