Rembrant

Dave, That was a great read, thanks for posting. I'm really fascinated with these beds.I'll be rebuilding the bed for this 1980 Flareside project, but that won't be until the spring (at the earliest!). I'm planning to actually rebuild the bed sides. Bit of a long story, but the bed sides that came loose with this truck are homemade parts. I didn't fully realize until I got them home and examined them further, but it is what it is. Who ever made them actually did a pretty good job on the tops of the sides, and they re-used the fender humps from an old set of bed sides. I'm planning on brand new sides...almost complete, and I'll just graft the tops on them. I even bought a new set of fender humps used. They're not identical to the originals, but fairly close. Most would never notice the difference imho. I'm also thinking about going with the wood composite...or fake plastic wood. I saw an old truck with it last week and I thought it looked great. Anyway, time will tell. That stuff is still a ways away. I'm back to working on the frame this weekend. I still have several weeks to go on it, but as soon as I'm done welding it's getting painted asap and the cab will be dropped back on pronto. Once the cab is back on it, it will start to feel like a truck again...I hope...lol.

No, they have adapter plates that attached to the main engine crossmember/cradle.

Ya, a lot of people want to also swap in a manual trans column, but unless you have lots of junkyards around with Bullnoses, those columns are not easy to come by (and they're expensive used, and bulky to ship). I basically converted my existing column, but I had taken it apart previously so it was one of those things that is a bit of a hassle the first time, and then easy the second time...lol. In any case, we're here to help the OP with any manual trans swap information he may need. I've done the M5OD-R2, and there are a few that have done the ZF5, and I believe we have at least one member on here with the Mustang 5spd installed. We have it covered one way or another.

Oh yes, of course, but in my mind, all you need to source is the manual pedal set. Everything else you're changing or adapting anyway. Of course it is convenient if you can re-use the existing trans crossmember, and other odds and ends, but over all it's not a bad job. The easiest part of a manual to manual swap is that you already have the pedal set...assuming it is a later model Bullnose with factory hydraulic clutch.

Welcome aboard Joe. I did a 5spd swap on my 1984 F150 2wd (factory 302 truck) and I'm just in the process of building a 1980 F150 that will have a 300/6 and a 5spd. A 5spd swap is relatively easy on these trucks, depending on what parts/equipment you're using. I couldn't go back now to a 4spd (or a 3spd).

This is excellent news! I want to try one of these carbs soon. I just picked up a set of 300 engine mounts yesterday so I can install the engine in the frame. Question Jon: Are you running rubber fuel line all the way from the pump to the carb with an inline filter? I was wanting to make a new hard line but I don't know what the flares and fittings are. I guess it would be a whole lot easier to just run rubber hose.

Welcome aboard Windbane! Isn't North Bay where Cardinal was filmed?...Or parts of Cardinal? My wife and I have watched each of the series. I am out in the Maritimes.

Sorry, I think I was incorrect. I know LMC sells the SBF engine perches, but for the 300 they only have the mounts. The way I had been reading it, I thought that they also had the 300 perches too.

I'm replacing sections of my crossmembers with .23 mig wire!! lol. I'm picking up some bolts today so I can slap them back in there and start working on the frame! Welcome aboard Windbane. Where are you located in the great white north? I know all about the rusty (and broken) frames, so I feel your pain.

Haha only red and white, EH!!

Gary, they seem to be somewhat common up here. I’ve seen quite a few of them lately. This truck was originally sold out west north of Montana, so if there was anywhere that a HO heater was actually required, that would be it lol.

Jon. Seems all of the later Canadian trucks had this spacer. I’ve looked at 80-81 trucks with 300 and EGR, but every time I see an 85-86 they are Non-EGR. Interesting. I’m not sure when the change took place, but the later trucks seem to all be like this.

Okay, this is making sense... although I believe it is usually missing parts on the engines I’ve seen. I’m vaguely remembering a thin tube with an orange silicone hose on the manifold set from the 4x4 donor. **Cough** The ‘86 I looked at today still had the tube intact interestingly enough.

Haha no news yet Gary. Overall it’s pretty crusty. Surprisingly intact but not sure the juice is worth the squeeze. Maybe. I’m going to sleep on it.

I stopped to look at this old ‘86 Flareside today and wouldn’t ya know the old girl still has the factory plywood floor still intact. It was in quite good condition underneath but pretty rotten on top. Truck has been sitting for a decade or so unfortunately.

Haha don’t even joke, hockey puck body lifts was a thing one time and maybe still is lol I dunno.

The body lift is so period too...lol. I swear to god seeing this for sale raised my blood pressure for the day. I even had an ad placed online looking for one of these trucks. Seriously. Oh well, I have to pass by fairly close tomorrow anyway, so I'm going to swing by and see it.

Funny how things go. I had been looking for a couple years for a Bullnose 4x4 Flareside project truck, and could never find anything. So I buy this rust bucket 1980, and then go to all the work of stripping a 1995 4x4 for a donor, and what pops up 2 days ago locally... It's a 1986 with a 300 and 4spd. Currently not running, as you can probably tell by looking at it. No papers either. It's a little over an hour away. I REALLY don't need it...lol, but I'm stopping to look at it anyway. The no papers thing can be an issue around here...so it might end up being a parts truck.

Ha! Yes, some old motorcycle plates there, and the red one is an "Off Highway" for an ATV that I sold this spring. We have to plate them here.

lol, because I didn't know they were available. I was curious as Jonathan seems to be pretty happy with this one, so I didn't go looking for a manual version.

OMG...lol. That is so weird...lol. I give this guy a thumbs up for creativity however. Some people just NEED to do different stuff, and I have to give the guy credit for not running with the pack!

I see things painted odd colors all the time and I have to wonder what was going through the person's mind...lol. "I think this truck would look better with blue wheels?" No, false! I'm also not a fan of the whole fad of painting wheels red either...that's another thing I'd have to correct immediately...lol. In any case, I'm really glad that you (a true fanatic? Enthusiast?) got this truck. It is also very impressive that the truck is still so well intact with the original paint and all. Thank goodness for the dryness of NE Washington? There are about 40 other states where if that truck had lived it would not be in the condition it is in now. Very well done Chris, a tip of the hat to you.

Okay, this is making sense... although I believe it is usually missing parts on the engines I’ve seen. I’m vaguely remembering a thin tube with an orange silicone hose on the manifold set from the 4x4 donor. Hey Jonathan, Is there a manual choke kit that works well with these carbs? If yes, do you have one to recommend?

Question for you guys: What is the barb at the top of the carb for?

Gary, I don't think it matters as the 2wd and 4x4 carpets will be made on the same mold. You have to cut all the shifter holes and high beam button hole, seat bolt holes, etc. I'll get the sample numbers of those carpets samples for you.