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'83 F150 Short Box


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I'll start a new project thread here since I've enjoyed reading through the content on this site so much. I just purchased a 1983 F150 in AZ, but first a little history....

My first vehicle I had was an 85 F150. I took my drivers license in it, but I learned to drive in our '76 F150 while hunting with my dad. I really liked my '85 and it was dark blue/white two tone, long box, std cab XLT Lariat. It was RWD and we lived in the snow belt. I learned how to drive in the snow really well with that thing. Sold the truck in the mid 90s and started driving a Chevy Lumina. The front wheel drive was admittedly a nice improvement in the snow. At that time I was living in MN. Fast forward to now and it's time to relive some of my youth. Been searching for a clean bullnose for quite a while and a clean, rust free example in the colors I like is very elusive up here in MN. Most everything is very rusty and beat up. A friend helped me find this one in AZ and I purchased it without much information or even looking at it. I was sent photos of the underside, rockers, cab corners, doors, etc. and decided it was clean, so I bought it. Original paint in all the door jambs and the truck box so I got an honest look.

The truck was stored in a barn in CA and was repainted a few years ago and bought by a gentleman in AZ. Fuel tank related issues have sidelined it and it hasn't been running for a while. I hope to have that resolved in short order, but we will see.

Stay tuned for updates. It should be delivered here in MN in a week or so. I will plan to do some repairs and simple improvements.

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some photos I received that were taken the day I purchased the truck. Pretty clean from the photos. This is the color and options (V8, automatic, AC) I want so I went for it. The AC has supposedly been redone recently and everything supposedly works including the original cassette player. The interior is 100 percent original still. This is an unmolested truck, which is what I want.

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My immediate plans now are to install the white wagon wheels and black out the grill and light surrounds reminiscent of an earlier freewhelin' truck. Along with the wagon wheels, it will sort of be a bit of a Freewheelin' tribute in a way. I'm very tempted to recover the seats in '92 Explorer style plaid, but I haven't decided yet. I think it would look awesome, but will be expensive. I want a truck my kids can enjoy with me and don't want to break the bank going overboard.

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Today's project was to thoroughly deep clean the wheels. They were repainted back in the 80s and I recently learned that based on their 15x6 size and outer weld beads that they are from an earier late 70s truck or Bronco. My dad purchased them used at the tire store and they had 2 4x4 style black caps that he replaced with new OEM ones he could still buy at the Ford dealership at the time.

Here are the wheels cleaned up. Pretty darn good shape.

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I found a paint that matches the finish that was on these wheels PERFECTLY. Rustoleum Antique White. I don't know if this is the correct Wimbledon White, but I'm at least going to paint the backsides and inner rim and see how it matches up to the truck's current white paint before top coating the fronts.

I must say it is a but surreal cleaning up parts that I used to clean 30 years ago. Not parts just like what I had, but the actual parts!

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My dad had an '81 Flareside nearly identical to this one. Same colors and freewheelin' treatment except the front lights. His was RWD. As I stated above, I want to do sort of a freewheelin' tribute hence the two tone, wheels and front grill/lights treatment planned. I really wanted to find a flareside like this, but it proved to be very, very difficult. I hope to enjoy this styleside just as much (:

FreeWheeling.thumb.jpg.c246bb120ef5aeac81c3fdf3ab6e148d.jpg

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My dad had an '81 Flareside nearly identical to this one. Same colors and freewheelin' treatment except the front lights. His was RWD. As I stated above, I want to do sort of a freewheelin' tribute hence the two tone, wheels and front grill/lights treatment planned. I really wanted to find a flareside like this, but it proved to be very, very difficult. I hope to enjoy this styleside just as much (:

Wow! I'm signed up. I want to go along for this journey! :nabble_anim_jump:

Beautiful truck. It really looks great. Hope it is everything you think it is supposed to be an much more.

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wheels done

Man I love the look of white wheels on an older truck.

You are correct, those wheels and hub caps are from the late 70's however they were used up until the early 80's before Ford switched to the argent spoke wheels.

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Man I love the look of white wheels on an older truck.

You are correct, those wheels and hub caps are from the late 70's however they were used up until the early 80's before Ford switched to the argent spoke wheels.

Nice truck!

 

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