thefraze_1020 Posted May 29, 2020 Author Share Posted May 29, 2020 We do have a page: Documentation/Engines/Drive Belts. I think I am going to get a saddle blanket seat cover for my bench seat soon. Anybody have recommendations for a brand of seat cover you are satisfied with? My seat doesn't have a lot of support anymore. Am I better off trying to replace the foam and vinyl, or just finding a matching seat from a wrecking yard and putting a cover over it? Also, I need a center console that I want to put on the seat in the middle. It needs a cupholder for coffee, and a compartment to store maps and cassette tapes. Any thoughts on what has worked for you guys? ...and finally, I just bought an AM/FM/cassette analog radio off eBay yesterday. It's the 1985-86 style so should bolt right in. Guy wanted $225.00, I offered $150.00 and he accepted it. The radio is fully tested, so I feel confident about that. It should ship fast, because it is only coming from Hope, BC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted May 29, 2020 Share Posted May 29, 2020 I think I am going to get a saddle blanket seat cover for my bench seat soon. Anybody have recommendations for a brand of seat cover you are satisfied with? My seat doesn't have a lot of support anymore. Am I better off trying to replace the foam and vinyl, or just finding a matching seat from a wrecking yard and putting a cover over it? Also, I need a center console that I want to put on the seat in the middle. It needs a cupholder for coffee, and a compartment to store maps and cassette tapes. Any thoughts on what has worked for you guys? ...and finally, I just bought an AM/FM/cassette analog radio off eBay yesterday. It's the 1985-86 style so should bolt right in. Guy wanted $225.00, I offered $150.00 and he accepted it. The radio is fully tested, so I feel confident about that. It should ship fast, because it is only coming from Hope, BC. Do you have speakers in the doors? I ask because the 1986 F-Series brochure implies that a mono radio was standard. If so, it only had a speaker in the dash and you'll have to add speakers in the doors as well as the wiring thereunto. But, that should be a really nice upgrade. On the seat, you may well be able to find one at a salvage or elsewhere that will bolt in. But it is also possible to put foam on the frame yourself and put a new seat cover on. It might cost less, but a replacement seat might not be very expensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kramttocs Posted May 29, 2020 Share Posted May 29, 2020 Do you have speakers in the doors? I ask because the 1986 F-Series brochure implies that a mono radio was standard. If so, it only had a speaker in the dash and you'll have to add speakers in the doors as well as the wiring thereunto. But, that should be a really nice upgrade. On the seat, you may well be able to find one at a salvage or elsewhere that will bolt in. But it is also possible to put foam on the frame yourself and put a new seat cover on. It might cost less, but a replacement seat might not be very expensive. Nice job on the radio! Gary is right that if going from mono to stereo will be a huge improvement. Downside is having to drill the door jam holes but at least dimples are there. Again, that's all if you don't have them already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thefraze_1020 Posted May 30, 2020 Author Share Posted May 30, 2020 Nice job on the radio! Gary is right that if going from mono to stereo will be a huge improvement. Downside is having to drill the door jam holes but at least dimples are there. Again, that's all if you don't have them already. There are speakers in the doors already. State of Oregon upgraded it at some point, but there was originally a single speaker in the dash. It was destroyed, so I removed it when I got the truck home originally. The sound quality on the previous aftermarket stereo was pretty decent, but the radio didn't have AM and wasn't very user-friendly. All I have to do is splice the speaker wires into the speaker wire connector on the radio. What colors are what? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 I think I am going to get a saddle blanket seat cover for my bench seat soon. Anybody have recommendations for a brand of seat cover you are satisfied with? My seat doesn't have a lot of support anymore. Am I better off trying to replace the foam and vinyl, or just finding a matching seat from a wrecking yard and putting a cover over it? Also, I need a center console that I want to put on the seat in the middle. It needs a cupholder for coffee, and a compartment to store maps and cassette tapes. Any thoughts on what has worked for you guys? ...and finally, I just bought an AM/FM/cassette analog radio off eBay yesterday. It's the 1985-86 style so should bolt right in. Guy wanted $225.00, I offered $150.00 and he accepted it. The radio is fully tested, so I feel confident about that. It should ship fast, because it is only coming from Hope, BC. I can take some pics of the 40 year old console/arm rest I built for my truck. It dates back to cassette tapes. Offers cup holders, 3 tape slots up front, and flip up access to divided storage from both sides. Scrap mahogany from from a trim job back when I was driving my Datsun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted May 30, 2020 Share Posted May 30, 2020 There are speakers in the doors already. State of Oregon upgraded it at some point, but there was originally a single speaker in the dash. It was destroyed, so I removed it when I got the truck home originally. The sound quality on the previous aftermarket stereo was pretty decent, but the radio didn't have AM and wasn't very user-friendly. All I have to do is splice the speaker wires into the speaker wire connector on the radio. What colors are what? Wire colors are shown below, which is from the page here: Documentation/Electrical/EVTM/1985 EVTM/Radio (Stereo). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted June 5, 2020 Share Posted June 5, 2020 I can take some pics of the 40 year old console/arm rest I built for my truck. It dates back to cassette tapes. Offers cup holders, 3 tape slots up front, and flip up access to divided storage from both sides. Scrap mahogany from from a trim job back when I was driving my Datsun. I just realized I never posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1986F150Six Posted June 8, 2020 Share Posted June 8, 2020 I just realized I never posted. Very innovative, Jim! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArdWrknTrk Posted June 8, 2020 Share Posted June 8, 2020 Very innovative, Jim! . In 1980..… maybe? But I still rest my elbow on it every day, 40 years later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thefraze_1020 Posted June 10, 2020 Author Share Posted June 10, 2020 http://www.garysgaragemahal.com/uploads/6/5/8/7/65879365/head-rotfl-57x22_orig.gif. In 1980..… maybe? But I still rest my elbow on it every day, 40 years later. Nice console Jim! I would rock something like that! In other news, I have my new radio installed. It came out of an Escort, so I had to modify the mounting brackets a bit, but that's all hidden behind the bezel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts