Differences between 80 and 81-86?

[BreadPlus]

I have owned my 1980 F250 for a year now, and some things puzzle me. Certain things changed in 81 leading to clusters being one year only, or something like that. What changes over, and what doesn't? I know all the interior stuff does, but wiring wise? Cool site though, look forward to reading it all!

It's a preorder model truck with a 400 and an np435, if any of you were curious.

[Gary Lewis]

Welcome! Glad you joined.

However, you probably missed the email you were sent asking you to go to the New Members Start Here folder, read the guidelines, and then start a thread in that folder to introduce yourself and your truck.

Not to worry as about half the people do. But that step is important as we have the guidelines there and want to ensure you have a chance to read them as we hold everyone to them. So, can you assure me you've read them?

As for the differences:

• Locks: The 1980 trucks will have slide locks while the 1982 trucks have pin locks. And the 1981 trucks are split, with some plants having changed in March of '81 to pins and some not until summer. So doo panels and lock mechanisms are different. And the doors are as well, but there's an easy fix for that.

• Instrument Panel: The order of the warning "windows" changed such that turn signals and high beam moved, if I remember correctly, between 1980 and '81. So the wiring in the connector to the instrument panel changed. But the wiring is easily changed by swapping it in the connector. However, the instrument panel bezel isn't as easily changed as the labels are glued in.

• Turn Signal Lenses: 1980 lenses were clear and 1982 lenses were amber, with 1981 lenses changing like the door locks did - by plant.

Other than that, I'm not sure what other changes there were.

[ctubutis]

Welcome! Glad you joined.

However, you probably missed the email you were sent asking you to go to the New Members Start Here folder, read the guidelines, and then start a thread in that folder to introduce yourself and your truck.

Not to worry as about half the people do. But that step is important as we have the guidelines there and want to ensure you have a chance to read them as we hold everyone to them. So, can you assure me you've read them?

As for the differences:

• Locks: The 1980 trucks will have slide locks while the 1982 trucks have pin locks. And the 1981 trucks are split, with some plants having changed in March of '81 to pins and some not until summer. So doo panels and lock mechanisms are different. And the doors are as well, but there's an easy fix for that.

• Instrument Panel: The order of the warning "windows" changed such that turn signals and high beam moved, if I remember correctly, between 1980 and '81. So the wiring in the connector to the instrument panel changed. But the wiring is easily changed by swapping it in the connector. However, the instrument panel bezel isn't as easily changed as the labels are glued in.

• Turn Signal Lenses: 1980 lenses were clear and 1982 lenses were amber, with 1981 lenses changing like the door locks did - by plant.

Other than that, I'm not sure what other changes there were.

It won't matter with a stick shift, but 1980 auto trans has the Neutral Safety Switch (NSS) located on the steering column, whereas it's on the side of the transmission & combined with the backup light switch in 1981+.

[salans7]

It won't matter with a stick shift, but 1980 auto trans has the Neutral Safety Switch (NSS) located on the steering column, whereas it's on the side of the transmission & combined with the backup light switch in 1981+.

Oh boy, trying to remember all the stuff from when I owned a 1980.

-Radio and Clock wiring harnesses used a rubber (Trailer style) connector

-Clear Park Lenses

-Brushed aluminum trim rings around the shift boots/unique to 1980 shift boots

-Lariat and Explorer high trim trucks had a vinyl (cloth on Explorer) trim panel above the door panel armrests only seen in 1980

 

[Gary Lewis]

Oh boy, trying to remember all the stuff from when I owned a 1980.

-Radio and Clock wiring harnesses used a rubber (Trailer style) connector

-Clear Park Lenses

-Brushed aluminum trim rings around the shift boots/unique to 1980 shift boots

-Lariat and Explorer high trim trucks had a vinyl (cloth on Explorer) trim panel above the door panel armrests only seen in 1980

Thanks, guys. I've added your comments to the 1980 section on the Yearly Differences tab on the page at Documentation/Bullnose FAQ's, with the exception of the bit about "Radio and Clock wiring harnesses used a rubber (Trailer style) connector". I thought the 1981 trucks had the same thing. No?

[Rembrant]

Not a physical change, but 1980 was the last year for the 10 digit VIN wasn't it?

[Gary Lewis]

Not a physical change, but 1980 was the last year for the 10 digit VIN wasn't it?

Good point, Cory. But wasn't it an 11-digit VIN in '80?

I added this to the 1980 entry on the differences tab: Last of the 11-digit VIN's. After that the VIN when to 17 digits.

[salans7]

Thanks, guys. I've added your comments to the 1980 section on the Yearly Differences tab on the page at Documentation/Bullnose FAQ's, with the exception of the bit about "Radio and Clock wiring harnesses used a rubber (Trailer style) connector". I thought the 1981 trucks had the same thing. No?

Not the ones I've seen. Might have been a mid-year change like the slide locks.

 

[Gary Lewis]

Thanks, guys. I've added your comments to the 1980 section on the Yearly Differences tab on the page at Documentation/Bullnose FAQ's, with the exception of the bit about "Radio and Clock wiring harnesses used a rubber (Trailer style) connector". I thought the 1981 trucks had the same thing. No?

Not the ones I've seen. Might have been a mid-year change like the slide locks.

Ok, thanks Shaun. I just added "Radio and Clock wiring harnesses used a rubber (Trailer style) connector" to the 1980 list.

[BreadPlus]

Welcome! Glad you joined.

However, you probably missed the email you were sent asking you to go to the New Members Start Here folder, read the guidelines, and then start a thread in that folder to introduce yourself and your truck.

Not to worry as about half the people do. But that step is important as we have the guidelines there and want to ensure you have a chance to read them as we hold everyone to them. So, can you assure me you've read them?

As for the differences:

• Locks: The 1980 trucks will have slide locks while the 1982 trucks have pin locks. And the 1981 trucks are split, with some plants having changed in March of '81 to pins and some not until summer. So doo panels and lock mechanisms are different. And the doors are as well, but there's an easy fix for that.

• Instrument Panel: The order of the warning "windows" changed such that turn signals and high beam moved, if I remember correctly, between 1980 and '81. So the wiring in the connector to the instrument panel changed. But the wiring is easily changed by swapping it in the connector. However, the instrument panel bezel isn't as easily changed as the labels are glued in.

• Turn Signal Lenses: 1980 lenses were clear and 1982 lenses were amber, with 1981 lenses changing like the door locks did - by plant.

Other than that, I'm not sure what other changes there were.

I know it's been a little while, but yes I have read the guidelines. Thanks for the welcome!

I had slide locks, but they've been since pulled out, ha. Being a farm truck and losing the keys does that to you! Same with clear signals, but it got crashed (frame is fine) and then put back together.

That reminds me, in like 84 they moved from the swiss cheese frame to the solid channel frame. That's another difference.

It's got a green and yellow interior like the packers, but I think it's from the special john deere package. From what I heard the entire harnesses changed in 81 to allow power windows and the sort. I'm unsure on that right now, but I'd like them.

As far as more differences, I don't know. Wire colors might have changed as well with the different harness?