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PlumCrazy's F-1Fiddy Build


PlumCrazy

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I suppose I should start a thread for the ole full size.

My Civic was totaled out when a truck ran me off the highway around Christmas...so I was in need of new DD. I was already planning on picking up a tow pig in the near future anyway.

So...I bought this gem.

1986 F-150 XL, 5.0/C6 2wd. Just a tick over 70K on the odo. Factory cruise, A/C, crank windows, and tilt wheel




Overall the truck was pretty clean, a few spots of cancer on the surface that are not visible on the backside, and the damage to the pass front corner that includes the bumper, fender, and filler panel.

First order of business was plugs, wires, cap/rotor, valve cover gaskets, trans fluid/filter, and removal of the disconnected smog BS.


Next was making sure the minty fresh bench stayed just that. So I picked up a nice hideous saddle blanket seat cover...


I swapped out the shallow dual lid box for deep single lid I had stashed in the barn.


After a little searching and asking around I found a place that still sold clear front and side markers so I could ditch the awful amber...




I also used chromed amber bulbs, so there is not a hint of color when the lights are off.

I modified an old reese hitch that came on our 94 F350 and threw it under and wired up a trailer plug, but apparently never took any pics.

036Speed found this little fella for me..lol


I made a trip to the local Pull-a-Part and was pleasantly surprised when I found a Bullnose 150 and a Bronco. The 150 had a nice cluster with both a tach and trip meter (both options my truck didn't have).


The needles were bleached out pretty bad, so I used a little Allis Chalmers Corporate Orange to bring them back to life.


The Bronco was two toned baby blue and the same dark blue as my truck. So I pulled the filler panel since it was straight, rust free, and my color. I throw it on the shelf until I find a bumper and fender.



The truck came with a cheesy Dual radio that was not mounted or wired right. I looked for a factory 86 radio with FM, but they are few and far between. I decided to bump to factory 87-91 radio since they have a clock (80-86 radios didn't have this feature) and because I could find one setup for my two speaker system and not have an unneeded fade knob. I had to make a bracket to mount it and use an adapter harness as well as 87+ pigtails to make a harness to make it plug in.

 


PlumCrazy

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I was replacing the shocks and discovered the driver side caliper pins were half froze and caused the outer pad to gouge the rotor...so ordered rotors, pads, big piston calipers, 1 Ton master, bearings, seals, belts, hardware, hoses, and HYDROBOOST!


I am going to throw the trans temp gauge in when I put a trans cooler on it.

I put the new rotors and pads on last night, but the rest will wait until a few fittings show up.

The Big piston Thunderbird calipers are not as easy to throw on these 2wd trucks as they were on my D44. The caliper hose ends must be drilled to 7/16 and 7/16 banjo bolts used. The shoulder around the inlet has to be ground down a hair as well. The big difference is when it comes to mounting them up...
There is a big lip that must be removed to fit the 2wd bracket...
before




after




comparison



stock


Shoulder that needs ground down.


Ill post more on this when I get around to actually installing them and the HB.

I also tried on some old shoes I had laying around from when I bought my EB 44..


I am definitely going buy a new pair of these for the winter/spring months.

and I bought this little fella.

If you have a vehicle with a set of metal full rim hubbies...then you NEED one.lol

The guy I bought the truck from said not to use the front tank...so I flipped it to the front tank on my way home..oops.

Turns out the gauge goes to zero, the pump doesn't kick on, and the selector valve sticks and the return fuel from the rail dumps into the wrong tank..lesson learned.

I started by testing the switch function, and it checked out fine. Then I tore into the selector valve and found the orings were deteriorated and the spools were both stuck. I couldn't source the orings alone, so I replaced the whole assembly with a new Motorcraft unit for piece of mind, but it still had no front tank function (but the back feeding issue was fixed)

I drained all the junk gas out and dropped the tank..which was the easiest tank drop ever. Even though its 28 years old, the undercarriage is spotless and everything comes apart like new.

I pulled the pump and found the issue....:(
The junk gas had taken on moisture and rusted up inside of the tank as well as eaten the rubber hose off the pump, the float itself, and killed the pump.

Inside of tank


Sending unit. The float and hose were 100% dissolved




New tank, sending unit, pump, strainer, and lock ring are on the way.
 
Last edited:

Robert_1967

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Good job, and nice looking truck.




Robert




posted using a file and dead bird.
 

88_Eddie

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Tagged for the inevitable 4wd conversion lol
 

PlumCrazy

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No 4x4. I have my Ranger. This truck will stay 2wd. Maybe some day a it will be on air and a have some forced induction of some sort

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk
 

jhammel85

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Good job! Bull noses are my favorite gen...kind of why I like first gen rangers so much!
It looks like a real survivor!
 

tsi617

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Looks great! I love the early 80s f150s, miss my 84 250.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
 

036speed

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90
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351
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Total Lift
6"
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44

Robert_1967

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my favorite year is the late 78 79, I don't know why, I just like them.




Robert




posted using a brown bag, and a 1kg yellow uranium cake.
 

PlumCrazy

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The 80-86 are one of my favorites for sure. They share a lot of parts with 87-97 trucks too, so parts shopping isnt too bad.


I picked up a few more goodies today.

Tranny cooler.


Last hydroboost fitting. 5/16-24 oring (-2 ORB) to 3/8 barb


Got the cooler mounted up and plumbed in.



I was going to build a new battery tray, but I lucked out and found a not rusted out one. Kind of a piss poor design to have the metal tray under the inner fender to catch all the mud, crud, and salt and rot out.


Sand blasted it down and painted it with some zinc based paint



I noticed the front cross member was bent from what looks to be a recovery attempt at some point.lol


Any who... I straightened it out in the press.


I have been battling a mysterious issue with disappearing trans fluid and no leaks?...turns out the vacuum modulator had a torn diaphragm and the engine was just sucking it up and burning it little by little.

Had to tat it up a little..


I found the old float in the tank..


Here is a pic of the hitch I modified. I made the frame mounts out of 3x3 angle and put a band around the receiver to prevent it from splitting over time. I need to pull the whole thing off and sling some paint on it now.lol


I also got the Ranger out let it stretch its legs now that the roads here are salt free for a few days.


Not so sure hubbies look right on the 35's
 

036speed

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6"
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44
Was that my hitch? lol
 

PlumCrazy

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No. Your hitch got blasted down, repainted, and resides under Dad's Ranger. This hitch came under the IDI with aftermarket dropdown chrome step bumper.

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk
 

adsm08

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The 80-86 are one of my favorites for sure. They share a lot of parts with 87-97 trucks too, so parts shopping isnt too bad.
Yeah, I know a guy working an OBDII EFI swap on his 83. He has 96 dash and doors just waiting to be bolted up.
 

PlumCrazy

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I like old interior way more though. Just the right amount chrome and cheesy wood grain.

Especially now that I have two blue on blue trucks....

When I have to haul the Ranja...I'll have blue on blue, on blue on blue...kind of like stacks on stacks...... on stacks.

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:

PlumCrazy

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New tank and pump showed up and I got everything buttoned back up. Now I can go fill up both tanks to the tune if 120 bucks...


Pic of the vacuum mod that was leaking.
 

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