1980 F150 4x4 Flareside Project

[ArdWrknTrk]

So, it takes three minutes to make a truck!


Got it!

[Rembrant]

So, I finally tackled the Bullnose frame horn swap this morning! Others have done this very thing before, but little info is available, and it seems like everybody does it differently. Anyway, here are some pictures to show my what little peach pit brain decided to do. Don't mind all the rust...I'm still in the process of cleaning that up, I just need to finish some other tasks first.




I cut these Bullnose bumper horns off an '86 at the local junkyard before it got hauled off for scrap. I added a plate in the back of the horn to give me something to weld to and attach it to the boxed 1995 frame.




I then notched out my back plate so that the boxed end of the frame was still open. I want to be able to spray rustproofing / undercoating in there, plus it allows me to weld inside.




Everything is currently just tacked in place, but strong enough to hold it well. The bumper fit on just great, and all of my measurements check out OK.




My welder gas was on the verge of running out, so I left it as is for now. Once I get my bottle filled up, I'll weld everything in place permanently, and blend things in a little better.

That was it for today. A lot of measuring and test fitting, but I think it will be fine. Everything seems to measure out OK, and there's enough slop in those elongated holes I can always shim the bumper around a little bit if necessary.

Hoping to sit the cab on the frame tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

[Gary Lewis]

Well done!  That's a good approach and it should be quite strong.  

[Rembrant]

Gary Lewis wrote

Well done!  That's a good approach and it should be quite strong.  

Thanks Gary. It's a bit ugly looking, but once it's all welded up and painted, it will look fine. Besides, nobody will see it anyway.

[Sac79]

Nice! What's the idea behind those crinkles on that '95 frame, some sort of crumple/crush zone?

[Rembrant]

Sac79 wrote

Nice! What's the idea behind those crinkles on that '95 frame, some sort of crumple/crush zone?

Ya, that started in 1992 as a crumple zone. The frames are the same from the core supports back, but the front ends are boxed and crumpled.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Seems like a great solution Cory!  

It looks great now, no need to think about it once there is a truck surrounding it.

[Rembrant]

ArdWrknTrk wrote

Seems like a great solution Cory!  

It looks great now, no need to think about it once there is a truck surrounding it.

Thanks Jim! This old rust bucket has been keeping me plenty busy. I bought the big 10lb? roll of Mig wire a few years ago thinking it would last me a lifetime...lol. With this truck, I don't know about that...lol. Still, I'm having some fun with it. I was in the mood to build and fabricate...well, I'm getting my fill with this thing.

[grumpin]

Great job!

[salans7]

Truck is comin along great!

Rembrant wrote

Sac79 wrote

Nice! What's the idea behind those crinkles on that '95 frame, some sort of crumple/crush zone?

Ya, that started in 1992 as a crumple zone. The frames are the same from the core supports back, but the front ends are boxed and crumpled.

*Only on half-tons and Broncos. The F250 and F350 did not have crumple zones.

[FuzzFace2]

Rembrant wrote

ArdWrknTrk wrote

Seems like a great solution Cory!  

It looks great now, no need to think about it once there is a truck surrounding it.

Thanks Jim! This old rust bucket has been keeping me plenty busy. I bought the big 10lb? roll of Mig wire a few years ago thinking it would last me a lifetime...lol. With this truck, I don't know about that...lol. Still, I'm having some fun with it. I was in the mood to build and fabricate...well, I'm getting my fill with this thing.

Should have gotten the larger tank of gas at the same time
Doing a great job, love the front horns its got my wheels turning and right now that's not a good thing LOL
Dave ----

[Rembrant]

Well that’s it for another weekend early shift. Did some work to the bottom of the cab and then set it on the frame. I feel like I accomplished a lot but I still have so much work to do ugh lol. Tried this from iPhone earlier and had trouble so I’m taking another stab at it now...

[kramttocs]

Looks great and and to echo everyone else - so do the horns!

I am sure you've mentioned it before but what's the story on the shop? That thing is roomy and well equipped. Love that rolling gantry.

[Rembrant]

Thanks Scott.

That is the shop at my work. Since I manage the shop the owner is kind enough to let me use it for my rusty junk projects lol. It’s a wonderful perk of my employment there. I can make a big mess there lol, and the lifting equipment is very handy.

Business is a little quiet at the moment, but if something comes up and we get busy or take on a project, I’ll have to get my stuff out of the way ASAP.

[kramttocs]

That is a great perk for sure!

[Gary Lewis]

Looking good, Cory!  Yes, lots of work to do, but just take it one step at a time and it'll get done.  (I'm preaching to me, too.  )

[Rembrant]

Gary,

I was looking through the interior of this old 1980 this evening, and I don't believe that I've ever seen a Bullnose with a black center/radio bezel with a clock before. I've seen lots of clocks, but always in the woodgrain bezels. Maybe I'm just not used to the earlier black bezels.

Too bad it has been all chopped up. I have a nice black one from an '83, but it's not a Custom and has no cutout for the clock. I wonder how difficult it will be to find a replacement that is the same...



Also, something else I noticed that was new to me...the instrument bezel. I know the 1980 ones are different because of the turn signal indicator locations, but I noticed that there was no 4x4 indicator on the far right, and nothing in the far left indicator slot either. Was this a 1980 only thing? This is also new to me.

[salans7]

Somebody was looking for a Custom bezel on here the other day, and he mentioned how he wasn't having any luck. I took a look on Ebay and sure enough, there were only two options, both high prices. I remember stumbling over them all the time just a few months ago, so they must be in a dry spell right now.

[kramttocs]

Never thought about it but I don't think I've seen a black one with a clock either. Guess not many with the custom sprung for the clock upgrade
Just ran out and checked on my 80 and it looks like the outmost slots are blank also. It's a little dusty so would have to loosen it and shine a light from behind to be 100% sure.

I'll bet Gary has the definitive answer on both

[Gary Lewis]

Technically black bezels with clock cutouts existed.  But I doubt many people added a clock to a base model truck.  And I don't think I've ever seen one either.

As for the outer slots, I don't know the answer to that question.  I'll have to check the 1980 EVTM tomorrow to see if/ the 4wd indicator was used then.