1980 F150 4x4 Flareside Project

[Rembrant]

Thanks gents!

Dave, it is very rewarding to drag an old heap out of the woods that 100 other people would have scrapped, and then revive it. This thing will never be a show truck...not while I own it at least, but it sure has been a cool trip with it.

[salans7]

Truck looks great! Love seeing it back on the roads!

[FuzzFace2]

What is nice about non-show trucks is you really dont worry about it like one you have put a lot of time and way to much money into.

I built mine as a driver but after waxing mine a few weeks back I have worried more about it than before and I dont know why.
Maybe because I went over every inch "wax on / wax off" and could then see just how much work I put into it to get it were it is?

First bug, of many, that hit the windshield last week taking the truck to work for 2 days, I was like   because I knew it was also getting on the painted parts.

They cut back on water use here but I have 2 shows next Saturday so going to have to sneak water to wash it
Dave ----

[nlongo33]

Awesome job, truck looks great

[Rembrant]

Thanks!
I had the old thing out again today and it’s now working pretty good. I need to get the tires balanced in the worst way, but once moving along she does pretty good. Will be doing some body work this week fixing up the remaining rust spots and old decal shadows.

[grumpin]

Looking good!

Those big fuel trucks show up when some bullnoses are visiting!

[Gary Lewis]

grumpin wrote

Looking good!

Those big fuel trucks show up when some bullnoses are visiting!

Amen, brother!  Particularly those with 460's.

[Rembrant]

Tackled some rust today. Rebuild the drivers side cab corner, three holes in the b-pillar, two holes in the a-pillar, and one in the roof. Still have to budf/compound/wax the drivers door so it will blend better.

[Rembrant]

Then started on the passenger front fender and b pillar, a pillar, roof, etc. There are a screw holes everywhere on this truck ugh.

[Gary Lewis]

Man, that thing is really looking sharp!  

[Rembrant]

Gary Lewis wrote

Man, that thing is really looking sharp!  

Thanks Gary,

It’s a bit rough up close but it’s also 41 years old now, and what I’d call driver quality, so it’s ok for what it is. Not making a show truck out of it. I had an urge to build something, and now that I’ve done it the urge is gone LOL.

[Atlas75]

Rembrant, please forgive my ignorance but can you define what an A-pillar and a B-pillar are?  I have seen those terms used numerous times on various posts and I have never known what they are.

[Rembrant]

Hey Carl, the A pillar is the frame by the windshield, and the b pillar is the one behind the front door…here’s a picture…hope it works:

[Rembrant]

So, another question I have is, how does one lower the rear of an F150 4x4 if he wanted to do so? This truck, from some angles, looks like the rear end is jacked into the sky. Now, I know the quick/normal solution to this particular problem is to raise the front, but I don't want to do that. I haven't found any 3" wide lowering shackle kits...not for a half ton at least. I see DJM makes them for F350's...but I don't know what the different is with them...I assume different bushing sizes.

I guess it's not the end of the world if I had to cut/modify a set of shackles...but I really don't want to do that, either.

I guess I could throw a couple bags of sand in the bed too, couldn't I?...lol.

[Gary Lewis]

How much do you want to lower it?  You should have the riser blocks in there, like the ones shown below but probably 2" IIRC.  I don't know if there are 1" blocks, but maybe?

The only issue is that the blocks are also the bump stops.

[salans7]

Gary Lewis wrote

The only issue is that the blocks are also the bump stops.

I take it you didn't have your morning joe before you wrote that.


That's a non-issue because the 4x2 trucks don't have blocks. If he takes the blocks out, it will just be like a 4x2 truck. The bump stop will hit the axle tube.

[Gary Lewis]

salans7 wrote

Gary Lewis wrote

The only issue is that the blocks are also the bump stops.

I take it you didn't have your morning joe before you wrote that.


That's a non-issue because the 4x2 trucks don't have blocks. If he takes the blocks out, it will just be like a 4x2 truck. The bump stop will hit the axle tube.

Guilty as charged.  

[Rembrant]

What a long strange trip it's been...

The old Humpty Dumpty '80 F150 made the journey across the city to make it's debut at the local weekly cruise in car show last night. I was surprised at how much love it received, even with it's 30 year old faded and chipped paint with various rattle can touch-ups (and overspray lol).

August 2020, when I bought it...sitting in the weeds with a rusted, bent, and broken frame...no drivetrain behind the flywheel, and the bed in pieces in the basement...






And last night, 10 months later...






It's a 20 footer, and always will be while I own it...but it takes good pictures...haha. You can see the different shades of paint where I've touched it up and fixed rust spots, but most people weren't as displeased with that as I had assumed.

It still needs some work...front end and interior mostly, and if I get ambitious enough more buffing and polishing, but so far all is well. The more I drive it, the better it is working...things are starting to free-up and get used to moving again.

It feels really good, because I thought about scrapping it several times in the past few months. It was nice to see the old girl getting some attention after probably a decade of sitting in the weeds, with a future that was surely going to be the scrap yard.

[Gary Lewis]

You deserve a medal, Cory!  Something like Restorer Of The Order.  Well done!  

That is an amazing journey, and what is even more astounding is that it was done in 10 months!  That would have taken me years, and years, and years.

Congrat's!!!!!

[Rembrant]

Gary Lewis wrote

...and what is even more astounding is that it was done in 10 months!

Haha, thanks Gary. There are some very specific reasons that it was able to happen in 10 months, and all of them will not likely be possible in the future, so it's one of those things I'm very fortunate to have done it when I did.

1. I was having issues sleeping for the last several years, but after a surgery this past winter I am now sleeping again like a normal person, lol. For the first portion of the rehab of this truck, I was awake and moving sometimes at 3am, and usually no later than 4am. Those longer days translate into getting more done.
2. Covid-19 Lockdowns and restrictions...they most definitely allowed me to have much more time than one would normally have.
3. I had the space and shop to use at my work, with almost unlimited space, and equipment to use (like forklifts) for swapping cabs, frames, drivetrains, etc.

Now I'm back to working out of a singe attached garage at home, with limited space and limited equipment. I won't be able to tackle a project like this one any time soon, and to be honest, I wouldn't want to...haha. I've had my fill of it for a while.

By the way, in case I haven't thanked you lately, thanks again for the website, the documentation, and the forum. I've used the information on here A LOT, and made some great friends along the way. Once again, a tip of the hat to you.