1982 XLS Flareside

[MotorsportXLT]

Hello guys! As many of you know, I was the one who bought the silver XLS out of Spokane WA. I'm sorry about the update delay! I picked up the truck a little over a month ago with the help of an awesome friend. Covid-19 tested my patience as the truck had to sit at a friends for 3 months! She runs and drives great! I have not done much to her because I am going to school. I did purchase a Marti Report for the truck. Turns out she is one of one, which makes all of my trucks one of one believe it or not! When I bought the truck it was missing the bezels. Coincidentally I purchased a set a few years back. I have been collecting XLS parts for about 4 years now in hopes to make a clone. I still cant believe that I have a real one! The plan is to get done with college and start the restoration on the old girl! Below are some pictures. Also, yes the blue wheels went bye bye first!







 
If anyone finds an uncut clock radio bezel for an XLS please let me know!

[Ford F834]

Such a nice straight truck Chris, I’m so glad you were the one to land this deal... and I look forward to the updates when you start building it 😎

[86 1/2 Brutus]

Great looking truck.  As far as the radio bezel, you may want to find one on ebay and just paint it.  These are pretty hard to find and are expensive when they can be found.  The color should be an easy match.  We had to re-paint ours when we took the dash out to mod it.

[Rembrant]

MotorsportXLT wrote

Also, yes the blue wheels went bye bye first!

I see things painted odd colors all the time and I have to wonder what was going through the person's mind...lol. "I think this truck would look better with blue wheels?" No, false! I'm also not a fan of the whole fad of painting wheels red either...that's another thing I'd have to correct immediately...lol.

In any case, I'm really glad that you (a true fanatic? Enthusiast?) got this truck. It is also very impressive that the truck is still so well intact with the original paint and all. Thank goodness for the dryness of NE Washington? There are about 40 other states where if that truck had lived it would not be in the condition it is in now. Very well done Chris, a tip of the hat to you.

[Gary Lewis]

Yes, Chris, congrat's!  You really scored with that truck.  Well done!  

I look forward to you graduating and having time to start work on the truck - and documenting it here.  

[MotorsportXLT]

86 1/2 Brutus wrote

Great looking truck.  As far as the radio bezel, you may want to find one on ebay and just paint it.  These are pretty hard to find and are expensive when they can be found.  The color should be an easy match.  We had to re-paint ours when we took the dash out to mod it.

 
Unfortunately I think you are right. I was thinking  I might have a friend who does decals just put a brushed aluminum finish decal.

[MotorsportXLT]

Ford F834 wrote

Such a nice straight truck Chris, I’m so glad you were the one to land this deal... and I look forward to the updates when you start building it 😎

Thank you!!

[MotorsportXLT]

Gary Lewis wrote

Yes, Chris, congrat's!  You really scored with that truck.  Well done!  

I look forward to you graduating and having time to start work on the truck - and documenting it here.  

You and me both LOL!!!

[MotorsportXLT]

Rembrant wrote

MotorsportXLT wrote

Also, yes the blue wheels went bye bye first!

I see things painted odd colors all the time and I have to wonder what was going through the person's mind...lol. "I think this truck would look better with blue wheels?" No, false! I'm also not a fan of the whole fad of painting wheels red either...that's another thing I'd have to correct immediately...lol.

In any case, I'm really glad that you (a true fanatic? Enthusiast?) got this truck. It is also very impressive that the truck is still so well intact with the original paint and all. Thank goodness for the dryness of NE Washington? There are about 40 other states where if that truck had lived it would not be in the condition it is in now. Very well done Chris, a tip of the hat to you.

It definitely has a different kind of rust compared to MT rust. I am just happy the cab corners are not rusted!

[86 1/2 Brutus]

Chris, maybe brushed aluminum decals would be the way to go if you  have someone that can do them.    you were very lucky to find them to begin with.  Tell me, i cant see from the pics, whats really wrong with them?    Are you keeping the stock rims and painting them the correct color?.

[ArdWrknTrk]

George, you may not have been around but we have a member, Perry, who does restorations on Lincoln interiors and was looking to replicate the XLS finish in vinyl.

He had some parts for patterns, and close matches, but not quite perfect.

He got wrapped up in moving, family, etc...

But it might be good to knock him up and see where he stands.
His work is mighty impressive!

http://forum.garysgaragemahal.com/Woodgrain-repair-kit-for-ideas-only-tp30473.html

[86 1/2 Brutus]

I just checked it out.  Thats the same as i had on my Mark VI, or IV i get them confused, it was a 6.   Looks pretty good from what i can see.    I dont know if they still make it or not, but way back when, you could buy aluminum tape, i haven't seen it in years.

[ArdWrknTrk]

You had it right, 5+1, not 5 depreciated 1.

Anyway, I keep bringing it up because I'm so very impressed by his work.

It's obvious Perry spent a lot of time getting the pattern and process down.

[Ray Cecil]

Nice Flare!!!

[Ford F834]

The brushed texture is one aspect that is difficult to address without going to a printed film such as vinyl or hydro dip. The color is another issue that is more difficult than it looks if you want to match one part with other OEM pieces. It is a very white cool silver. I was up to 8 or 9 different spray cans of silver/aluminum paint brands/codes and never found anything close. Most are far too dark and have some other color hue that does not match. I still hope one day to work out a clone technique but life dealt me other priorities for now.

Chris, I still like Gary’s idea of cutting out the holes with a mill, if you are willing to alter the original part. I wouldn’t go at it with a hand drill and coarse files, but fine bits in a press and a set of jeweler’s files files would also work if you are good with handwork.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Ford F834 wrote

Chris, I still like Gary’s idea of cutting out the holes with a mill, if you are willing to alter the original part. I wouldn’t go at it with a hand drill and coarse files, but fine bits in a press and a set of jeweler’s files files would also work if you are good with handwork.

I'm guessing this must be part of a FB *convo, or something?  

[grumpin]

86 1/2 Brutus wrote

I just checked it out.  Thats the same as i had on my Mark VI, or IV i get them confused, it was a 6.   Looks pretty good from what i can see.    I dont know if they still make it or not, but way back when, you could buy aluminum tape, i haven't seen it in years.

I’ve seen it at Home Depot.

[Ford F834]

ArdWrknTrk wrote

I'm guessing this must be part of a FB combo, or something?  


Actually this was something Gary and I talked about when I came to Skiatook in 2017 (using a mill), and I have mentioned it to Chris by messenger. I think opening the clock holes, even without access to machine equipment, is an easier prospect than replicating the finish. Finding an OEM bezel with clock holes already in it is obviously the best, but for whatever reason the clock option was extremely uncommon for XLS.

[MotorsportXLT]

86 1/2 Brutus wrote

Chris, maybe brushed aluminum decals would be the way to go if you  have someone that can do them.    you were very lucky to find them to begin with.  Tell me, i cant see from the pics, whats really wrong with them?    Are you keeping the stock rims and painting them the correct color?.

George, if you look at the instrument cluster bezel you will see some wearing on the left hand side.

[MotorsportXLT]

Ford F834 wrote

ArdWrknTrk wrote

I'm guessing this must be part of a FB combo, or something?  

Actually this was something Gary and I talked about when I came to Skiatook in 2017 (using a mill), and I have mentioned it to Chris by messenger. I think opening the clock holes, even without access to machine equipment, is an easier prospect than replicating the finish. Finding an OEM bezel with clock holes already in it is obviously the best, but for whatever reason the clock option was extremely uncommon for XLS.


That is still in the back of my mind. It is just nerve-wrecking thinking about cutting a XLS bezel