Howdy from Central TX

[yblock57]

Long time lurker here. Born & raised in a Ford family. Still have my first vehicle, an '86 f-150 4x2 regular cab my Grandfather gave me when I turned 16 in 1996. Was my reliable daily driver for over 15 years. Having served me well, has been retired as a occasional driver now days. It was my first paint job when I took an auto body/paint course after high school. It's ready for another refresh and plan on getting back on it in the future. For now it's kept inside to help save on the nice interior and crack-free dash! All the years of driving it I religiously used a sunshade in the windshield & tinted windows to help with heat and other issues that come with the TX sun.

I still have all the original paperwork my Grandfather received when he bought it new at Joe Myers Ford, Houston, TX. Window sticker, owners manual, invoice, warranty card.... even the paper tag that went around the rearview mirror about the EFI starting procedures.

Truck is light desert tan with the good 'ol EFI 5.0 302, AOD, a/c, dual tanks, p/s, p/b, & heavy duty cooling. Everything else is standard fare; roll up windows, manual locks, chestnut vinyl seat, painted headliner, etc. The rubber floor finally started to crack a few years ago so it was replaced with a nice replacement carpet and seat was re-upholstered with the correct grain vinyl. Sound deadener and other upgrades at the same time. Changed the standard steel wheels with small poverty caps to the 92-96 chrome as I always liked that style wheel. Other upgrades; 3g alternator, headlight harness relay, intermittent wipers, chrome grill, XLT woodgrain dash bezels, factory tach, clock, & AM/FM cassette radio. Originally was an AM radio... Luckily was smart enough at 16 to not do any cutting or un-reversible modifications.




My dad also has an '82 f150 he's owned since '87. His has always been kept inside and still sports most of it's original paint. XLT Lariat 5.8 2v, C6, loaded. Still a very dependable truck... although it's not great on fuel!



We've got a few other fords including a '56 f100, '89 f150, '95 f150 and my currently daily; '16 f150.

Looking forward to learning more about these truck and meeting y'all.

[Gary Lewis]

Welcome!  Glad you joined.  

That is a VERY nice truck!  I'm so glad you are keeping it in the family and didn't do irreversible mods to it.  (But I do like the mods you've done.) That is a special truck.  

So, where in central Tejas?  I ask because we have a map (Bullnose Forum/Member's Map in the menu) and we can add you with a city.

As for truly meeting people, come up to the show in exactly a month.  The forum members will have a meal together the night before and then we'll attend the show the next day.  I've attached the flyer to the show.

FORD_TRUCK_FLYER_-_2023.jpg

[yblock57]

Appreciate the kind words, Garry. Did a lot of dumb things as a kid, but luckily the '86 made it through relatively unscathed. It's definitely a keeper.

I'm in Round Rock, TX — just up the road from Austin. Feel free to add me to the map.

Really wish we could make it up to the show up there in OK. Have two small kids that limits my radius of travel these days. Hopefully as they grow up that'll change.

[Gary Lewis]

You are now on the map.  And I know where Round Rock is 'cause we used to live in Katy and got out that way a few times.

[grumpin]

Welcome!

[BigBrother-84]

yblock57 wrote

Still have my first vehicle, an '86 f-150 4x2 regular cab my Grandfather gave me when I turned 16 in 1996.

I love these family truck stories!

yblock57 wrote

Truck is light desert tan

This was Big Brother’s original color!

yblock57 wrote

The rubber floor finally started to crack a few years ago so it was replaced with a nice replacement carpet and seat was re-upholstered with the correct grain vinyl. Sound deadener and other upgrades at the same time. Changed the standard steel wheels with small poverty caps to the 92-96 chrome as I always liked that style wheel. Other upgrades; 3g alternator, headlight harness relay, intermittent wipers, chrome grill, XLT woodgrain dash bezels, factory tach, clock, & AM/FM cassette radio. Originally was an AM radio.
[…]
Looking forward to learning more about these truck and meeting y'all.

Wow, you already did to a lot to maintain and improve your truck!

Welcome!

[yblock57]

Appreciate it! Lot's of really nice trucks on here!

One thing I've always battled with was adding the side trim on this truck. It looks so plain without it. Has anyone every successfully added the factory trim that runs the length of the truck? I know the factory had metal studs that the clips attached to originally.

Have collected a few pieces but still need most of the trim to make it possible. I'm sure the plastic clips are a challenge to find now days.

[Gary Lewis]

There are several different kinds of side trim, but getting a full set of any of them isn’t going to be easy. I tried that about 7 years ago and was finding the ones that got passed by for obvious reasons.

[yblock57]

Right. I keep going back and forth on it. Most people tell me not to worry about it. I enjoy the challenge and am usually in the parts-gathering mode... heh

[ArdWrknTrk]

Welcome!  

Your grandfather's truck still looks good.  

Great backstory and glad to see how much you care about it.