Introduction Zach 1981 F150 Flareside

[Zach 1981 Flareside]

I am Zach from Nashville, TN.  I have a 1981 F150 Flareside with 300 straight 6.  My father bought it new in 1980.  He drove it a couple years and sold it to my Grandpa, his dad.  My Grandpa drove it until he died in 2000.  My dad inherited it.  It was two tone brown originally but my dad painted it red in 2000.  My little sister drove it for 3 years when she was in high school, but bought a new car when she went to college.  It sat for about 5 years, my dad drove it a little just to keep it running.  He gave it to me in 2008.  I've been using it as my daily driver, along with a motorcycle.  

I never had any issues with it that I couldn't fix myself with a little youtube research.  I'm not a mechanic so I just replace parts when they stop working. I took it to the shop for new brakes.

I've been cleaning frame with wire brush drill attachments and painting it with por 15 products.  I replaced the shocks and leaf springs.  I have coil springs for the front but haven't put them on yet.  I replaced the mirrors with the original style ones that attach to door twice (pictures show plastic ones my dad put on it when he painted it in 2000).  I did some interior work, keeping it stock.  I put new transmission, clutch, flywheel, and bearing in it this summer.  

I am replacing to wood bed, my daughter and I were routing groves in the oak boards today.  It should be done in a few weeks.

[Gary Lewis]

Zach - Welcome!  That's a wonderful story.  As a grandfather myself, I'd love it if one of my grandkids took an interest in my truck.  And, by the way, two of them were born in Nashville.

You've done some work on that truck.  The gauges have been painted and look great, and a tach has probably been added as a Custom wasn't likely to come with one.  (I can tell it has been added as a tach would have come with a speedo that included a trip odometer.)

And the work on the bed is really well done.  Routing the boards is a nice touch.

Plus, I really like your helper!

[grumpin]

Welcome!

[Zach 1981 Flareside]

I bought the tach on ebay over the summer and painted the needles.  Here is a before picture.

[Rembrant]

I like the color matched gas tank!! Nice truck Zach. Bit of a Bullnose Flareside nut myself;).

Factory tach and painted needles sure do wonders for the clusters. They look like a million bucks after that.

[Gary Lewis]

Yes, the gauges really "pop" now.  

[grumpin]

I like the anti theft club!

"Don't touch my bullnose!"

[Rembrant]

Gary Lewis wrote

Yes, the gauges really "pop" now.  

They sure do. Interior looks really nice in this truck. A tip of the hat to them for keeping it so nice all these years.

It's hard to believe what a difference it makes to paint those needles and clean everything up.

Nice work there Zach.

Wood floor in the bed is looking very nice as well.