"Cam's Ol' Blue"- 1986 F-150 Base Ex-State of Oregon

[Gary Lewis]

Ok, see if I got you in about the right place.  And, have a safe and happy move.  

[thefraze_1020]

You have me close enough on the map. If you wanted to be exact, my new house is just east of Rotary Park and Lucille Umbarger Elementary on the east side of town. But again, it's close enough.

On to future projects on "Cam's Ol' Blue", does anyone know if Ford made the base model black and grey radio bezel with the holes for the clock? Or just the woodgrain ones? I am OK with either the 1980-84 version, or 85-86 version.

[Gary Lewis]

We don't want people to be able to knock on your door, so let's leave the pin where it is if that's ok.

As for the radio bezel, from our page on this (Documentation/Interior/Instrument & Radio Bezels) there are two blacks and two greys - and all of them came with the cutouts for a clock.

[thefraze_1020]

I would imagine that a grey bezel with clock holes is a rare bird, since it seems like the high-end trucks only got the clock for the most part.

Back to my question before, has anyone taking a non-functioning clock and repair it? Like a display issue or connection? On my clock, I took it apart and the internals look really clean.

[Gary Lewis]

You have a point - clocks were typically on high-end trucks which didn't have the weave bezels.  But they were available.

As for fixing a clock, I've not seen a bad one yet.  They seem to be pretty robust.  So I've not tried to fix one.

[kramttocs]

Same here. They 'just work' for the most part.
Wonder if you could replace the display with a modern one and rewire the buttons?

[thefraze_1020]

This one did not work. Upon closer inspection, the PC board had some corrosion. So I gutted it, saved the bracket and plastic casing, the face of the clock with the buttons, and the electrical connector.

[thefraze_1020]

A couple days ago, I found my belts to be cracked. Time to replace those. Is there a section on this site with instructions to replace the belts on my straight 6?

[ArdWrknTrk]

I'm not sure.
But a while back I did list all the belts for Matthews (Dorsai's) grandpa's truck, because he couldn't figure out which he needed.

I use the Gates (NaviGates) app.

[Gary Lewis]

We do have a page: Documentation/Engines/Drive Belts.

[thefraze_1020]

I think I am going to get a saddle blanket seat cover for my bench seat soon. Anybody have recommendations for a brand of seat cover you are satisfied with?

My seat doesn't have a lot of support anymore. Am I better off trying to replace the foam and vinyl, or just finding a matching seat from a wrecking yard and putting a cover over it?

Also, I need a center console that I want to put on the seat in the middle. It needs a cupholder for coffee, and a compartment to store maps and cassette tapes. Any thoughts on what has worked for you guys?

...and finally, I just bought an AM/FM/cassette analog radio off eBay yesterday. It's the 1985-86 style so should bolt right in. Guy wanted $225.00, I offered $150.00 and he accepted it. The radio is fully tested, so I feel confident about that. It should ship fast, because it is only coming from Hope, BC.

[Gary Lewis]

Do you have speakers in the doors?  I ask because the 1986 F-Series brochure implies that a mono radio was standard.  If so, it only had a speaker in the dash and you'll have to add speakers in the doors as well as the wiring thereunto.

But, that should be a really nice upgrade.  

On the seat, you may well be able to find one at a salvage or elsewhere that will bolt in.  But it is also possible to put foam on the frame yourself and put a new seat cover on.  It might cost less, but a replacement seat might not be very expensive.

[kramttocs]

Nice job on the radio! Gary is right that if going from mono to stereo will be a huge improvement. Downside is having to drill the door jam holes but at least dimples are there. Again, that's all if you don't have them already.

[thefraze_1020]

There are speakers in the doors already. State of Oregon upgraded it at some point, but there was originally a single speaker in the dash. It was destroyed, so I removed it when I got the truck home originally. The sound quality on the previous aftermarket stereo was pretty decent, but the radio didn't have AM and wasn't very user-friendly. All I have to do is splice the speaker wires into the speaker wire connector on the radio. What colors are what?

[ArdWrknTrk]

I can take some pics of the 40 year old console/arm rest I built for my truck.

It dates back to cassette tapes.
Offers cup holders, 3 tape slots up front, and flip up access to divided storage from both sides.

Scrap mahogany from from a trim job back when I was driving my Datsun.

[Gary Lewis]

Wire colors are shown below, which is from the page here: Documentation/Electrical/EVTM/1985 EVTM/Radio (Stereo).

[ArdWrknTrk]

I just realized I never posted.

[1986F150Six]

Very innovative, Jim!

[ArdWrknTrk]

. In 1980..… maybe?

But I still rest my elbow on it every day, 40 years later.

[thefraze_1020]

Nice console Jim! I would rock something like that!

In other news, I have my new radio installed. It came out of an Escort, so I had to modify the mounting brackets a bit, but that's all hidden behind the bezel.