Hey all!

I figured before I go diving in with a thousand questions I'd at least introduce myself and my new rig. I'm John, and I'm not new to Fords, but I'm new to full size Fords. I've had three Mustangs so far (still have my 87 GT) and currently DD a 2001 Ranger, but I've always had a soft spot for the bullnose since my pops had one when I was a youngin.

Anyway, long story short is that I picked up an 85 F250 4x4 for a little project rig. Eventually, I'd like to make it my daily. It's pretty ugly with the red paint, but it has the 4.9 and an auto, and it seems near indestructible. So far I know I need to do the front U joint, shackles on the back (I don't think I've seen any of the spot welded style ones survive up north), and a windshield for starters.

I'd also like to find a stamped tailgate, but they seem to be rare as hen's teeth around here. I hope to pick many of your brains in the coming months!

 

Welcome to FTE! That truck looks like a good place to start. But, where is "here"? And, by the way, you have later model door panels.

 

I'm in the Cleveland, Ohio area.

And yeah, I want to say the entire door assembly on both sides are from the mid 90s. I replaced the door lock cylinders since I never got a key for the locks. The truck (and the doors) were light blue in color, along with the insides of the door panels.

Kind of a strange paint job overall. The truck looks like it has a rustoleum job done with a roller, but someone masked off the door jambs and sprayed the roof of the cab.


It also has a smidge of bondo up front, but then someone said to heck with it and riveted a couple patch panels on the bed. Haha

 

Welcome also.


Where ever he is they get snow based on the white stuff on the ground and the plow.


You know I went back & forth on that picture of the door panels and thinking the doors may also be of the later but did not look like it.


I did see it was a blue truck at one time.
Dave ----

 

The doors are later ones. Look at the width [wider] of the vertical frame of the vent window as well as the later style mirrors which have a support bar which passes through the door skin to the door frame.

 

Thank you by the way guys for the warm welcome!

And little stuff like that is good to know for parts hunting. I've already got my eyes on some year appropriate mirrors so I can fold them in easier when using my garage.

I was also a little surprised the other day to find that my VIN had an H code, which I believe means the truck originally had a 351, although it's got a 300 in it. Depending on when it was swapped, it was definitely done right. All of the wiring is intact and most has the original plastic loom over it. Not complaining over that one, it's not a world beater, but that 4.9 is bulletproof!

 

You can decode your certification label here: Certification Label - Gary's Garagemahal

And your VIN here: VIN Decoding - Gary's Garagemahal