Check Out Cool Resto Job Done on this ’86 Ford F-150
After 34 years of loyal service, still solid ’86 F-150 receives a complete redo with some pretty extensive bodywork.
Chances are, you already own at least one Ford truck, if you’re reading this. And many of our members have owned their pickups for a very, very long time. Every so often, we come across folks who are the original owners of their vintage pickups, which is obviously quite impressive. That applies to Ford Truck Enthusiasts member diggerrigger and his 1986 Ford F-150. But make no mistake – he hasn’t exactly been gentle on the old F-150. But now, the OP has decided to give his trusty truck the attention it deserves and is documenting the process in this must-read thread.
“For the first time in 34 years, my F-150 is out of service for the immediate future. I’ve been hanging around here for years watching others take on these restoration projects. Now it’s my turn. The truck is relatively sound now. In much better shape than most of the other projects posted here. The end goal is to have a good looking and reliable driver. Not a show truck. One of the issues to be thoroughly addressed is paint. Another item long over due is the engine.”
The first order of business with this F-150, however, is body and paint. The bed is the first thing to come off, at which point the OP started cutting out the rusty rear wheel arches. But that was basically all the rot that needed to be handled, aside from a couple of spots on the driver’s door.
After lots of sanding (and razor blade scraping), the body was finally rid of its problematic paint. Next, it was on to cleaning up the rain gutters, which were in need of some attention. Piece by piece, this F-150 was coming apart, with each component receiving the attention it deserved. A tedious job for sure, but as we well know, one that’s worth it in the end.
“I got the cab, hood, and front fenders ready to block. Primer is done on the door insides. I put a coat of epoxy primer over the wheel arch work. Would have liked to have gotten the primer/surfacer on too, but a few things conspired against me. I was low on mixed primer/surfacer, and the truck would not start. Dead battery because I left the key on.”
And that’s where this cool F-150 project stands as of now. But as quickly as it’s progressed so far, you can expect rapid updates. So, be sure and head over here to stay tuned as this one-owner Ford comes back to life!
Photos: Ford Truck Enthusiasts forums
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