Finally decided to start a build thread for grandad's truck. Everyone has been a lot of help so far, especially with what would need to be done to help with any towing upgrades. First I'll give the back story to where we are now and where I want to go in the future.

Teach a 16 year old to drive on ABS, then give him an 83 truck, add in a little rain, and you get this:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/p...ctureid=124296



After seeing my grandad's face after he saw the truck, I knew I had to get it back to where it was. Grandpa grew up in a poor farming family in kansas. He always wanted his own red ford pickup growing up. After having 6 kids, he never could afford one until his late 50's, that is when he bought this truck. He passed away when I was 17, I've always planned on getting the truck going after college, and here we are.

The truck sat in the gparents backyard for about 6 years. After a new battery, new solenoid and new spark plugs, she started right up.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/p...ictureid=94904



Next step was to replace the hood, fenders, and radiator support. Bought a whole front clip off a parts truck for $250.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/p...ictureid=98210



Add in some welding and primer:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/p...ctureid=124291



Got a body shop to give me the insurance rate on frame labor, 5 hours @ $50 an hour, not a bad deal. They even threw on some coating

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/p...ctureid=124295



Passenger side door turned out to be covered in plastic filler. Bought some Power door/windows off Mr. Lewis, got the wiring harness out of my buddies bronco he ended up scrapping. (Should have stolen oh so much more off that thing)

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/p...ctureid=124292



Currently the truck is getting work done to the motor. Once that is done the offy dp intake, headers, and holly 390 carb go on. Then front brake upgrades.

After that the plan is to accumulate the parts that I will need next. Have decided to replace the srod tranny with an zf5, currently on the lookout for one from an 87-92, something has led me to believe 92 was when the zf5 went to an electronic speedo. There will be planty of trips to the junk yard in my future.
After that is purchased, I will decide on the replacement rear end. I know I'll want at least a ls differential. I do not plan on turning this truck into a 4x4. I'd also like to keep the same wheels so hopefully I can find a rear end with the same bolt battern.
Then body work and paint, d/s floor pan is pretty much shot. P/s isn't too shabby. Cab corners seem to be holding up, but I imagine that is not the case under the paint. I plan on painting the vehicle the same color maroon, solid maroon, no more two tone. I plan on removing all chrome from this vehicle, for instance, here is my front and rear bumper...

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/p...ctureid=124294



Plenty more to come ladies and gents!

 

Son of a $@&/! I'm terrible at getting photos into a post. And my laptop died. I'll get back on it in a few and edit it.

Also forgot mention: 1983 f100, 300ci, srod tranny, and 2.47 open diff.

 

Looks good! i use photobucket for pics you upload them there then they give you the links to post in the forum

 

Looks like a great project. What paint did you use on the bumpers? I'm blacking out all the trim on mine too.

Nice to see another Flareside getting fixed up.

 

subscribed

 

Got em powder coated, I think it was ~$200 total for both.

 

They look good. It was hard to tell in the pics seeing how much gloss they have.

 

Yeah they turned out a lot better than I thought they would, almost don't want to put em on! Too many uninsured drivers here in Oklahoma!

 

Keep it up! I enjoy seeing these being kept on the road. I'm doing the same thing right now too. '84 Stepside.

 

Subscribed. Sure am glad to see someone fixing grandpa's truck rather that destroying it. As for front brakes, haven't we had that conversation? Don't I have what you need? And, while I don't have an LS pumpkin, I do have the 9" rear axle housing.

 

I plan on coming to see ya, once I get it back Gary! Should be back by the end of March. Probably going to be ordering a new booster/master cylinder off the net, though. Ordered the HD headlight harness from LMC this weekend ~$50 shipped w/relays, that is next.

 

Ok, sounds good. By the way, we leave again in late April on a bit bigger trip. Ciao!

 

You might try Harmon's 4x4 down on Independence and Lewis. They should have a complete LS rear end to swap in. There is a place out in West Tulsa right across from the parks dept on 3rd or Charles page just east of Gilcrease Museum road that has piles of rear ends. I wish I knew what it was called. The wheels fitting shouldn't be a problem. Ford used the 5 on 5-1/2 for a lot of yrs back then. Do you know if it is a 9" or and 8.8"?

 

Bought a new to me rear end from the salvage yard today, it's out of an 82 Bronco:





They also had this in their show room from an 06 F150, what type of installation issues would I have? They look awfully comfy!

 

Looks like a good axle. Should bolt right up. As for the seats, they look superb but I have no clue how easily they would bolt in.