Hi folks, quick question.

I think I'm in the minority here but I LOVE the "bricknose" body style (87-91?) My family had one new when I was very young and everything about that bodystyle brings back good memories. I currently have a 90 standard cab 2wd and due to "rationalizing" my fleet and some life changes (baby on the way) I'm wanting to sell my Jeep and truck and get a 4x4 ext cab truck. Natrually another 90-91 is my preference (always been a sucker for the split rear window on the ext cab)

Problem is I haven't been able to find what I want that's not a rust bucket (looking for diesel, 5 speed like I have now but with the ext cab and 4x4 and long bed...

So I did find a 94 that is what I want, factory turbo diesel (not powerstroke which I'd prefer in the OBS bodystyle but also tends to come at a large price premium), as far as I can see it looks good and checks all my "must have" boxes.

Quesiton is, since I prefer the bricknose body is it possible to "backdate" the OBS to the bricknose body? From looking at it I'm guessing that the front end should be interchangeable (need new fenders header panel, lights, bumper etc) but... is there a way to do the split ext cab windows? Also are any interior parts interchangeable? I like the older dash better but I'm guessing that would be a major PITA to change out if it's even possible.

Thanks!

 

The front end is pretty much a bolt on swap. you need fenders, hood, cowl, rad support, bumper. pretty much everything front of the doors.

The 93-97 Ext cab rear window is taller then the older one so no way to swap in the split window. Interior is all together different. supposedly even the mounts behind the dash are different.

Diesel Rod

 

The biggest issue I see with the dash is it's got an electronic speedo and is more integrated electronics/wiring wise on the 94.

If the front clip is in good shape you can likely resell it after you make the swap. People like going the other way and using the later clip on the earlier trucks.

There's someone here who's done this swap, it's a red truck IIRC. He took the 92 up front off and put an 87-91 front on it.

 

And here ya go...

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...bricknose.html

Pics aren't showing up at the moment though...

Here's direct links
Before
After

 

Talk to ididiesel John, he swapped his obs front clip fer a brick cough coughed er bricknose

 

Thanks for the comments... bummer about the ext cab window.

Also, what does OBS mean? I get bricknose, but OBS?

 

OBS = "Old Body Style"

 

When I first saw OBS I thought "obsolete", wasn't that far off I guess...

Ironic though... I think of the "OBS" trucks as the "new body style"... grew up with an 89, and now I have a 90.

Somebody needs to come up with a better nickname... instead of bricknose...

"softnose"
"weathered bricknose" (edges rounded off like a brick or rock after years)
"streamlined"

old body style isnt very descriptive... I mean yes it is an old body style these days, but but there's LOTS of old body styles, so why is this one particularly called that?

Random thoughts, I'm sure people will stick with calling it OBS.

 

"Bricknose Series II"

 

I'll vote for that!

 

Bullnose
Bricknose
The nose that shall not be named...

ROFL

 

I always refer to mine as an OBS when buying parts because mine is a 97 F250HD, which is completely different then the 97 F150/250.
In 97 the F250HD and the F350's kept the old body style, but the F150 and the F250(light duty) switched over the the newer body style.

So I usually get the right parts If I tell people it is the "old body style"

 

I guess it made some sense in 1997/1998. Seems kinda strange now though.

 

I'm a fan of all Ford trucks. But for me, the bull and brick noses look like work horses, and can be fixed up nice...but with the 92-96 (whatever you want to call them) still has the classic look, but is still modern enough to NOT be considered old.

Just my opinion



And BTW, as said before, look up IdiDieselJohn, he bought a 94' F-150 and backdated it to a bricknose.

 

It's funny...
At 27 most of the cars I'm really enthusiastic about are older than me... the stuff my parents grew up with.. To me something that was a new body style during my lifetime automatically seems like a "new" vehicle..

Parents had an 89 F150 bought new and we had it until 1996. When I decided a couple of years ago to get a truck I found a 1990, Definitely does not feel like a new truck, but felt right at home. I don't think I've ever even been in an "OBS", though my brother has a 92... Dad has an 03 Super-Duty now and that feels terribly modern though it's 10 years old and several "body styles" old now.

The 92-97 I'll always think of as "new body style" because we had the "bricknose" when the OBS came out and so we had the "old" bodystyle. In the same way the Bullnose seems like an old truck to me. Guess it's just what you're used to.

It's just funny to me since the forum is differentiated based on the bodystyle that the newest bodystyle discussed in this particular forum is called the "old body style"

And Sapphire, I think you hit why I like the bricknose (other than the obvious nostalgia)... The styling definitely appears to be function over form. It looks like a truck. You get the impression that Ford designed a chassis for a truck and then said "well we need something to cover the engine, and maybe a place for the driver to sit and not get rained on" The OBS looks a little more carlike to me for some reason, I guess the softer features. Definitely just a tweaked bricknose styling wise though.