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I was wondering if the front end of an 81 f250 gas burner is different from an 84 f250 diesel. I think they are because of the weight of the 2 engines, really I need to know if the bumper from the 81 gas will fit my 84 diesel because this bumper is bad a$$ and I'd get it free where as on bronco graveyard I'd pay 800+ dollars for the samething without grille guard.
they are the same. 80-86.
the grill is cosmetically different as well as the ford letters on the hood.
80-81 had letters on hood. 82-86 has blue oval in grille.
The radiator support(the whole big piece that is behind the grille) is usually different on a diesel to accommodate the extra large radiator they use. The bumpers are the same though.
that is all i needed to know and you dont know how happy i am to hear that. ya the grille on my truck doesnt fit perfect just one screw doesnt fit but all the other ones do, my grille is off an 81 custom and i think it looks better than the one that came on my 84 (stock 84 grille). what about an instrument panel cover (the piece around the steering wheel, i forget what its called) out of a gas, i like the wood grain in mine but its looking like ****** because the clear coating over it is chipping, is there any way to knock out the pocket and have the glow plug light and the other lights in place of it, and how would i take the panel off. i know i gotta take the wiper and light switch ***** off but dont know how.
There was a change in the radiator support between 82 and 85 such that the radiators won't interchange between trucks with the same engines.
The bezel in front of the instrument panel comes off with a few screws in the top and removal the wiper and light switch *****. On the lights, there is a push button on the switch that is a BEAR to find, but if/when you do you can depress it and pull the **** and its rod right out. The wiper **** comes off by using a hook of some kind to reach behind the **** and depress a spring retainer. It is fiddly to do, especially if you've never done it.
I really appreciate all the info I really do but you guys have left out one little detail, will the bazel from a gas work on my diesel? The gas trucks have a pocket where the glowplug light on a diesel is.
Yes, and no. You won't have a place to put that light if you use a gas bezel. You could modify the pocket but that doesn't sound too good, so I would look for another diesel bezel.
Ill probably find someone who can restore the bezel or take one off one of the previous owners trucks (who also happens to be my uncle) he's got I think3 other trucks the same generation and I know for a fact one is a diesel cause I can remember him driving it around before he got the one I have now.
My little clip is probably a bit long in the tooth so it doesn't hold as good as a newer one. It stays on fine but I figured out how to do it just right so it comes off without using a hook or piece of baling wire.
i forgot about the back bumper on the 81, it matches pretty well with the front. i hate to remove the back bumper on my 84 but i want my bumpers to match and i dont think a pipe and diamond plate rear bumper would match the smooth front bumper from the 81, plus the 84 rear bumoer is heavy as hell. can i swap them?
i forgot about the back bumper on the 81, it matches pretty well with the front. i hate to remove the back bumper on my 84 but i want my bumpers to match and i dont think a pipe and diamond plate rear bumper would match the smooth front bumper from the 81, plus the 84 rear bumoer is heavy as hell. can i swap them?