back at this again - I've got the opportunity to snag another IDI truck to canabalize for my F250; the 250 is a 1983 and the other truck is a 1990...question is, will the body panels and so forth from the 90 fit the 83? I don't have the slightest clue where to look to see what fits and what doesn't. I need a slew of parts for mine to get it back to where it needs to be.
Nate

 

All the sheet metal is different 1980/86 vs. 1987/91.

Styleside tailgates: 1980/82 is one type, 1983/86 is another, 1987/91 is different again.

 

Solved that problem, Thanks!!

 

well, in a way Bill is 100% correct.
BUT
you can bolt the complete nose section from the 90 onto the 83.
you can also swap the bed on to the frame.
and you can bolt the 90 doors onto the 83 cab.

 

Okay - so let me ask this then -
my old girl needs pretty well everything forward of the bed replaced. The cab looks like crap and a bunch of other stuff. Would the cab from an F150 be the same size as the F250? I found a 1980 that is perfect from the cab forward but since mine is a 250, thought I'd ask the professionals lol
Nate

 

As far as I know, yessir. All the cabs should mount up within the same body style of each other. As long as your not putting a super cab in place of regular cab or that kind of thing you should be golden.

 

both are regular cabs thank god! Appreciate the response!
Nate

 

if i remember correctly the 80 cab is slightly different, but not by enough to make any difference. i want to say the compatibility for the idi powered trucks is 80 to 91.

 

that kinda throws a hitch in my mix! Any idea what the differences might be? I haven't found anything even remotely close that's in solid shape like this 80 F150 to do a swap on around here...let alone anything my wife's poor old Chevy can pull 😂😂😂

 

a bolt here and there. like i said, the complete front clip will bolt rite on, the cab will bolt rite on.
you will have more problems with wiring between the years than you will with sheet metal.
but even with the wiring, the complete harness will swap rite over. so if you put the 80 F150 gas engine cab nose on the 83 diesel, just use the 83 diesel wiring in the 80 stuff and you will be golden.

 

That's kinda what I figured - seems it will be easier to swap the cab and use the Diesel harness. The front clip on mine is solid except for the bullet hole in the hood. Fenders aren't rusted so I'm really only replacing the hood and a few other parts. The back of the cab had a tree fall on it so it's toast, glass is all good but the rest is junk. This is gonna be a LOAD of fun from the looks of it! Might just have to do a How-To video for the entire process ha!
Nate

 

lots and lots of penetrating oil. and start using it on the bolts weeks before starting.
my 88 is so bad i am just cutting the cab off with a plasma cutter and starting with fresh bolts. the frame is perfect, but the sheet metal is already half gone with bolts and nuts that no longer look like bolts or nuts.

 

Ha! That sounds about like mine is too I'd reckon! Gonna be a plasma cutter kinda job!

 

Next question - How about the bench seat? Is that again only an 80-86 that will fit this old goat? There's a Junkyard close that has a few 87-90 F Series trucks with the bench seat that are pretty solid

 

bench seats are pretty much universal, it is the tracks that are truck specific. i put a custom seat in the 88. when i found a set of captains chairs, i took the custom buckets/bench out and put it in my 79 by simply bolting the 79 slider mounts under it.
i used to have people come in to the body shop all the time wanting different seats in their trucks. ford seats in chevys, dodge seats in chevys and fords, and a few studebakers that got chevy benches. i put a set of caddy power leather seats in my 66 W300 power wagon.