**** Recommend Engine? F100 ****
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,966
Likes: 4,130
From: Angier, NC
Greaaaat info guys! @Franklin2 (along with @FuzzFace2 ) totally nailed it. Both of you helped make one of the largest decisions for the forum truck. I would save a ton of money buying a donor truck. I'm going to look at 1989 F350 this afternoon. It's has a 460 4x4 with a C6. Would the 1982 F100 cab & bed mount on that? I'll probably have to shorten the frame as one of the guys recommended.
Is there actually a full size stepside... I've never seen one?
Is there actually a full size stepside... I've never seen one?
(Be warned I am not normal)
Now what I would look into is how the flare side bed sides are, sides rust the lip away at the wood bed floor.
The other thing is the cross members, what shape are they in?
What shape is the wood in?
If the cross members are good you would need 1 more for the long frame.
Then when fixing the flare side lips see about making them longer to match the trucks frame, longer wood to make a long bed flare side bed.
Or (the not normal part) maybe cut the style side bed sides off leaving the metal floor only.
You would still need to make longer bed sides and bolt them on the metal floor.
Be warned it is not really that easy of just bolting the side on as the rear sill will need work to fit the gate.
I know as I shorten a style side long bed metal floor to work for my short bed flare side and it looks factory stock.
Still doing body work to bed before painting the truck.
Yes the truck does have duel tanks, more not normal LOL
Dave ----
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,958
Likes: 105
From: Houston
I thought of doing the dual tank mod on mine drop the spare tire and get one of those 50 gallon rear tanks from Summit. Problem is I hate those switching valves they always seem to screw up.
Not only that but I hate the thought of cutting into the fiberglass fender be my luck the fender will get messed up.
Think if I did the big fuel tank mod I might drill a hole in the wood bed and put a filler for the rear tank in the bed with one of those flush pop up fillers.
Not only that but I hate the thought of cutting into the fiberglass fender be my luck the fender will get messed up.
Think if I did the big fuel tank mod I might drill a hole in the wood bed and put a filler for the rear tank in the bed with one of those flush pop up fillers.
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,966
Likes: 4,130
From: Angier, NC
I thought of doing the dual tank mod on mine drop the spare tire and get one of those 50 gallon rear tanks from Summit. Problem is I hate those switching valves they always seem to screw up.
Not only that but I hate the thought of cutting into the fiberglass fender be my luck the fender will get messed up.
Think if I did the big fuel tank mod I might drill a hole in the wood bed and put a filler for the rear tank in the bed with one of those flush pop up fillers.
Not only that but I hate the thought of cutting into the fiberglass fender be my luck the fender will get messed up.
Think if I did the big fuel tank mod I might drill a hole in the wood bed and put a filler for the rear tank in the bed with one of those flush pop up fillers.
Funny you say that on the fender. I don't know what I did when measuring but it is not centered on the fender. Don't remember but I think it is a little lower and that worked out good for the filler hose routing.
And I am sure I measured 3 or more times LOL.
On the switching valve mine only has the 3 hoses, 1 from each tank & 1 out to the pump, pretty simple.
I don't know if the valve works or even if the switch works yet but I think they both can be gotten ... I hope if I need them!
So others know the trucks main wiring harness is different between trucks having duel tanks or not. Also the cross member just in front of the rear tank is also different if it has a rear tank or not.
I was lucky all the parts came from my parts truck.
Dave -----
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,958
Likes: 105
From: Houston
If I ever think I need more fuel over the 16 & 19 gal tanks I will do the 38 gal take and lose the spare tire also.
Funny you say that on the fender. I don't know what I did when measuring but it is not centered on the fender. Don't remember but I think it is a little lower and that worked out good for the filler hose routing.
And I am sure I measured 3 or more times LOL.
On the switching valve mine only has the 3 hoses, 1 from each tank & 1 out to the pump, pretty simple.
I don't know if the valve works or even if the switch works yet but I think they both can be gotten ... I hope if I need them!
So others know the trucks main wiring harness is different between trucks having duel tanks or not. Also the cross member just in front of the rear tank is also different if it has a rear tank or not.
I was lucky all the parts came from my parts truck.
Dave -----
Funny you say that on the fender. I don't know what I did when measuring but it is not centered on the fender. Don't remember but I think it is a little lower and that worked out good for the filler hose routing.
And I am sure I measured 3 or more times LOL.
On the switching valve mine only has the 3 hoses, 1 from each tank & 1 out to the pump, pretty simple.
I don't know if the valve works or even if the switch works yet but I think they both can be gotten ... I hope if I need them!
So others know the trucks main wiring harness is different between trucks having duel tanks or not. Also the cross member just in front of the rear tank is also different if it has a rear tank or not.
I was lucky all the parts came from my parts truck.
Dave -----
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,966
Likes: 4,130
From: Angier, NC
I know most that list the sender for the 16 gal list the same one for the 19 gal side tank also.
How can this be so? Think it was Gary that pointed this out to me. I cant remember if LMC list them right or not?
I think in my thread I list who I got my senders, 16 & 19, from. Think 1AAuto.com but not 100% sure.
I have the boxes in the garage and can look at part numbers on them if you need me to look.
This is for my 81 but your 82 could be the same.
http://www.1aauto.com/search?q=fuel+...981&model=1522
Dave ----
How can this be so? Think it was Gary that pointed this out to me. I cant remember if LMC list them right or not?
I think in my thread I list who I got my senders, 16 & 19, from. Think 1AAuto.com but not 100% sure.
I have the boxes in the garage and can look at part numbers on them if you need me to look.
This is for my 81 but your 82 could be the same.
http://www.1aauto.com/search?q=fuel+...981&model=1522
Dave ----
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 57,014
Likes: 2,751
From: Virginia
Greaaaat info guys! @Franklin2 (along with @FuzzFace2 ) totally nailed it. Both of you helped make one of the largest decisions for the forum truck. I would save a ton of money buying a donor truck. I'm going to look at 1989 F350 this afternoon. It's has a 460 4x4 with a C6. Would the 1982 F100 cab & bed mount on that? I'll probably have to shorten the frame as one of the guys recommended.
Is there actually a full size stepside... I've never seen one?
Is there actually a full size stepside... I've never seen one?
The earlier cab will bolt on, along with the frontend. The only problem might be the early front bumper, it will probably not be a direct bolt on to the later frame. You could go with a custom winch bumper for a 89 if you didn't care about having the original early front bumper on there. The shorter wheelbase of your planned custom truck will be better for off-roading and tight maneuvering in the woods.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,958
Likes: 105
From: Houston
I know most that list the sender for the 16 gal list the same one for the 19 gal side tank also.
How can this be so? Think it was Gary that pointed this out to me. I cant remember if LMC list them right or not?
I think in my thread I list who I got my senders, 16 & 19, from. Think 1AAuto.com but not 100% sure.
I have the boxes in the garage and can look at part numbers on them if you need me to look.
This is for my 81 but your 82 could be the same.
http://www.1aauto.com/search?q=fuel+...981&model=1522
Dave ----
How can this be so? Think it was Gary that pointed this out to me. I cant remember if LMC list them right or not?
I think in my thread I list who I got my senders, 16 & 19, from. Think 1AAuto.com but not 100% sure.
I have the boxes in the garage and can look at part numbers on them if you need me to look.
This is for my 81 but your 82 could be the same.
http://www.1aauto.com/search?q=fuel+...981&model=1522
Dave ----
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,958
Likes: 105
From: Houston
They did make the 8 ft beds with the fenders in the 70's and earlier. Not a very good look in my opinion though. I would keep the short bed and shorten the f350 frame myself. Take a look under the front of the 89 f350, it should have a dana 60 straight front axle. That is a very desirable axle, and can bring $800-$1000 just by itself.
The earlier cab will bolt on, along with the frontend. The only problem might be the early front bumper, it will probably not be a direct bolt on to the later frame. You could go with a custom winch bumper for a 89 if you didn't care about having the original early front bumper on there. The shorter wheelbase of your planned custom truck will be better for off-roading and tight maneuvering in the woods.
The earlier cab will bolt on, along with the frontend. The only problem might be the early front bumper, it will probably not be a direct bolt on to the later frame. You could go with a custom winch bumper for a 89 if you didn't care about having the original early front bumper on there. The shorter wheelbase of your planned custom truck will be better for off-roading and tight maneuvering in the woods.
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Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 57,014
Likes: 2,751
From: Virginia
The resistance for Ford fuel gauges are the same up to 85. in 86 they changed it and flipped the resistance. I ran into this on a '82 F150 at work we put a 5.0 coyote in. We put a '86 saddle tank in it the 18 gallon long bed version so we could use a in tank fuel pump to supply the fuel injected engine. We also got a '86 sender but with no gas in it was pegged past Full. Did some reading found '85 was the last year for the same resistance. So I think the senders are the same as the difference in the 16 and 18 gallon tanks is length not height.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,958
Likes: 105
From: Houston
Interesting you found the resistance changed in 85, it seems we always though the resistance changed with the dash change, which was 87. They went to a completely different style gauge electrically in 87 or 88, I would have though that would be when they changed the sending unit also.
Got a 85 sending unit installed our performance fox body era fuel pump to feed the 5.0 coyote and the oem 82 fuel gauge reads perfectly. Only thing he complains about is its hard to fill up. Sorry but there was nothing to hook the original vent tube in the tank to, to keep it in place. That's a down side to doing this upgrade.
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,966
Likes: 4,130
From: Angier, NC
The resistance for Ford fuel gauges are the same up to 85. in 86 they changed it and flipped the resistance. I ran into this on a '82 F150 at work we put a 5.0 coyote in. We put a '86 saddle tank in it the 18 gallon long bed version so we could use a in tank fuel pump to supply the fuel injected engine. We also got a '86 sender but with no gas in it was pegged past Full. Did some reading found '85 was the last year for the same resistance. So I think the senders are the same as the difference in the 16 and 18 gallon tanks is length not height.
I will not know if mine will read right or not till I get it on the road and fuel in the tanks.
Dave ----
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,958
Likes: 105
From: Houston
But now like on my dads 79 El Camino the dimensions are the same externally but the tanks are two different capacities now in this case the sending unit will make a difference to read properly.
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