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Does anyone have or know what the external trim looks like on the different 1983-86 trucks? I'm building my flareside and trying to pick the bumper, fender trim, grill, etc. I'd like to keep it consistent on the outside as much as possible.
It turns out the source I had for a rubber bumper padded bumper was just about 3 years late to updating their inventory. SMH
I just went back over your first post after seeing about the bumper and was like pick the bumper - I dont think the front bumpers on the flare side had the rubber strip and if so I dont think I have ever seen one with it.
Rear bumpers were a dealer option so from the factory there was no rear bumper but IIRC you could get factory parts for the "dealer installed" flare side rear bumper.
The flare side rear bumper is different than the style side bumper.
fender trim - as I posted there was no side trim on the cab or bed as there was none ever made for the bed.
grill - The 80 & 81 has FORD letters across the hood and none on the grill. The 82> had the badge on the grill and no letters across the hood.
As for colors I never got that deep into what years came with what colors or trim levels if that is how it was broken down.
etc - I think the trim level did follow inside the cab just not to the out side. But not 100% sure on that.
When I rebuilt my 81 flare side Custom I used most of the parts from a 81 style side Ranger.
I dont remember if the dash bezels were from that truck or got on line?
But it is wood grain to match the steering wheel from the Ranger but has XL above the radio.
For the grill & head light doors I took the best of parts I had on hand and painted them a dark silver / cast iron color, and think it looks great.
I tried to build it as close to factory with the parts I had on hand and budget would let me
There is a lot of information at this site https://www.garysgaragemahal.com/ on what years had what.
Like front turn/park lights were clear & yellow for different years. Grill / head light door colors were also different for different years.
Different years had different moldings for different trim levels (not for flare sides) so a XL for say 83 could be different for a 85 XL truck.
And that is just on the out side, it goes for the inside the cab also.
I say if you are not doing a 100% show point truck build it the way YOU WANT it as it is YOUR TRUCK.
Dave ----
ps I have done some custom touches to my truck that Ford should have done from the factory.
I just went back over your first post after seeing about the bumper and was like pick the bumper - I dont think the front bumpers on the flare side had the rubber strip and if so I dont think I have ever seen one with it.
Rear bumpers were a dealer option so from the factory there was no rear bumper but IIRC you could get factory parts for the "dealer installed" flare side rear bumper.
The flare side rear bumper is different than the style side bumper.
fender trim - as I posted there was no side trim on the cab or bed as there was none ever made for the bed.
grill - The 80 & 81 has FORD letters across the hood and none on the grill. The 82> had the badge on the grill and no letters across the hood.
As for colors I never got that deep into what years came with what colors or trim levels if that is how it was broken down.
etc - I think the trim level did follow inside the cab just not to the out side. But not 100% sure on that.
When I rebuilt my 81 flare side Custom I used most of the parts from a 81 style side Ranger.
I dont remember if the dash bezels were from that truck or got on line?
But it is wood grain to match the steering wheel from the Ranger but has XL above the radio.
For the grill & head light doors I took the best of parts I had on hand and painted them a dark silver / cast iron color, and think it looks great.
I tried to build it as close to factory with the parts I had on hand and budget would let me
There is a lot of information at this site https://www.garysgaragemahal.com/ on what years had what.
Like front turn/park lights were clear & yellow for different years. Grill / head light door colors were also different for different years.
Different years had different moldings for different trim levels (not for flare sides) so a XL for say 83 could be different for a 85 XL truck.
And that is just on the out side, it goes for the inside the cab also.
I say if you are not doing a 100% show point truck build it the way YOU WANT it as it is YOUR TRUCK.
Dave ----
ps I have done some custom touches to my truck that Ford should have done from the factory.
thank you! That’s what I needed to know. Mine isn’t stock, but I wanted it to be consistent 1980’s XLT outside and 1996 XLT inside.
