Alright folks I'm stumped. So I have a 1983 F-150 Standard Trim but, I found a 1986 F-150 Ranger (I think) at Pick-N-Pull and pulled all of the interior except for the front half of the trim. SO the plastics from the 86' don't line up with my rear window, some of the interior cab lines, and mounting holes are missing (I'm fine drilling them out if need be). But if anybody has done this swap or knows how I could make it fit I appreciate any and all info. I'd prefer not to trim anything. If push comes to shove I'll sell it all on eBay.

 

When you say "standard trim" what level would that be?
Between 80 to 86 I know of Custom (like my 81 F100), XL (like the radio bezel I have)) and XLT levels.
So what level is your truck and what level did you get from the yard?

Also from what I know all the parts inside should swap but some of the mounting holes may not.
But what you say "lines dont line up" I dont under stand what you mean.
Can you maybe post pictures of this not lining up?
Dave ----

 

I know for my 1985 model year Ford had standard, xl,and xlt lariat .My 85 is a standard ,lowest level trim ,had no radio and no fancy gadgets .Recently I installed footwell led lights ( homemade )and bought a door switch for the passenger side .The driver door was the only switched circuit. Passenger side had a hole only.I was prepared to wire the passenger side but after mounting the pass. Switch I found the wiring and spliced into that ,and now my passenger door operates all lights as the driver.Heck if I known this I would have installed a pass light switch 25 years ago. TR

 

Most places list standard as base ,(usually in looking up parts it’s listed as Base ,)and I think his ranger parts is the small pickup .I owned a 1979 Ford 2 wheel drive listed as a Ranger .With that pickup do not pull off the side of road ,that truck would get stuck easy ,sand grass etc ,had a long bed and 351 clevland .TR

 

I’m also wondering about the parts truck. There was no Ranger package on an F-150 in ‘86. There was an actual Ranger pickup. I don’t know much about this generation but I thought the door panel shape would be similar between model years. That’s how the ‘87-91 and ‘92-96 door panels are. Pictures of the parts would be great.

In the states 351C production ended in ‘74 so did you swap that in the ‘79 or a PO? You’re sure it wasn’t a 351M?

 

Correct ,it was a 351m ,only owned that vehicle a few years before selling it .It was a two tone blue / white ,as a buddy of my had a red/white . Those trucks ad ranger badges . TR

 

I forgot my 81 F100 parts truck was a Ranger model and my truck 81 F100 a Custom.
I think when they dropped the F100, 1982?, they dropped the Ranger and maybe the Custom too?

Yea nothing like having a package called "Ranger" in the larger trucks then have a pick up model called the same.
Then go what 40 years and they start with the Ranger model pick up again.

On the dash & door panels 80 to 86 should swap out but ..........
80 & 81 door panels have sliding locks where the 82 to 86 have push / pull buttons up top.
All the dash swap but you have to look out for with AC vents and with out AC.
As far as I know they will bolt in but the duct work will not line up / swap.
You also cant take the AC HVAC box and bolt it on to a non AC firewall with out work or swapping firewalls like someone did to have factory AC

If you look at the 87> dash it "flows" into the door panels where ours make a 90* corner IIRC
Dave ----

 

Alrighty so I'm realizing now I worded what I'm having issues with poorly.

My truck is a standard 83' F-150 with a complete interior for the standard model.

I went to Pick-N-Pull just for the heck of it and found a 1986 F-150 Custom( I believe) regardless it's a higher trim model and has plastic pieces lining from the A pillar to the rear window. That my truck does not due to it being older and a lower trim model. The main issues I'm having are that the trim that goes around the seat belt mechanism and wraps around the corner of the cab doesn't quite sit right around the weather stripping of my rear window. The other issue is that my truck doesn't have the holes for the metal portions of the trim.

I very much appreciate the responses so far!!! If anyone has any pictures or ideas on how to help everything line up I appreciate it.

 

The original trim screws were self-drilling screws. I am sure the factory worker on the line just held the trim in the correct spot, and then ran the screw through the hole, and it self drilled a hole in the cab metal.

Don't expect these plastic trim pieces to be a precise fit. This was afterall, a American made truck in the 80's and 90's, their build quality was not known to be that great. You may have to fudge things to make them fit. All the cabs were the same though, I can tell you that.