went to pick up my new cab yesterday, which was suppose to be off a '85 and the guy askes me if i wanted the interior, so i went to look at it. the stuff was from a '87 - '91 f series so i asked him about it and turns out the cab is a '87 not a '85. after looking it over some more i decided to still get it(can't beat $50 bucks). i asked if he wanted anything for the interior and he said no and that if i didn't want he was just going to burn it. well, i got 99% percent of it, everything from carpet to the dash and door panels, all of it was in great shape.
now i'm really excited because this stuff is worth way over $50. when i got it home i put it next to the truck i am working on and compared the body lines and they seem identical. so other than than the wheel arches does anyone know whats different between the cabs and why i couldn't use it and the interior. wouldn't that be cool a '87 interior in my '80 f-250. i know i will have some issues with wiring the gauges into my exsisting wiring harness but what else might i expect to have troubles with. i am going to use the heating air box plenum from the '87 because i still have everything for it except what is under the hood. on a side note, the truck had ac and i don't want to use that so is there any difference in the heating air box plenum between ac and non ac. also, i didn't get the steering column so can i use my column out of my '80 or do i have to get one out of a '87 - '91 and if i have to do that will i have any issues with the steering shaft and/or steering box.

FORDS_FOR LIFE

 

I believe that you will need a steering shaft out of a 87-91. Also the wiring between cabs is going to be sifferent, but you can transfer the wiring from your 80 cab to the 87 cab.

 

ya i know i have to use my wiring harness out of my 1980 f-250 or i might make my own. steering shafts are different, alright i can handle that. is there anything else im not thinking of. what about steering columns, will the older syle column bolt up to the support in the newer style dash. is the hole in the firewall the same where the column goes through. anything?

FORDS_FORLIFE

 

You will have to check, but i'm pretty sure that they columns themselves are different, because i think that the newer colums are located higher up in the dash then the older ones, but from there the colums i thnk are the same. But to make sure it wouldn't hurt to try the old colum when you do the swap, and if it doesn;t work you can always go and grab the right column cause there are lots of those truck around.

 

alright, i didn't even think to do that, thanks

FORDS_FORLIFE

 

Do the 86 front fenders and hood mate with the 87 cab?
Just thought I would throw that in just in case?
Steve

 

ya ive at the mounting points on the cabs and they look the same

FORDS_FORLIFE