My 1985 Ford F-150 is mechanically sound. I am talking about interior/exterior restoration parts. I am trying to somewhat restore my truck, but finding parts for the years 1980-1986 is a major challenge, SPECIFICALLY 1985-1986. I can find almost anything for the F-150s up to 1979. 1980-1986 pickings are slim then it picks back up for the redesign in 1987 to the present.

For example, dash pad (NOT dash cap), instrument cluster, 1985-1986 tailgate finish panel, battery tray, burlwood woodgrain steering wheel pad with cruise control, climate control panel, stock rear bumper, stock air cleaner, and the upper XLT chrome trim adhesive type that starts below the side marker light that Ford made for 1985-1986 is next to IMPOSSIBLE to find. I have Paddock, NPD, LMC Truck, BOTP, Dennis Carpenter, and the Ford dealership, but none can help. What frustrates me is that these same parts can be found for the pre 1980 models and the post 1986 models. Why is that? Is the 1980-1986 model considered the blacksheep of Ford trucks?

Another thing. My buddy has a 1981 Chevrolet truck he is restoring, and I compared his LMC Truck catalog for Chevrolet trucks versus mine for Fords. Dash pads, climate control panels, steering wheels (every year), and ANY part and ANY trim you can think of is available for the Chevy, unlike for Fords of the same years. WHY??

 

Here's my take on the situation. Nothing was real popular in the 80's, most stuff was pure junk. I think the thing the chevy's have is that there designs didn't cange much from the 70's through the 80's which makes aftermarket parts easier to supply because they can cover a larger range of model years. There are probably more later model ford parts as they figure these trucks were FI and therefore more reliable and more likely to be kept around. Thats just my theory though.

 

I agree w/ SycoStang. I have a 1985 F-350 and just bought a 1986 F-250. The battery tray for example in these years was in my opinion, poor design. UNDER the inner fender? Every time I go to the salvage yard, I pick up these parts. You can still get the battery trays, but they are way more pricey than the the newer and even older trays. I am currently moding mine to use the above inner fender mounting from a 87-91 model year. I also took the dual battery tray set up from an 87-91 Deisel and will be putting that in my 85 Camper Special. That trim (Specific to the 85-86 model year only (that (4) pices per side black moulding w/ the aluminum insert) was the ONLY adhesive type moulding for 1980-86 F-series. All of the other trim required mounts. LMC has it listed as 80-84 adhesive type moulding 4 pieces, but I am still awiating them to send a pic to verify is it should really be labeled 85-86. My basement is starting to look like a garage (that I do not have), being filled w/ all the extra 80-86 parts I can find - just as you put it, some of the fininishing items are hard to find. The tailgate finish panels are avalailable, but at $400 ! Several years of buying on eBay also helped me get some hard to find parts, but sometimes you end up paying a heck of a lot more. I finally was able to find a NOS battery isolator relay for the dual battery set up. Funny thing is, I love the 80-86 model year F-Series. I know your frustration when trying to find certain things.

 

Every item you have listed is at one time or another for sale on e-Bay at very reasonable prices. Use the e-Bay search for 1980-86 Ford Truck and you will be surprised at all the goodies for sale.

 

also check out LMC , Jcwhitney and jeffsbroncograveyard

 

another vote for www.lmctruck.com . they have alot of nice stuff for cheap

 

Try our sponsor Blue Oval Truck Parts! They have great parts for 80 -86 at not bad prices.

 

I have the latest LMC, NPD, BOTP, and Dennis Carpenter catalogs. I challenge ANY of you to point out WHERE you see these items.
They DO NOT offer the parts that I am referring to. They have pre-1979 and post 1986 parts, but NOT for the 1980-1986 Fords. I am restoring this truck to look good, therefore I am looking for NEW (factory Ford or reproduction) and they are NOT available.

I used to wonder why I never saw any of these old Fords fixed up and restored. The lack of restoration parts makes me see why. I did happen to find a burlwood steering pad with cruise control for the 1985-1986 Fords, but since it is NOT being reproduced, it fetched over $350 on ebay. On the other side of the coin, you can get a 1985 Chevrolet steering wheel cover with all of the trimmings for about $85. Climate control panel for 1985 Chevy truck - $55, climate control panel for 1985 Ford truck - not available. You have to wait to find a decent one on ebay, but then, so is everyone else and the price goes sky high. Who can afford to restore one of these Fords at prices like that, when you can get virtually ANY Chevy truck (ANY year) for less than half that amount because of the abundance of reproduction and/or aftermarket parts?

pknute, I have NEVER seen a battery tray, I have only seen ONE decent sterring wheel pad, ONE decent climate control panel, and NEVER seen any part of the XLT trim for the 1985-1986 Fords on ebay, and I have CONSTANTLY been looking for the past 3 years. I just missed a tailgate trim panel, and it went for $425, and it came at the WORST time for me to buy it.

 

!985 and 1986 are the rarest of the so called "near modern day" trucks. Almost nothing trim wise will fit from any other year. You will have better luck finding trim and parts for 1980-1984 than 85-86.

1967 to 1972 and 1973 to 1979 trucks are really popular right now for restoration. 1987 to 91 etc, are still pretty much in service so they have more support. I remember when you couldnt get any restoration parts for the 1973 to 1979 pickups at all. It's only been the last 5 years that the parts for that year range has boomed. This is where unfortunately our 1980 to 1986 trucks are at right now. Not widely in service, and not quite old enough to be popular.

The problem with those two parts listed above is that they are/or were still made avaliable by Ford. Ford usually keeps interior parts around like those until 5 or 7 years goes by from the last model that uses the part.

Since the 1999 F-600 shares the same dashpad, door panels and instrument cluster parts as the 1980 to 1986. Since Ford is/or were still makeing these parts until recently you wont find much if any aftermarket support for those items. Still too widely avaliable, etc...


This will be very hard to get as only the XLT Lariats of 1985 or 1986 had these. You will be more apt to find 1980 to 1984 XLT Lariat tailgate trim.

The battery tray will work off of the 1987-1991 trucks with very little modification. I've read this on this very site.

I've seen these at Dennis Carpenter. However I am not sure about the Burlwood Woodgrain. I think it's a different type woodgrain.

Again this is very year and A/C no A/C specific.

1980 to 1982, although the 1982 is slightly different because it has temperature written on it, it will interchange with 1980-1981.

1983-1984

1985-1986

Dont know the differences between the other years.


Try

www.blueovaltruckparts.com

They have a good selection of bumpers there. Also check the bronco graveyard.


Very year, and engine specific. Best to go and get one off of one at a wrecker. Remember to check the 1980 to 1986 E-series vans as well. They tend to share engine parts with the trucks, as well as air cleaners.

Our trucks are considered too old for modern service, and too new for restoration right now. I had the same problem with my 1973 back in the late 90's, and my 1972 as well.

Right now I would have to say yes, for parts wise. But don't worry, Every truck I have ever owned goes through this stage. I remember I couldnt find hardly squat for my 1973 . Too old for modern work, too new for restoration.

Chevy seems more popular brand for restoration than Ford. Why I think that is is because there is more demand for the chevy parts than there are for the Ford parts.

Perhaps it's because Chevy trucks need more restoration support because they seem to fall to bits more often than Ford. Most Ford trucks are better built so they require less part support? Sound good?

But seriously I think it's because the Chevy trucks share more parts with each other than our Fords do. Most parts for the Chevy Truck interchange 1972 to 1987-90 etc. That is almost 30 years of part sharing. 1972 is old enough for restoration. 1990 is still new enough for service. The 1981 chevy falls inbetween in the same too old, and too new catagory. However since most parts interchange with the restoration, and modern service side of things it has very good support of parts.

Our 1980 to 1986 Ford pickups for interior parts was pretty well supported too until quite recently cause of the 1999 F-600, although you have to dye to color match.

Things will improve with parts avaliability though. It did with the 1973 to 1979, it will for the 1980 to 1986. It's just we are right on the hump so to speak. I say in another 5 to 7 years you will see a big improvement. Hell of a long time to wait I know.

 

dude, i just ordered one of their free catalogs. it says on the cover "your catalog of parts and accessories for ford truck, 1/2, 3/4 ton 1980-96, 2006 fall edition, FD.8"

its got everything youre looking for. they even have scanned images of the catalogs on their website.

try again man its all there

 

Dude, read my ENTIRE post. I don't care what the cover of the catalog says. My LMC catalog says "Parts and Accesories for 1980-1996 Ford" parts also. What I am saying is, a whole lot of the interior parts and exterior trim parts are NOT AVAILABLE. Of course they offer SOME, maybe even most. The ones that I really NEED to complete my restoration are not being made. For example, on page 10 of LMC Truck, there is a column called "KEY INFORMATION." It talks about how Ford trucks changed over the years. They specifically state: "Basic styling was unchanged for 1985, although optional bodyside moldings now started below the front sidemarker lights." BUT THEY DO NOT OFFER THIS PARTICULAR MOLDING. Just like all the other items I have mentioned at the BEGINNING of the post, they are not being made. Again, if any of the parts I mentioned at the beginning of this post is available, I challenge you to show me.

81-F-150-Explorer, what you say makes a lot of sense, and it makes me feel better about the whole situation. I see your point. I LOVE my 1985; it was my father's old truck and I could not bear to part with it. I have come a long way into making this truck beautiful again, but the stock trim parts are next to impossible to get. Eveyone is restoring old Chevy's. I want to be different and restore an old Ford pickup, and how many nice ones do you see from 1980-1986? I guess I have to just sit and wait...

 

Lariat 85, I understand where your coming from very clearly. I have an 86 F250 4x4. I'm doing like you tring to restore it alittle. I also have all those catalogs and I can't find what I want either. Not to mention alot of that stuff is really pricey. What I'm doing is living around the local wrecking yard a few days a week. The owner knows I'm looking for 80s Ford truck stuff, and so are others. I need cruise switches. Can buy 87-up from Ford but nobody sells them in any sort of way. Finally I found a good set at the yard. Same with the plastic dash face. THE YARD.
So I understand too well what your saying. I live in a town that for years Ford & Dodge where the only dealerships in the county. If you wanted a GM you had to go to Twin Falls, Reno, or Salt Lake City all 200-300 miles away. My point there are tons of 80s Fords still running around here. When one makes it to the YARD it's like a feeding frenzy.

 

hmm mabe i should keep my 85 cab around for a while was goin to just scap it. i also found an 86 in a yard last friday and it didnt look that bad. the one im fixin to scrap has woodgrain dash wheel and a tach

 

I am putting together a Visual Guide for 8086 Ford Trucks. I hope to have it completely finished by the end of the year. I created a tech album w/ many pics of the various trims / options /etc. Hope to may be have the Admin give me the OK to make it available for all FTE members:

Here is a pic of the body trim in question:


Here is a pic of the Climate Controls in question:


Here are some pic of some, not all, of the horn pads:


Here are some of the interior trim styles:

 

Some additional pics:

85-86 XLT Trim panel:


80-84 XLT Trim panel: