Howdy folks. I found this site as I was searching for info on my latest acquisition. A couple weeks ago I picked up a 2wd 1980 F100 shortbed stepside with the 300 six. The previous owner was going to donate it to a charity, and with my friend's help he donated it to me instead. The PO's son drove it mostly so it is kinda worn out, but for the price I can't complain...I should be able to fix all tht is wrong with it myself. The cab corners are rusted out (the only cancer I've found so far), the passenger side door and front fender are a little dented, and the driver side rear corner of the bed is really low. Overall the body is not bad. The steering is kinda messed up, it shoud get a new clutch, and the brakes are really soft, but the engine runs pretty good. I was hoping to have a pic, but it's under snow right now.

My biggest concern is the steering/front suspension. It's acting like the steering box is bad. There's some popping noises when I turn right (can't remember if there's noises when I turn left) and it wants to wander a little bit while driving down the road. I was wondering, how much of a PITA is it to rebuild the front suspension? Is it possible to rebuild the steering box too?

Most of my experience with trucks has been with a 71 chevy (engine rebuild) and a 85 Suburban Diesel (did an engine swap & replaced the 700R4 with an SM-465)....I'm not familiar with Fords at all.

My plan is to fix it up a bit and get it reliable enough to use it as a daily driver. Thanks!!!

 

Welcome.

It's not hard to rebuild the front end. I think the 80 has cast I beams and kinkpins rather then balljoints. I'm not familure with redoing kingpins but the inner and outer tierods are pretty easy. Just remember to measure them before you take them off so you can set the new ones close. There are pivot busings that you can change too and if you're going to do that you should also do the radius arm bushings too. Search the site, I'm sure someone has posted info.

As for the steering box, there are special tools to rebuild them right, so I would just buy a rebuilt one from the parts store.

Good luck, and in the future if you post in your heading something like "80 F100 front end help" you'll likely get more / quicker responses.

Good luck.

 

Agree, I would start with the tie rods and drag links.

Most trucks I have worked on have the front linkage all shot to heck. I would save the kingpin/ball joints for next to last and the gear box for dead last since those fail the least. The tie rods and drag links are also much easier to change. The ball joints/kingpins will most likely be rusted in and a pain to get out.

Good Luck,

Lee

 

Yep, I agree start with the easy parts first. I have an '80 F150, I-6 which I have owned for the past 17 years and have the same problems. The bed is mounted on wooden spacer blocks. The blocks are probably rotted or gone and need to be replaced. On the bright side, the truck may look like crap but will run for ever. I have over 400K on mine. If you are handy with a wallet you can rebuilt it. Good luck.

1980 F-150, S/S, S/B 300 I-6

 

Check to make sure that the mounting bolts for the steering box are tight.

Leo

 

Welcome to the FTE and congratuations on your not purchase.

 

Thanks for the advise. I had to move it around a bit today, and I'm pretty sure the steering box is good. I'll have it in my shop in a few weeks. Right now I need something that gets better mileage than my diesel suburban so I am going to fix up another truck I acquired. I wil be working on a little 83 Mazda B2000. Of the 2 trucks (the F-100 and the B2000) I'm pretty sure the mazda needs less work to get going. Thanks again!!!

 

Check the rag joint which is located just up from the steering box. It is a rubber connection between the box and the steering column. The rubber disc that looks like it was made out of a tire goes bad and causes play. I haven't owned an 80, but it probably has one.

 

Thanks!!! I will keep that in mind. I know it makes noises when it goes over bumps with the wheels turned. I plan on going thru it completely, a teenager drove it last so I'm sure everything on the front end will need to be looked at. So far I've found the front end really needs work, and I may have to dive in to the tranny. The shifter is really loose. Not a big deal to me, I've done quite a bit working on my chevy trucks....just have to get the mazda reliable first and then I will focus on the F-100.

 

The slop in the shifter is probably a problem with the shifting tower. Being loose, worn out, busted springs, etc... This is a quite comon problem in this year range. I've seen more than two to three inches of slop on these. Even my 1981 has a good inch. I live with it.

As for the front end, you have to find out if you have Ball Joints or Kingpins.

I'm pretty certain that the F-100 only had ball joints at this time, but make sure.


And yes the steering has a rag joint.

hope this helps.