Yeah, between 1982 and 1986 cosmetically I don't think anything at all changed about these trucks. Maybe a different option here or there, but when it came down to it they were all the same.

I also seem to recall hearing the 351W wasn't in trucks in 1980-82. It makes sense since they already had the M in there, why have two 351's?

EDIT: well, looking at a 1980 Ford service manual it has a VIN code of W for the 351M but no VIN code for a 351W. It doesn't flat out say it wasn't offered, but i'd call that a pretty good indication.

Justin

 

The '82 I just bought for parts has a vin code "G" for the engine - 351W. Sadly, I think somehwere along the line someone replaced it with a 302. Is there any way I can tell for sure?

 

in my opinion, this needs to become a sticky MODS, just to say the 80 150 HAD THE CHEESE FRAME, mine does, dont know bout yours, but i think im going to box it and fill the holes in before long, anyways this needs to become a sticky.


Taylor

 

There is nothing wrong with your frame. I never had any trouble with mine, and I did not baby it. There are lots of these frames running around with no problems. The only problem I have heard is they do not hold up well in a t-bone accident situation. People get all worried about the holes, but the frame is strong enough for a 1/2 ton pickup.

 

1980 Service Manuals are usually printed in the previous year. Sometimes they are reprinted, but by late 1980, that's it. Service manuals, especially the first printing may have missing info. The VIN code for 351W's for instance.

Parts catalogs are printed twice a year, and usually have long runs. For example the 1980/89 parts catalog I'm using is the last printing: July 1994.

G = 1980/85 351W

The parts catalog lists parts that are 351W specific to Bronco's (U150) and F150/350's, as opposed to 351W parts used in Econolines. I could list several pages of specific parts for 1980 and later F150/350's & U150's.

 

I have a '80 F250 4x4 351m, and the frame on mine is full of holes. I have been told by other posts that the holes do not weaken the frame structurally though, that it is just as strong as the solid type just lighter. Also I work at a parts retailer and can find no reference to any 351 windsor in 1980 only the 351 modified.

 

No ref for a 351W in 1980? Is that for F Series trucks and Econolines, or just the trucks?

It was used in Econolines for sure. The 351W was introduced in Econolines in 1975, and there's the G engine code (351W) listed in the 1980/89 parts catalog for 1980 and later. So...

 

Allright, 82 service manual has a reference to a 351W with a VIN code W and no reference to the 351M at all (but yes for the 400), but 81 manual has no reference to the 351W in trucks. Yes for vans, not for f-series.

Justin

 

I'm gonna quit arguing, but I know for certain that 351W's were used in 1981 F Series trucks, and there's a few refs for the engine in 1980's F Series.

Since y'all own one of these 1980's trucks, you can buy the parts catalog on a CD = hipoparts.com

Buy the CD, notice the 1000's of refs for 351W's used in F Series trucks. Note the years they were used.

Yes, Franklin2, parts catalogs aren't perfect, but when you see page after page of chassis and body parts refering to 351W's in F Series...

 

I hadnt checked in econolines. I will check next time I'm at work, but I believe you numberdummy. I had only checked F series.

 

My 82 F250 300 - 6 has the Ford Bleu Oval but interesting stuff...

 

80 and 81 had the egg crate grille, with FORD in letters on the hood, 82 was the year they switched to the blue oval, not 83(personal experience, and brochures back this up.) I know I have at least one grille with an E2 engineering number on it, haven't looked at any of the others latley. The 80-81 Grilles are hard to come by, and the re-pops, last I looked are all made on original tooling, so while you can pick up an 82-86 grille on e-bay for say $60 in chrome, be prepared to pay $150+ for an 80-81 unit from Dennis Carpenter or the likes.
1980 had clear signal lights, and mine had single key locking to boot, don't know the details on that one, truck was totally bare bones, F100, 300, 3 on the tree, manual brakes + steering, radio delete. It did start life as a Gulf oil fleet vehicle though, doors and ignition were keyed to the ignition key.

As for the swiss cheese frames, I have seen a F250 with one, and a couple broncos, so, it definitely wasn't F100 only. The 255 and 3.8 were however...
The small bolt pattern and lighter duty components seem to have only been found on power brake equipped F100's for the most part, all three of mine(80, 81 and 82) were manual brake equipped, and all sported standard brakes and 5x5.5 bolt pattern. If you delve into the search, we did go through this quite a while back and came to the conclusion that for the most part, 80-82 power brake trucks were the 5x4.5 bolt pattern, and most all of the 83 F100's were 5x5.5.

As for 351W availability, it definitely became available in vans in the late 70's, and I have seen reference to 81's with them, but, I have never seen earlier than an 82 with one, everything earlier that was a factory 351 CI engine was M powered.
After 11 years of ownership of my 82 F100(460 powered F250 since the chassis change... LOL) and another 7 80-86's in that time, I've learned to take those parts catalogs with a very large grain of salt. Just because the parts may have been available doesn't mean Ford actually used them, especially concerning 80 and 81 stuff.

 

I was all set to argue, then I looked in the 1980/89 parts catalog. Uh oh.

You are absolutely right...it was the Econolines, Bronco II's and Rangers that went to the Blue Oval grille emblem in 1983, not the F Series.

I relied on memory and shoulda looked in the parts catalog in the first place before shooting off my big yap!

My apololgies.

Econolines: 351W first offered in 1975 E150/350's, the only other V8 offered then was the 460. In 1979, the 302 was offered for the first time since 1974, the 351W/460's continued. 1979 saw the re-introduction of the E100, also absent since 1974. 351M/400's were offered 1980/82, as was the 351W.