Hi Folks,
Finally... After a year of owning it we finally got that '83 F-150 in the shop to strip for the drive train. My wife is almost friendly again since she doesn't have to see it in the back yard.

My son has come up from Atlanta to spend a week helping me strip donors. The more we stripped of this old rust bucket the more we marveled at how this thing was so heavy duty for a half ton. It must have been a heavy duty version. With the exception of the five lug wheels the thing looks as heavy built as any 3/4 ton. I plan on using the 351-W with the manual 4sp. tranny and transfer case, I have no idea what tranny or transfer case it is but it all looks like the stuff you would find in a one ton. It's all iron and cast steel, no aluminum. I can tell it's all factory stuff just by how things look and the fact that it has never been taken apart. It's too bad the rust bugs got this one because it is a beast for a half ton.

After getting what I want out of it there won't be much to sell or trade. Most of it is going to the scrap yard. It seems like a waste to junk the front and rear diffs and axels but I don't know where I'd keep it all. the frame isn't bad either but the rear spring hangers are rusted pretty bad.

We put the rusty bed on a trailer and we are loading stuff into it as we go. The cab section is probably salvageable and could be saved. One thing that amazed me was the radiator support. It is very good shape and I expected it to be bad after seeing the rest of the rust.

If any of you folks are looking for something from this '83 let me know soon because the bulk of the stuff is going to the scrap yard probably by Thursday at the latest. If you want any of the widow glass or the back slider come and get it. It's free for the taking if you remove it.

Later Folks...

 

Dave and Sons auto stripping..LOL
Just the way I like to bond......lol
I hope you didn't get 3'' of snow ....like we did!!! LOL
Bill

 

Hi Bill,
No, we got maybe an inch but it melted. CLICK HERE to see what we're up to.

Later Man...

 

Dave where is the wiper switch on the 83? and does it have intermittent wipers on it? Also could you measure the width of the Explorer rear end A guy at work says there 61 inches wide I thought there narrower then that.
Thanks Brian

 

Hi Brian,
I'll have to look at it today but I believe it's on the dash and I'll have to check about intermittent but I sort of doubt it. I know the dimmer swetch is on the floor so I suspect the turn signal is the only thing on the column. I will also chech the rear end on the Explorer. I do know they work out well for use on the old '53 to '56 F-100s. I'll get back to you on all this tonight.

Later Man...

 

Hi Again Brian,
The wipers control on the '83 is on the dash and it does have the intermittant feature. I haven't measured the Explorer rear end yet. Where did you want to measure it? Back plate to back plate???

Later Man...

 

front of hub to front of hub.What do you want for the switch black box and wiper motor.Do you know about how much to ship it?
thanks Brian

 

How about $25.00 for the parts and probably $10.00 or less to ship UPS. Pay for the shippin g and if the stuff works then you can pay me for the parts. If not, don't pay. is that OK?

Later Man...

 

Dave could you find out shipping costs and i'll mail you a check and you could send it out.Or i mail you a check for 35.00 either ways good for me.
thanks Brian

 

I'll have to get it out and weigh and box it but I still think it's less than ten bucks. It might be a few days befor I get it out.

The Explorer rear is 60" from hub to hub.

Later Man...

 

thats fine no hurry on the parts

 

Dave was looking on Fordifcation that is a plug and go swap except for the squirter wire has to be altered its lt.green on one of the harnesses.

 

OK Brian,
I'll box the stuff up today and send it to you.

Later Man...

 

Thanks Dave could you send me your address so I can get a check out to you.

 

Don't bother with it until you are sure the stuff will work for you. I can't vouch for the operation or quality as I never tried the wipers before we stripped the truck.

Later Man...