I'll second that!

-Enjoy
fh : )_~

 

I did my body swap because I liked the 92-96 body, but hated the electronic crap that came with it. Every time I see a clean 80-86 though, I miss the old body. If it weren't for my totally sweet train slaying bumper, I'd probably switch back.

 

Ok just cool down a little bit. I was asking a question beacuse I like the dash more than the one I have in my truck. Just because you may not like it doesn't mean you have to be an *** about it. I like the my body style better than the 92-96, but I don't like the interior as much. I do understand that this is a forum and when you post things you can get all opinions good or bad, but I never gave anyone attitude, so I don't expect any back.

With what you guys have said and the more that I think about it now it seams it would not look right and it would be more hassle than it is worth. So thanks for the help......

 

I don't see anything from anyone that appeared like that.

Just opinions.

I think you are taking people opinions wrong, some are just adamant about it, It is a difficult task at best and ultimately doesn't fit the look of the rest of the truck.

Have a nice day!

-Enjoy
fh : )_~

 

dont let stosh bother you he can be a pretty good guy and is pretty helpful when he wants to be, he's just a grumpy ******* at all the other times

 

Its cool, I have seen his posts and he seams to know his stuff pretty well. I just didn't think I was going to get flamed like that.....

 

Just to let you know, I looked into the swap also but quit soon after finding out I would have to get the interior door panels to match the dash to avoid the large gaps. Then I realized I would then have to get new doors with the smaller vent windows to mount the door panels to so I would still have use of my vent window. Thats when I decided to keep what I had and work with it.

 

I wasn't flaming anyone. I was just expressing my opinion.

It kills me when I see people hacking up their trucks like that. I personally don't see any sane reason to buy an 80/86 truck and then change everything over on it to make it look like a newer truck.

Like I said before: if you really like the look or style of a later model truck then buy one. They are a dime a dozen and everyone and their brother has one. I happen to like the look of the 80/86 the best (except for 77/79 with round headlights - but they are very hard to find in good shape and tend to be very pricey if so).

I try very hard to keep my truck period correct and it may not be everyone's choice but that's the way I roll. Granted not everything on my truck is period correct (such as my doors and mirrors) but they don't look too out of place and it is only temporary until I can find a good set of 80/86 doors to replace them with. Sometimes you have to use later model parts but it's by necessity not choice.

And before anyone tries to say something about my Flareside Rat Rod, even though there will be tons of later model and even foreign parts on it (such as the seats) everything will LOOK like it belongs there and compliment the lines of the truck.

 

Ok lets get something straight I do not do hack work. When I do something it is clean and looks profesional, because I take pride in my work and feel it is a direct reflection on myself. I dont want to change anything BUT my interior. I am not going to start a pissing match on about some interior swap. I have been looking on here for quite awhile and havent come accross any threads pertaining to this subject. This isn't another manual to automatic thread, or what do I need to swap a 302 into my truck thread. I am not a noob to vehicle nor to forums. I asked a simple question and you gave me flack about it, I am repsonding. I am not going to flame you for your truck because you work hard to make it what it is/will be. Hey I might not like somethings on your truck, but that doesnt mean I am going to blast you for it. If everyone liked the same thing in the automotive area there would be no originalilty.

There I have said my peace, if you chose to respond your welcome to, but I am not going to continue to beat a dead horse.

 

Well, what did you expect to hear, Big Ben?

This is a forum for 1980-1986 Ford F-Series trucks. The people that frequent these forums, including myself, LOVE this generation of trucks. There is NO WAY you are going to get many positive responses that is in favor of changing our beloved generation of trucks into the more rounded and modern look of the 1992-1996 F-Series. It is an insult to me and everyone else who owns the 1980-1986 AND the 1992-1996 F-Series Ford trucks to ask a question like that.

Like Stosh said, the 1992-1996 generation are a dime a dozen, and everyone and their mother-in-law has one. If you try and change the whole interior over to the newer model, it is hacked. I don't care how "professional" it looks; it will never look right with the overall look of the 1980-1986 styling. It would be FOOLISH to make your truck something that is simply isn't, or will ever be. Why don't you do us all a favor and just sell the truck you have now to someone who actually cherishes this generation and simply buy a newer model that already has what you want on it?

At the end of the day, it is YOUR truck. Do whatever you think and makes you happy. Just don't expect a pat on the back from the guys here who cherish the best looking truck ever made: the 1980-1986 Ford F-Series!

 

Wow. I'm speechless.

Someone actually agreed with me ....... for once.

I'm feeling all warm and tingly inside.

 

Bottom line,Stosh can be an ***,we all love our 80-86 trucks,92-96's are a dime a dozen,and Big Ben,it's YOUR truck,so feel free to do whatever.

I will agree that there are more 9th gens than 7th gens,however,I wouldn't get mad at the people who are slightly altering our trucks with parts from a same period(80-96) truck.The ones that ya'll need to get mad at are the guys who waste perfectly good trucks and use them as lawn ornaments.At least each and every one of us on this forum that have ever asked a tech question can lay in bed at night knowing that all our trucks are at least getting some kind of attention.Think of all the abandoned,junked,and crushed Ford trucks that have been taken off this earth without getting a second chance.

 

Ok time to chime in here...

I agree with everyone's opinions on this. In my own opinion its your truck you can do whatever you want no matter anyone's opinions, remember there just opinions. Look at my truck the title shows an 85, but I have a 94 clip and 87 bed. I know its hacked"Custom" Its my truck I am making it the way I want it, I know many will not like it but it don't matter because its my truck. Hacking together does drop the value a lot. I also think that if your building a daily/working truck do whatever, but if your restoring it or what not you need to be using all original equipment from the year your truck is.

As for the Interior question you originally asked, it is possible but you will be doing a lot of fabbing and cutting and splicing wiring, so it really wouldn't be worth your time and effort, but if you insist do it, the biggest problem will be the wiring. I at one time was going to swap to a 87 dash but decided not to with all the work involved..

Just remember its YOUR truck.....

 

Wow, stosh has a new best friend. My truck just became a lawn ornament 4 days ago...hopefully wont last long though.

I totally got your username wrong ryan, hadn't seen you in a while and forgot how it went.

 

I haven't seen it done on a 80-86 body style rig, but I have seen a 95 interior put into a 87. I know from experience that the 80s dash assembly can be removed from the truck almost entirely as one piece. If the same can be done with a 92-96 dash you could simply use trial and error and trim the dash assembly to fit a little at a time. If you're competent in this area I'm sure you could fix any rough edges with fiberglass or interior filler compound, with a little sanding, and possibly some paint you can make anything look like it belongs.

You didn't mention if your 83 has power windows or locks? The wiring in base model trucks from this generation is very simple, in fact its quite primitive. I rewired the interior of my 82 with nothing more then a test light and a Chiltons manual.

Does your 83 have air condition? As far as I know the climate control system on all 92-96 trucks is vacuum actuated. Some, if not all, of non-airconditioned 80-86s use a cable operated climate control system. If your truck uses a cable operated system then you'd probably also wanna grab the behind the dash vacuum harness off the 94. If you get all the pieces it should not be to hard to connect it to a vacuum source on your engine.

As for the gauges and their wiring you could always go aftermarket. An aftermarket cable driven speedometer would be alot easier to hook up then trying to get the 94's electric speedo to work. Sure it wouldn't be original ford parts and that's a cardinal sin around these parts don't ya know