Will 73-79 F150 (8' bed) doors and tailgate fit an 1986 F150 (8' bed)?

Thank you,

 

A guy I used to work with was always swapping stuff around, and he said the 80-up stuff would not fit because the 80-up frame was wider.

 

The 1973-1979 bed will fit the frame if it's a standard bed, and not a super camper special bed, or a F-350 Trailer special etc.... You may or may not need to drill new holes in the bed floor. Tailgate will also fit with a lot of modification. The inner bed walls and floor didn't change 1973-1996. Regular beds to regular beds etc...

It looks like hell though with the wrong bedsides, and 1980-1986 / 1987-1996 beds are comon and a much better swap.

 

That's correct!

 

Doors will not fit. Tailgate can be made to fit, will look like crap.

 

It is, but as I said the floor of the bed can be drilled, and things can be made to work. I've seen it done, and I'll state again, it looks like hell.

 

I don't disbelieve you, anything can be made to work if you're keen enough, and I'm sure it does look like hell!