On another note. I've been selling parts off my 86 F150 stepside and not selling very many. I have to get rid of the truck this week and hate to see good parts get scrapped. But I don't want to keep any parts off this truck, but it still has many good and brand new things on it. Just curious what would be worth saving and trying to sell. I was thinking the tilt and cruise steering column and wheel, the tailgate, the sliding rear window, and the rear fiberglass fenders, and maybe the front plastic work as none of it is broken. Just curious on your opinions.

 

what's wrong w/ the truck again????

 

I had the truck for about 3 years and at least once a week something was breaking on it. So I finally gave up. I finally got everything to work properly and then tried to sell it. No dice no one wanted the truck, and spending tons of money on it I know I will be out. Now I'm hurting for money real bad and no one wanted the truck so I figured it was worth more as parts, and I'm selling off the parts and I want it gone by the end of this week. If I don't put a date on it, it will sit in my yard forever

 

Might see if one of your friends could try and sell it for you, and maybe give them a cut of the money if they can get it sold. To make it worth their time, ya know.

Maybe there's a way to make the truck pay for itself? Like use it to move stuff for a fee?

Then again I doubt you'll like that idea...I know I hate it when people try to make more work for me to do...lol

 

Thing is between all my friends I'm the car expert. I know a few guys that work on cars, but I know way more then they do. If I have issues with stuff I don't really have anyone to ask. The truck is in pieces now anyway and is not at all driveable. The more I take apart on it the more I wish I had the money to do a 460 swap, it's in way way better shape then I had thought. Oh well, it has not been a good year for Ford trucks around me, scrapped a 68, 73, 79 and now the 86. and scrapped a 69 Galaxie. It sucks being broke, I really wish I could save them cars from getting crushed.

I rent out my Van and sometimes my services for moving stuff and hauling trailers. I really wish I had a pickup to use though, I'm messing up the interior in my van, despite my best efforts not to. I've been doing all kinds of odd jobs this summer for other people and can't get anyone to help me with my projects, so I'm not getting done what I need to as I just need help. Sometimes stuff is just frusterating.

I have two degrees and lots of manufacturing experience and I've been unemployed for about 2 years. I've failed a couple of self employment business's. Just work for cash at odd jobs, does not pay the bills, but keeps me afloat. That and selling off and scraping things I don't want to to make more cash as well. I guess my years of collecting thousands of parts is finally paying off

Ok I'm rambling again.

 

I know the feeling, seems like no sooner than you get one thing paid, something else jumps up. I still haven't been able to do my front brakes and wheel bearings because of this. Who knows, I might could get 14mpg with new bearings (I get 12 now with ones that are dragging quite badly).

That's what gets me nowadays, people are so quick to say they want to quit their job. They don't stop to think about how scarce jobs are, they assume they can just get one at a moment's notice.

 

Ya that gets frusterating, you know how to fix your vehicle and what is wrong and you just can't come up with the money to fix it, but you have to drive it. Been there more then once.

In my defense I've never quit a single job, except my first one to go into the army. Other then that I've been fired from every job, yaaaa unemployment checks.

Well here are a couple pics of the final ride of my 86 F150

 

What a shame...you said it's going to the crusher? Or just the junkyard?

And yea. At least these old trucks are made well enough that they can handle going without having some stuff fixed right away. Though I just hope my bad bearings aren't tearing up my spindles. :\

 

It went to the crusher, got to watch them smash it. Sad to see, kinda nice though I got my asking price and then some for the rolling chassis out of what was left in scrap. Only 4000 pounds this time, last time I tipped just over that. Today was not as good though, radiator popped, so now my van's antifreeze will have to be watched closely. Got the money now, but didn't plan on spending all of it on a radiator dammit. I don't think I will be able to save enough money to buy another Ford truck, guess it will have to wait, gotta keep at least 2 cars going. At least I get to drive my Falcon everywhere, but won't be able to when the snow flies.

The place I took it to does both junkers and crushing, but my truck was so stripped down they didn't think anything on it was worth anything. Got a couple of carbs out of their junkyard lot, and nice cushy seats for my brothers van. So many good 80-86 Ford truck parts there.

 

Despite my best efforts I just could not scrap some of the good parts, so hopefully someone will get use out of them. I could not get the rear fenders off, but I'm guessing they aren't worth anything. One thing I'm having a hard time deciding whether to sell or not is my tach dash. Someday I would like to have another 80-86 Ford truck and that dash would be awesome to have. I also am hurting for money and if I can sell it would help me out. Wonder how rare the factory tach dashes are? I've even gotten to the point of selling off some of my FE stuff, I thought I'd never see that day.

It kinda stinks being too awesome to get a job

 

I've read here and there about how non-AC 80-86 trucks were equipped with kick-panel vents...and how on the AC-equipped models, they had block-off plates over the cutouts.

Today I removed the plates and cleaned what might have been 29 years of leaves and junk....what a difference!! Just driving 30mph, tons of air came rushing through the openings (which are unrestricted currently, I don't have the proper covers for them yet), and the air temperature in the cab dropped quite a bit. I've heard people say they've had 20 degree drops...I don't think mine was quite that significant, but it's still a huge improvement.

Once I get a sliding rear window, I won't even need AC! lolol

 

That's a very common problem,especially when trucks sit under trees.It's also why some people swap to the 87-91 cowl panel,which has pinholes instead of slots.The newer panel does a better job of keeping the leaves out.

The kick panel vents are great.I've seen some guys with A/C put them in to increase airflow into the cab.

Here's the only picture I have of mine.

 

once my cowl panel took in so much mud that the windsheild wipers were jammed up for a while. it took so much amperage to make the wipers work that I would blow fuses every time I turned them on for a while until repeated cowl hosings ungummed the wipers....

 

I have a sliding rear window for sale

From what I can tell there should be no reason you can't bolt a kick panel vent onto the trucks with the just the covers. You could most likely run without the covers as well, just remember to bolt them back on before winter It's always fun cleaning out the vents and seeing what small woodland creatures come running out.

 

Them vented kick panels are a bit hard to find ...

-Enjoy
fh : )_~