1990 F150 4x4 Automatic to Manual conversion
 

Hey fellas,
How similar is the cab/dash setup between the 80-86 and 87-91 and 92-96 styles?
I'm considering my options for a truck. I'd like to have a manual 4x4 rig.
I'm finding many Automatic trucks that are in great shape, but I'm not thrilled about having an automatic transmission.
I can either wait it out to find a manual transmission 4x4 or find a nice Auto 4x4 and convert over to manual.
I have 2 pedal assemblies out of 85 F350's. Does anyone know if the assembly would fit an 87-91 truck? Or should I get a clutch/brake pedal assembly from an 87-91 at the junkyard?
Cutting the cab floor is a non-issue as I have 2 spare manual transmission floor plates to use as templates.
The steering column...I could just cut the AT shifter off, but I think I'd rather swap in a manual trans column. I have 2 from 85 F350's...would they work?
Also, off topic...but I think I'll install an 80-86 style front clip...just to match my work truck. Anything I should be aware of?

I think I'm looking for an 87-91 F150 regular cab long bed 4x4. I have a 352 FE I'd like to install into it, with a T19/BW1356 combo.
Don't flame me too much for an old/out dated engine in a newer truck...it's a 3 year old reman with 16k miles on it. Right now it's doing nothing but sitting in a truck that's broke. lol

After thinking pretty hard about this, I'd be miles ahead by just finding a truck with a manual transmission already in it.
No need to try and mount pedals, clutch master cylinder on the firewall, cutting the floorboards, etc.
For my truck, I'd find an F150 4x4 with a manual transmission with either the 300, 302, or 351. Ditch the engine/transmission and mount my FE and T19/BW1356 combo in and call it done.

Out here in the west - I can and have run circles around manuals with a automatic, both on and off road.

I would not be so sure about dismissing a automatic - and your left knee joint and right houlder will thank you!

Good luck which ever way you go.

David

Well the biggest reason for the manual is that I'd like to re-cycle this 1965 352 FE back into service, but into a nicer riding truck. So the trouble would be finding an FE specific C6 and then swapping tail shafts and possibly tail housings with a C6 4x4 so I can mate a transfer case.
Currently, I have an FE bellhousing so this route is alreay halfway paved for me.
Thanks for your insight on the automatic though! If I could easily find an FE-specific C6 dirt cheap, I'd stay with an auto for this nicer F150 rig.
There's something nice about the soft coil spring suspension of an F150 versus the solid I-Beam leaf-sprung axle with manual steering and manual 4-way drums of a '65 F350! For that matter, even nicer than my 85 F350 work truck.