Need East Texas Garage Fixing Bullnose F150s
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4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2026
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Need East Texas Garage Fixing Bullnose F150s
Recently bought 1983 F150 four speed manual.
Looking for garages in East Texas (preferably close to Tyler) area specializing in Bullnose F150 to checkout entire engine and engine compartment, and let me know what might need to be fixed.
Not looking to restomod.
Thanks!
Looking for garages in East Texas (preferably close to Tyler) area specializing in Bullnose F150 to checkout entire engine and engine compartment, and let me know what might need to be fixed.
Not looking to restomod.
Thanks!
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,938
Likes: 4,124
From: Angier, NC
Welcome to FTE
Does the truck run and drive now or it been sitting for a time? What do you know or think needs repairing?
Do you have time, little skill, tools and a place to do work? If so you might want to try and do some repairs yourself as it will save a lot of money.
Down lower on the page you should find an area that list your state. I dont know how much traffic it gets but you may want to join and ask the question there.
The other thing that may work out better for you as you are looking for someone in your area is hit some of the cruise in's, Cars & Coffee and car shows and ask some of the owners where they get their cars / trucks fixed.
I belong to a local car club and we have 2 or 3 shops that will work on older cars & trucks and they dont have to be show cars / trucks either.
So you may find a shop that way.
But if you are willing to give it a try to do small repairs we can walk you through it most of the time.
Dave ----
Does the truck run and drive now or it been sitting for a time? What do you know or think needs repairing?
Do you have time, little skill, tools and a place to do work? If so you might want to try and do some repairs yourself as it will save a lot of money.
Down lower on the page you should find an area that list your state. I dont know how much traffic it gets but you may want to join and ask the question there.
The other thing that may work out better for you as you are looking for someone in your area is hit some of the cruise in's, Cars & Coffee and car shows and ask some of the owners where they get their cars / trucks fixed.
I belong to a local car club and we have 2 or 3 shops that will work on older cars & trucks and they dont have to be show cars / trucks either.
So you may find a shop that way.
But if you are willing to give it a try to do small repairs we can walk you through it most of the time.
Dave ----
Thread Starter
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4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2026
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Thanks for the advice!
It runs OK, and I've taken it on short trips around town.
I am not mechanical or skilled, unfortunately, so working on the engine/electrical is out for me.
I can't identify anything not working in the engine compartment but guessing the electrical connections should be replaced and the engine checked to make sure is running as well as a 43 year old inline 6 can w/o big money expenditures.
I've had the carb replaced with a rebuilt one, rear brakes fixed and a leaking engine seal replaced so far by a local mechanic. He's not a Bullnose specialist and does not seem eager to do the "check it out and fix it" work I need done.
It runs OK, and I've taken it on short trips around town.
I am not mechanical or skilled, unfortunately, so working on the engine/electrical is out for me.
I can't identify anything not working in the engine compartment but guessing the electrical connections should be replaced and the engine checked to make sure is running as well as a 43 year old inline 6 can w/o big money expenditures.
I've had the carb replaced with a rebuilt one, rear brakes fixed and a leaking engine seal replaced so far by a local mechanic. He's not a Bullnose specialist and does not seem eager to do the "check it out and fix it" work I need done.
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,081
Likes: 174
From: Central Texas
Can you back up a little and say how/why you acquired this truck? One who proclaims,"I am not mechanical or skilled, unfortunately, so working on the engine/electrical is out for me." should not be buying a 43 y/o anything without a plan first as it is obviously going to need work which can be time consuming and expensive? Finding a "bullnose" specialist is also quite the naive ask as there are very few mechanics still twisting wrenches now that were active 43 years ago, I mean people do die/retire. I do not recall anyone specializing in bullnose trucks back in the day either. My reference is Austin, so a larger (?) city may have had them.
I can tell you this about most mechanics and old(loosely defined) vehicles, they don't want to work on them as you have discovered. This is your project, not theirs. Parts can be hard to get if at all, and they do not want your project sitting in their lot while waiting weeks / months for someone to find the unobtanium part that is required. Plus once they get into it, it can become an onion, and as you peel back the layers more and more shows up to be dealt with; the whole thing can turn into a sh**show quickly.
However, you now have it. I think you are best off to find an independent mechanic around the Tyler area that is willing to work on it. Talk to them about your expectations and go from there. Showing up and asking them to "check it out and fix it", is not going to go over well I can assure you.
Sorry to be the negative Nancy, but this is reality. I wish you luck, as I, as well as most here, want to see these old trucks rolling again, but there are certain expectations that accompany this desire. Personally, I love working on my trucks('81 & '65). It's my therapy after 34 years of corporate life. But I have a new shop full of tools, and I have been working on small engines/vehicles since I was a teenager, including a few years at a dealership while preparing for college. This is my wheelhouse so to speak.
I can tell you this about most mechanics and old(loosely defined) vehicles, they don't want to work on them as you have discovered. This is your project, not theirs. Parts can be hard to get if at all, and they do not want your project sitting in their lot while waiting weeks / months for someone to find the unobtanium part that is required. Plus once they get into it, it can become an onion, and as you peel back the layers more and more shows up to be dealt with; the whole thing can turn into a sh**show quickly.
However, you now have it. I think you are best off to find an independent mechanic around the Tyler area that is willing to work on it. Talk to them about your expectations and go from there. Showing up and asking them to "check it out and fix it", is not going to go over well I can assure you.
Sorry to be the negative Nancy, but this is reality. I wish you luck, as I, as well as most here, want to see these old trucks rolling again, but there are certain expectations that accompany this desire. Personally, I love working on my trucks('81 & '65). It's my therapy after 34 years of corporate life. But I have a new shop full of tools, and I have been working on small engines/vehicles since I was a teenager, including a few years at a dealership while preparing for college. This is my wheelhouse so to speak.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,339
Likes: 1,248
I think you have the right old truck for a novice. Pre feedback carburetor straight forward ignition system, wide open engine compartment with room to roam. If you're small enough you can climb in there and give that straight 6 a hug! I do agree about the command of "fix it" though. Fix what? You should be able to describe the symptoms even if you're not a Doctor.
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,938
Likes: 4,124
From: Angier, NC
He may have "the right old truck for a novice" but a man also needs to know his limitations.
Maybe with time and some information from us and Youtube he can do little simple things like a tune up & change the oil.
As he learns and feels he wants to go deeper, dont know what that might be?, again we and the web can help but if he only feels the tuneup and oil change is as far as he wants to go that is fine also.
Again a man need to know his limitations to be safe and keep others safe too.
Dave ----
Maybe with time and some information from us and Youtube he can do little simple things like a tune up & change the oil.
As he learns and feels he wants to go deeper, dont know what that might be?, again we and the web can help but if he only feels the tuneup and oil change is as far as he wants to go that is fine also.
Again a man need to know his limitations to be safe and keep others safe too.
Dave ----
Last edited by FuzzFace2; Jun 8, 2026 at 06:20 AM.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 195
Likes: 77
From: SW Connecticut
Welcome to the forum.
As you note....It runs OK, and I've taken it on short trips around town.
Seems like a classic case of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Enjoy it as is. If it starts to act funny, smoke, make wildlife noises or catches fire, then you can look to a mechanic.....which any worth his salt can work on. Straight 6 w a manual is caveman-type technology.
As you note....It runs OK, and I've taken it on short trips around town.
Seems like a classic case of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Enjoy it as is. If it starts to act funny, smoke, make wildlife noises or catches fire, then you can look to a mechanic.....which any worth his salt can work on. Straight 6 w a manual is caveman-type technology.
Last edited by soybomb; Jun 8, 2026 at 08:53 AM.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Jan 2026
Posts: 25
Likes: 12
I recently bought a 1984 F250 with the 4.9 inline 6. It is probably the easiest vehicle I have ever owned to work on. It is also 42 years old. By the time I am done I will have given it a valve job, tune up, plugs, plug wires cap rotor, new brakes, new hoses, belts, power steering pump, alternator, battery tray, and changed all the fluids.
I think if I had paid someone at a fair rate to do all the work I'd have way more money in the truck than it is worth.
I second the "if it an't broke don't fix it". Unless it had sentimental value, like it belonged to your grandfather, paying someone to work on an old truck, or any really old vehicle, is an expensive proposition.
I think if I had paid someone at a fair rate to do all the work I'd have way more money in the truck than it is worth.
I second the "if it an't broke don't fix it". Unless it had sentimental value, like it belonged to your grandfather, paying someone to work on an old truck, or any really old vehicle, is an expensive proposition.
Last edited by Sedonut; Jun 8, 2026 at 09:34 AM.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,339
Likes: 1,248
He may have "the right old truck for a novice" but a man also needs to know his limitations.
Maybe with time and some information from us and Youtube he can do little simple things like a tune up & change the oil.
As he learns and feels he wants to go deeper, dont know what that might be?, again we and the web can help but if he only feels the tuneup and oil change is as far as he wants to go that is fine also.
Again a man need to know his limitations to be safe and keep others safe too.
Dave ----
Maybe with time and some information from us and Youtube he can do little simple things like a tune up & change the oil.
As he learns and feels he wants to go deeper, dont know what that might be?, again we and the web can help but if he only feels the tuneup and oil change is as far as he wants to go that is fine also.
Again a man need to know his limitations to be safe and keep others safe too.
Dave ----
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,938
Likes: 4,124
From: Angier, NC
I think picking up a manual and doing a little reading of it so he gets to know the truck a little better deeper inside he can then decide if he wants to do normal maintenance like oil / filter changes, grease, maybe a tune up.
That would all be in the manual he would get, it also goes deeper but he would not need to go that deep if he did not feel good doing it. But knowing the deeper stuff so if he takes the truck to a shop and they start throwing things at him at least he has some clue what they might be talking about.
The oil changes & tune ups dont take a lot of tools to do. I think the hardest part is the oil change as you have to take the old oil somewhere so you have to put it in a container or the harder containerS.
Also Youtube has a lot of videos on most if not all the things I said above.
Dave ----
That would all be in the manual he would get, it also goes deeper but he would not need to go that deep if he did not feel good doing it. But knowing the deeper stuff so if he takes the truck to a shop and they start throwing things at him at least he has some clue what they might be talking about.
The oil changes & tune ups dont take a lot of tools to do. I think the hardest part is the oil change as you have to take the old oil somewhere so you have to put it in a container or the harder containerS.
Also Youtube has a lot of videos on most if not all the things I said above.
Dave ----
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