year-to-year differences
|
This page is very, VERY preliminary, and is only here to give an idea of how we might create a page to detail the year-to-year changes in the Bullnose trucks.
But, we do need to keep in mind that this is ONLY to document those changes. In other words, this isn't to capture everything about the engines or fuel systems, etc. But, it could/should have links to other pages on this site that do explain further about each topic. |
|
- Hood: The 1980 - 81 hoods had FORD across the leading edge like the previous years did. But as of 1982 the lettering was removed
- Grille: The 1980 - 81 grilles were a plain egg crate, but in 1982 the layout of the openings changed an a Ford blue oval was added to the center of the grille.
- Paint: There were some colors that got a clear coat in 1986 - the first year for that.
The 1980 and '81 trucks had what are called the Swiss cheese frames. These are frames with holes in the vertical web. Presumably the idea was to create a lighter frame, and engineers know that the web is really there just to keep the upper and lower edges of a piece of channel apart. So as long as the web is strong enough to do that job the vertical strength of the frame has not been compromised by the holes.
But rumors have it that the public didn't understand the engineering involved and complained. So in 1982 Ford went back to a solid frame, meaning one w/o holes.
But rumors have it that the public didn't understand the engineering involved and complained. So in 1982 Ford went back to a solid frame, meaning one w/o holes.
- Paint colors and schemes:
- 1980-84; early-85 and maybe into '86; and late '85 & '86
- Chart showing which years had what colors
- Hood Lettering: 1980 & '81
- Grille: Ford emblem added in '82
- Trim
- XLT replaced Lariat as the top trim line in '83, only to see Lariat come back in '85
- Front turn signal lenses (Do these belong here or in Electrical?)
- Swiss cheese frame in '80 & '81
- Tailgate cables introduced in '83 to replace the straps used in 1980 - 82
- Probably at the same time as the straps changed to cables, the tailgate strikers changed from just open loops to ones with rubber bonded to the loops.
- Probably at the same time as the strikers changed, the screws that hold them on changed from Phillips to Torx.
- Bezels: Use the tables from Interior/Instrument & Radio Bezels?
- Door locks: Pics of both styles and info on what we know
- The locking hood release handle was changed to a black one, probably to match the new black headlight, wiper, & HVAC knobs. (Source: The MPC shows the prefix on the part number to be E5.)
- King pin front axle: Which years used them?
- Beds:
- Flareside:
- Floor: 7 pieces of wood and 6 metal strips before 7/82, and 3 pieces of plywood and 5 strips after 7/82
- Fenders: Different fenders were used before 10/81, which were said in the MPC to be fiberglass, vs after. Was the later fender steel?
- Styleside: Figure out when the change from 4 crossmembers and 8 bolts to 3 crossmembers and 6 bolts happened
- DRW: Get the dates for when the bed and floor width changed
- Bronco: From 1980 - '84 there were two different floor pans - with and without mounts for the rear seat. But as of '85 there was only one pan - with rear seat.
- Flareside:
Front Axles:
Rear Axles:
Rear Axles:
- F100/150: The F100's and F150's used the Ford 9" rear axle exclusively from 1980 through 1982. However, in 1983 Ford introduced the 8.8" rear axle, and from that point through the end of the Bullnose era both axles were used, although the 9" was phased out for 1987.
But, the 9" came with two capacity ratings, 2800 and 3750 lbs, while the 8.8" only came with a 3750 lb rating. So light-duty trucks came with the 9" while heavier-duty trucks could have either. (Source: MPC Section 40 Pg 9) [Note to self: Update this reference when the Rear Axle page issue is resolved.] - F250/350
- Dual Rear Wheel: In 1985 the DRW axles for the pickups, but not the cab & chassis trucks, were made longer to put the inside tire in line with the front tire instead of the space between the rear tires being in line with the front tire. This made the floor of the bed the same for the SRW as the DRW for 1985 & 6.
- The F100's had both 5 x 4.5 and 5 x 5.5" bolt pattern wheels, as discussed in the F100's tab on the Bullnose FAQ's page as well as on the Applications tab on the Wheels page.
- The 10-hole polished aluminum wheels (D8TZ 1015-E) were only used in 1980 & '81 (See pic in Wheels)
- For '82 - '84 there was a "cast aluminum" replacement (E2TZ 1007-A), but it was dropped for '85
- Transmissions: Another table, but that gets complex as it was not only by year, but also by engine
- Clutch Linkage: Mechanical in 1980 - 82, and hydraulic introduced in '83 for the 460 and diesel, with all engines getting it in '84
- Exhaust system changed in '84 or '85.
- 1980 (or maybe just early '80?) was an oddball. Try to tease out the differences
- Neutral Start Switch: The automatic transmission neutral safety switch, which prevents the engine from cranking in all but Park and Neutral, first debuted in 1983. (Source: 1983 EVTM)
- Clutch lockout switch, (E4TZ 11A152-B) which prevents the engine from cranking with the clutch engaged, first appeared in 1984. (Source: 1984 EVTM & MPC )
- Turn signal lenses: (Do these belong here or in Body/Exterior?)
- 1G vs 2G alternator, the latter having come out in '86
- Up-shift indicator: There is some confusion here. The Master Parts Catalog shows that E3TZ 15A801-B (which should be marked E3TB 15A808-AA) is the "M/T w/up shift indicator". And it shows that to be for the "F150 (4x2) - - 6 cyl. 300 w/M/T fuel saver or TOD trans" for 1983 only. But, there is no mention of a shift indicator in the 1983 Electrical & Vacuum Troubleshooting Manual (EVTM). However, both the 1984 and 1985 EVTM's do show that a Shift Indicator Lamp was used in those years.
- Wire Colors: In 1986 the wiring changed slightly as the hash marks and dots that had been used on the wiring up through '85 were turned into stripes, but the color code stayed the same. (Source: 1986 EVTM Page 1)
- Lights On Buzzer/Chime: The 1986 F-Series Pickups brochure seems to say on Page 13 that the lights on/door open "buzzer" changed to a "chime" for the XL and XLT Lariat models. But the Master Parts Catalog doesn't support that as there is but one part number for that buzzer, EOTZ 13150—A, and it covers all the Bullnose years.
- A table to show which years had which carb and which had EFI? (EFI is easy - just the 302 & it got it in '85.)
- Compressors: The York/Techumseh compressor was used in '80 & '81, but the round FS6 one was used thereafter
- The controls changed in '85 and not only have a different appearance but also don't directly interchange.