New-to-me Horse (and other stuff) Hauler!!

[ebinmaine 67,608]

I've been several years without a truck. 

Here in Maine and particularly in our rural life that's a little like being several years with one hand super glued to your forehead. 

You get by ok but it's just.... Challenging. 

 

The BBT/Significant other and I have been talking over the convenience of having a 3rd vehicle for awhile. We're finally in a position in life to be able to do so and not fret.

I figured on waiting another year but my daily driver is showing its age a bit and I really need to stop using it as a tow vehicle. 

 

We need something that can tow a few thousand lbs and carry a decent load of aggregate too. 

 

I've been wanting a 1980-86 F series with a particular drivetrain for years. 

 

As much as I love an original creampuff we need a worker.

 

Well I found this rig and decided to pull the trigger. 

 

I got me a Truck. 

 

It's an '86 F-250 HD. 300. 4 speed manual. 4WD. Low geared. 

Make no mistake... it's no cream puff. It's a worker. But it's a real live two owner truck with 43,000 ORIGINAL MILES.

 

The original 1986 truck was bought by a mason local to central New Hampshire but it was right near the end of his career and he only used it for about 30, 35,000 MI. Then it sat for quite a while.

 

Fella I got it from bought it about 15 or 20 years ago and over the next maybe 10 years? He did a full complete frame off restoration.

Frame and drivetrain are the original. Cab is a '95.  Bed is a southern one from '97. Nose is 85/86 vintage. 

It's not by a long shot a concourse d elegance show winner.

But it's damn solid and has waaaaaay too many new parts to list.

 

The PO was forced to stop working on it due to health reasons just before he finished up the final touches. It does run and drive perfectly fine and has a current inspection. 

 

I'll be doing some work on it like most of a set of engine gaskets. One rear wheel seal. Some interior trim finishing and changes. 

 

Things I'd like to do depending on finances and time:

I really liked having a flat bed on my last truck. I'm thinking about making a steel reinforced wood bed. Maybe 7 x 8.5?

 

I'd also like to do a 4 BBL carb/better intake and exhaust swap over. 

Stock HP in 86 was around 100, 110. 

Above changes can add 30 or 40. More important... More torque.  

 

I'll be in the market for those parts if anyone has a lead on good used ones.  

 

Here's a few pics. 

 

 

 

[Maxwell-8 4,277]

16 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

It's an '86 F-250 HD. 300. 4 speed manual. 4WD

Great truck you got there! 

4 speed mansmission,  4wd -> the way to go! 

 

Edited June 11, 2021 by Maxwell-8

[19richie66 17,508]

Nice looking rig. 300 six cylinders were tanks and it’s just broke in. Should more than get the job done. 

[cschannuth 3,816]

I had almost the exact same truck but it was a 1980 with the same drive train and whenever my in-laws hauled hay they always called me to pull the big trailer. It did great. That thing looks really sharp. The other thing you might consider is a split manifold. Even though it’s a straight six it will allow you to do a true dual exhaust and sound a little bit better from an exhaust standpoint. Also, if you go with a flatbed and decide to sell the current bed and tailgate, those things are like gold in the OBS community if they are rust free.

Edited June 11, 2021 by cschannuth

[ebinmaine 67,608]

1 minute ago, cschannuth said:

split manifold

Absolutely in the plans. I've always found a straight six split the right way to be a very entertaining sound. 

[Herder 2,354]

Nice!! and congrats EB.  A repaint but surprisingly nice for it age.  I love ford trucks!!!!

[Racinbob 11,093]

Nice Eric! I bought an 85 with the 300 6 banger and 4 speed new. I towed a 30' travel trailer with it. One of the best engines ever produced. 

[ebinmaine 67,608]

5 minutes ago, Racinbob said:

Nice Eric! I bought an 85 with the 300 6 banger and 4 speed new. I towed a 30' travel trailer with it. One of the best engines ever produced. 

Absolutely agreed. 

 

I moved a trailer about the same size with one a few years back. 

 

Excellent tow rig. 

 

[Racinbob 11,093]

Torque, torque, torque. If I remember right 3000 rpm was the sweet spot. 

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,330]

Very nice truck! Looks like it was cared for and not abused. I love cab lights, my Tundra would look silly with em, but one of my past trucks was a 2500 Dodge and the cab lights looked so cool at night

  

[Pullstart 62,911]

Nice score, congrats EB and BBT!  We have a vintage class at the local track and most of the cars are powered by inline 6’s.  It’s an unlimited class for a 6 or a stock-ish 302/305 v8.  Most people are pushing way more power out of the 6... AND THAT SOUND!  I love me a healthy 6.  

[dclarke 4,032]

That's a heck of a truck, Eric. I like it!! 

[ebinmaine 67,608]

1 hour ago, Sparky said:

love cab lights

Yeah me too for sure. I'm one of those individuals that thinks it's nearly impossible to have too many lights on certain vehicles.

 

[tom2p 2,394]

4wd ... 3/4 ton ... straight six ... stick ... locking hubs ... supah !

 

two thumbs up - nice find EB !

 

Edited June 11, 2021 by tom2p

[tom2p 2,394]

3 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

Here in Maine and particularly in our rural life that's a little like being several years with one hand super glued to your head.
 

Edited June 11, 2021 by tom2p

[tom2p 2,394]

eb - I like having a bed - but flatbed is also handy 

you could find a trailer - and that could be your 'flatbed'

 

a trailer with a ramp / ramps or a tilt trailer like a snowmobile trailer is very handy (especially for loading Wheel Horse tractors !)

 

[pacer 3,173]

What I would say about your very nice truck has already been said, but I'll throw in -- looks knee deep in rubber too!! but that mileage...... SIGH!!

[ebinmaine 67,608]

2 hours ago, tom2p said:

eb - I like having a bed - but flatbed is also handy 

you could find a trailer - and that could be your 'flatbed'

 

a trailer with a ramp / ramps or a tilt trailer like a snowmobile trailer is very handy (especially for loading Wheel Horse tractors !)

 

The last truck I had was basically the best of both worlds. It was a flatbed as stated, and it had 2x12's around all four sides of the bed.

I even had a little pocket up at the front that was roughly 80" long by 10 or 11 wide right across the headboard.

If I go back to a flatbed with this truck that's a similar thing to what I would build. 

 

We have a 5x8 utility trailer with a 3500 lb axle.

I've been using that as my "truck"  for a few years now.

 

I have two sets of cross ramps that I can bolt onto the top of the rails so I can put two tractors on the trailer and then still have 12" of cargo space underneath them.

I'll most likely keep that trailer for quite a while but I have considered picking up a four place flat aluminum snowmobile trailer because there's a lot of space for putting tractors on the deck. 

 

[ebinmaine 67,608]

2 hours ago, pacer said:

rubber

Definitely one of the bonuses of this truck is that it has nearly new tires. 

[squonk 41,154]

Twin I Beam. Fords usually either very new tires or very worn tires. 

[ebinmaine 67,608]

21 minutes ago, squonk said:

Twin I Beam. Fords usually either very new tires or very worn tires. 

 

This one has very new tires and very new suspension.

 

I'm going to have one of the local techs go over the whole truck with a fine toothed comb so we'll see how it goes....

[ClassicTractorProfessor 5,314]

Damn fine looking rig there…those 80-86 noses have always been my favorite. And to have a 300 with a 4 speed…that’s even better. The first Ford I ever owned (and the one that converted me for life) was an 80 model F150 with the 300 and 4 speed, no matter what abuse I shelled out, the old girl just kept coming back for more

[Handy Don 12,235]

13 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

Make no mistake... it's no cream puff. It's a worker.

The laborer deserves their wage.

Happy for you finding something that checks off nearly all your boxes!

Drive in good health!

[horseyheaven 112]

I have the same exact truck except mine is brown with an easy dumper insert and snow plow.  300 six with 4 speed is the toughest combo out there.  As far as worn tires as mentioned above, that was only on the early 80-81 trucks with coil springs in f250s.  They realized this did not work, and went back to leaf springs.  Mine has leaf springs and has great tire wear, even carrying a snow plow all winter.  The last of the true carbureted engines and has the feel of a real truck.  In 1987, they fuel injected the 300 six.  Congrats on the new truck!  I love mine.

[OutdoorEnvy 1,522]

Great find and truck Eric!  It's barely not a creampuff from my eyes so put her to work for sure!  Creampuffs are great but I always feel kinda bad for them.  Never getting to do the work and have the fun they were meant to have...I bet that was tough getting by without a truck...can't imagine Anyways...hope it serves you well and looking forward to seeing it in action in your future posts!