This is why I'm hanging on to my 2007 Silverado Classic LS. manual transmission, 8 foot bed, manual windows v6 engine with 196,000 miles. The cruise control is pretty handy too. I'm an older guy (71) and could afford a new full-size truck, but I still love driving it.
My buddy’s dad had one of these. He was a foundation contractor and used Chevys for the business , but somehow one these found it’s way into the fleet. This truck didn’t go to the job site but was used for “goin’ into town” 😎
In the day GM trucks could always haul more within the respective classes (regardless of mfg ratings) but Fords were the nicest to be in and drive. Cheers 🇨🇦
Goin' into? No "good old boys" talk that way. Repeating "in" back to back with the firm t of "to" is uncomfortable and not relaxed and bein a good ole boy is all about comfort and relaxin.
I bought a used 1985 XLT Lariat in 1994. It was a beautiful truck, and was loaded. It had cruise control, power steering, brakes and windows. A nice stereo system, sliding rear window, automatic transmission and the 351 Windsor V8. I still miss this truck.
I’ve had a 1982 lariat short wide 4x4 since I was 15, thing is loaded, pretty sure there wasn’t an option it doesn’t have, power everything, 351w, auto trans, A/C, dual tanks, cruise, paint got pretty bad, so had it restored, but found in the glove box when I bought it that all the original sales contracts from 82 were there, plus service records all the way up into the 90’s, seemed like the original owner was pretty meticulous about that pickup
When I was in high school, my parents finally went and bought a brand new truck, 1985 Ford F150 lariat super cab. It had velvet red cushion puffed seats, two-tone, dark, silver and light silver paint, and a thin, bright, orange stripe, very shiny chrome wheels. It was truly one of the most beautiful trucks in town, will never forget that truck.
I worked at a large local Ford dealer in 1980 when this generation came out. I drove an F150 daily with I6 and manual trans. Not a 4x4...rode and drove out well. Good mileage. We called them Swiss cheese pick ups because it appeared in order to lighten them for better mileage there were sections of the frame devoid of metal. We don't see many from this generation on the road here in Minnesnowta any more!
I live in Ontario and have seen my share of cars rust to oblivion over the decades. Now annual rustproofing is top of my list for preventative maintenance and my 17 year old car remains more solid than anything I owned before it. Do you have Krown Rustproofing dealers or any other credible brand out there?
@@rightlanehog3151 Every Spring, I blast out the underside of my 99 Prelude just with a garden hose, and that has saved it here in New England- no rust after all these years. Exactly what process for annual rustproof were you describing?
@@rightlanehog3151 OK, thank you. I've never seen such a thing here in Massachusetts, but maybe it's not a good cost/benefit thing if late-model cars are enjoying a profitable turnover anyway....? Laying on a wet lawn, blasting out the underside of my 1999 Prelude with a garden hose isn't a pleasant job, but I pick a warm Spring day, am very thorough, and have saved the little car from any rust underneath by cleansing out all Winter salt & sand this way. Sadly, I've seen other 5th Generation Preludes ( 1997 To 2001 ) display appreciable rust over the rear wheel wells....
The Lariat was a very luxurious cab. When I was a teen, our neighbor had one of these with a fuel injected 300 straight 6 under the hood. That motor was smooth as velvet, quiet, and nice torque
I had several of the inline sixes on F-150s and 250s. The best decision I ever made was when I quit buying Fords. Freed up much time for me. Because my weekends weren't spent working on my truck after I bought Chevys. The only thing good about those Fords were the engine everything else fell apart around them. Nickel and dime repairs was killing me. Electrical problems Galore.
My dad has a 86 F150 XLT Lariat that's in pretty good shape. It still has its original 351w 4bbl engine. I was driving my 13yr old daughter around in it over the summer and was trying to explain to her that this was the top of the line truck back in the mid 80s. She looked at me like I was crazy! I've always dug the bull nose fords and still think they are of of the best looking pickup ever made.
@@drjohnsonhungwell5115 compared to today's engines, no. But for the time they were fine. They havr good tourqe down low. You won't win many drag races with it but it can get out of its own way.
@@drjohnsonhungwell5115it’s great f when compared to other engines of the time, but something like GMs new 2.7 turbo 4 cyl will make more power & torque at a broader rev range. Technology really does make a difference
@@calebnation6155 I've got mine running now but have only been across the street from my shop still have to have new exhaust ran on it replaced the old locked up 351 with a new one of the same specs as original from what I've read on a couple forums it'll be comparable to a 73 and up 460 with similar HP and torque
Love the old commercials, crazy how expensive some of these trucks are today. Definitely a way to get that road isolating full frame old school luxury ride 🦃
As he said the Chrysler land yachts were unibody and maybe some of the Lincolns. My medium truck has huge frame members but thats to take the weight of loads. It rides pretty crummy with front and rear leaf springs. I don't worry about anyone rear ending me in that thing unless they are driving a train. My TR 6 has a full frame and you can see the doors flex at the jambs up to two inches. And it rides lousy.
Handsome trucks with an excellent driving position with more leg room than a Chevy of the time. I had a 1980 F250 camper special for a work truck from ‘86-‘90. Aside from it being a lo-po 302, that used oil, drank gas prolifically, had rusty floor boards, and unless it had a heavy load on it drove for the ditch; was dependable and with the 2-tone paint and XLT Ranger trim, very handsome indeed.
Mu uncle had a 85 lariat with a 351w when I was a kid. He talked it up and was proud of the lariat trim level. In my driveway right now I have a 95 f350 crew cab 7.3 powerstroke. Pretty much the pinnacle of those boxy ford's. I think about him whenever I drive it.
Hi Adam, great video as always. I would point out a small inaccuracy regarding the front alignment provisions in the Twin Traction Beam models. Caster and camber were adjustable through the replacement of caster/camber “slugs”, which were the bushings for the knuckle upper ball joint attachment to the axle beam. These bushings could be ordered with an off-center hole in various positions to adjust front caster and camber. The factory would trend set caster and camber to hit the target values for each, and if a vehicle had been damaged or modified in service, slugs with a different offset could be installed to being caster and camber back into the desired range. The only scenario where an axle replacement would be warranted would be if the axle had been damaged/bent to such an extent that they were unalignable with the available range of caster/camber slugs.
Back in the spring of 2019 my brother called me to ask about going down and helping an old family friend that was well known in the community in general back to the late 1960s. "Rod" was getting up into his early 80's and need some help with various things so no problem or so I thought..... Called up Rod - setup a time to visit and see what he needed help with - then went down to see him. Walked in thru his garage and did a triple take as to the far right sat a 1981 Ford F150 Custom 2X4 with a 302 V8 automatic w/cruise control 8' box two tone green & white with dual gas tanks. A pickup truck that I used many times over in the 1980's to move myself and my girlfriend to and from and college. I thought the truck was long since gone to a junkyard and had been scrapped and yet there it was - sitting since 1994. 77,000 miles in pretty dang good condition as never used in the winter. The primary project was to be cleaning everything out of the box/on the truck and out of it besides as he explained to me. Then see if we can get it running and out of the garage as he wanted the space. Asked him of course what then with this "Bull Nose" that freaked me out to see it for the first time in roughly close to 30 years and he smiled telling me he will sign/give me the title keys do whatever I want with it - SCORE! Took some work but got it all cleaned out and running but not real good to begin with as it need a carb rebuild and other things from sitting including tires and such but all there and still in pretty good shape it was 38 years old and been sitting for 25 years. The truck has many connections including back to my Dad's older brother as it came from his Ford dealership originally - a brother to my father who had passed away only a month before and 2 weeks previous to planned trip to drive my parents cross country to go see him before he passed but that did not work out. This truck was sold @ an auction to our friend sort of by accident when my father sold out his businessand instead of just purchasing it back my father let it go. Now it came back and it will never leave our family again - going thru restore and besides my brother/I for now - a nephew/grandson wants it after we are gone to continue on - never to sell it. I recall this truck with the 302 w/carburetor - not fuel injected or with a lot of electronic "goo" on it as today's have never lacked in power - performance as well always stayed in the 25-28MPG for mileage. The old girlfriend from college is also anxious when all done with it to see it/drive it/ride in it once again as many many good memories from the long drives/moving we used it for so many times and then while @ college and when we would come back home besides. Once I finally had a lot of mechanicals all checked out and such - stopped over by my parents one evening and engaged my father in particular in a conversation about that truck and when he commented how he wish that truck was still ours and around - reached in my pocket and pulled out the original OEM keys still on the same FORD keychain from his brother's FORD dealership and asked him if Mom & him go get it and get it to my house so I could continue working on it - he lost it pretty good for a bit and freaked out that it was still around and driveable. As I guessed it just made it to my parents for the remainder of the year until winter was coming in and then to my garage as he stuck it in there garage for that year and messed with it for months. So a video like this just adds to it overall and you bet these were real truck meant to be used as trucks and not over priced/over rated "show & tell" toys as many are today with way to much electronic goo on them that only serves to cost lots of $$$ constantly. 🙂🙂🙂
Had a mid eighties pickup 8 foot bed and 4 speed manual on the floor. Drove it barefoot in the summer time and got really good at rolling down the passenger windows with my foot. Great trucks and great memories!
Adam, I would like to take the occasion of Thanksgiving 2022 to THANK you for all the time and hard work you put into this channel throughout the year. I would also like to pay tribute to your growing group of SUBSCRIBERS who, by and large, post thoughtful and respectful comments about our shared interest in the underappreciated classic cars of yesteryear. 😁
I have to add a small correction, Adam. The EFI equipped 5.0 v8 was introduced in 1985 as an option and then became standard issue from 86 on out. The 1985 engines are actually a bit better than the 86 version because they had forged pistons from the factory. I know this because my first truck was a 1985 F-150 Lariat with that fuel injected 5.0. The original owner claimed it was the first of its kind on the lot in early spring of 1985 when he bought it from Billingsley Ford in Ardmore, Oklahoma. I really enjoy the channel. Happy Thanksgiving!
I ordered new a '86 F-250 HD super cab 8' box w/ 6.9 XLT Lariat. Captains chairs w/ dual armrests. The most comfortable vehicle ever. Put over 350,000 miles on that truck. 1 set of head gaskets and a water pump. Great truck. Should have never sold it
I remember a neighbour buying a 1980 F250 Supercab and it making my fathers 1977 F250 Crewcab look so outdated. I also recall driving around in a red 1986 Lariat just like in this video and being awestruck by the interior, it was luxury for the time. Now that I’ve owned vehicles with leather seats I actually prefer the older velour material for seating surfaces.
Happy Thanksgiving Adam and Subscribers! I miss the two tone paint that used to be the calling card of full size pickups. I also miss two ton full-size pickups as many nowadays weigh closer to 3 tons. Most of all I miss the shared notion that trucks were primarily intended for work duties. Far too many today are nothing more than 3 tons of self-indulgent status symbol.
@@rogersmith7396 -- because for many it's their office if you worked out of your truck 10-12 hrs a day wouldn't you want all the creature comforts, besides why are you complaining your not paying for it
Where I work there is a literal 'arms race' with our current mega-big full size pickups, which make up nearly half the parking lot. Seems like ~2/3 were bought solely so the owner could make a statement (that includes a middle finger) versus them actually needing such a huge truck, especially for commuting purposes. Then they have the chutzpah to also complain about high gasoline prices..
I have to agree, the E4OD that replaced the AOD was a much better trans. I have a 1991 F-350 with the E4OD, and it has 486k + on the original engine and trans, with no issues to speak of. I personally love the Bull Nose best, but the Brick Nose has a very special place in my heart. I remember being a little boy, building model kits of a brick nose, extended cab, dually F-350, always red, and telling my mother that I would some day own the real thing. Fast forward to 2018, I bought the F-350 I still have today, a 1991, Extended Cab, dually, F-350 in red, with a red interior. My mother in law's adopted kids named her Big Red, and that truck is still my baby.
I still own a truck that my late farther purchase New. 1986 Ford F-250 XLT Lariat std. cab 4X4 Pick-Up. Options selected by my late father, (E-5) Eng. 460ci. (E-16) Trans. C-6 Auto. (C-8) Camper Pkg. (B-13) Heavy Duty Frt. Suspension. (B-17) Eng. Oil Cooler. (C-9) Axle Ratio- 355:1 (Limited Slip Rear Axle) (C-5) Trailer Tow Pkg. (C-29) ICC-Cab Lights. (C-1) Air Condition. Truck is one family owned since new, a California vehicle since new with zero rust /Cancer. I enjoy taking it for a drive.😎 Thanks Adam for this video.
Wow, that red interior brings back some memories. I had that sea of red in my '84 XLT model that I bought much later from the original owner. It had an H.O. 351 (High Output) which was the Windsor with the Holley 4V carb from the 460. Very little info about the HO351 in shop manuals or books but that's how they built them. When I was in high school my dad leased an '85 F-250 with a 460 and a 5-speed, no granny gear, just a regular 5-speed and the same factory Holley four barrel carb. That thing would burn the tires literally as long as you wanted. We never did use that as a work truck and it was my primary mode for my junior and senior year. A teal green two wheel drive F-250 with a 460 and a 5-speed in the hands of a high school punk. I have no idea what my parents were thinking, but it did cure me of street racing. It would NEVER hook up off the line in regular driving, let alone racing. That was my school of throttle modulation. I've never seen another truck like it since.
You got that same 4180 carb in a 5.0 Mustang GT back in '85. Unfortunately the Zf- 5 speed was not available behind a 460 until late in the '87 model year. I'm still driving mine, with over 400k on the clock (but a reman engine installed in '08)
Thanks for another great video Adam. This brings back fond memories of the 80s, where my best friend’s dad owned several bull nose Ford F100 Ranger and F150 XLTs for his construction business…mostly stripped down models but with V8s and automatics. Then in 1986 he bought a “boss truck” which was a two-tone 4x4 XLT Lariat with the same red velour and power options. Absolutely gorgeous truck. Today I find it rather humorous what passed for “Luxurious” in 1986 compared to my 2022 PowerBoost today. But I’d still love to have that truck today.
Pickups!! Adam, another great video! You really hit the nail on the head with this one. I still have brochures from the '85 and '86 model years, and those Lariat interiors were over the top! As someone who grew up on (and eventually returned to) a farm, I have experienced many Ford and GM pickups - purchased both new and "slightly" used - ranging from 1965 to 2020. And most of them are still present in various states of operation (or potential restoration, lol). Among them are a 1992 F-150 Custom and a 1994 F-150 XL, both two wheel drive with the 5.0/AOD configuration. The '92 was purchased close to new, followed by the '94 which was new. Both served as our crew supervisors' trucks for decades over hundreds of thousands of hard miles. I only recently retired the trucks from that duty when I recently bought 2018 and 2019 F-150's. Although the '92-'96 trucks are frequently lumped in with the '87-'91models in discussion forums, I always thought that the '92 front clip redesign really paid tribute to the 1980-1986 in a positive way.
My Aunt had an '86 ECLB Lariet brand new in late '85. 2 tone grey and silver with red velour interior. Dad drove a '78 K20 Cheyenne and I remember getting yelled at for opening a wing window in the Ford because she had A/C. Pa, did not. Fun memories of that old Ford. Got stuck in a rain storm while camping and I got to sleep in the back seat while my aunt kicked back the drivers seat. Good times as a child.
These and the 1960 model are my favourite F series. I have a very nice metallic brown and tan 1986 F250 XLT Lariat. Two wheel drive with the 460 V8 , cruise, power windows and brown velour interior. The “bullnose” model is such a good looking truck in my view and are only now starting to be appreciated. Again, I bought mine when nobody was really collecting them. They were cheap to buy then.
One of my favorite videos that you’ve done, even though I watch them all. I’m a little partial to this one because my best friend in high school had a red ‘84 2wd flare side with the 300 and 4-speed. It was not the XLT Lariat, just a custom, but he was 2 years older than me, so it was my ride to and from school my sophomore and junior year. And we went everywhere else in it too. It was steel freedom and I learned how to do most of my first mechanic work on it… brakes and tune ups and such. I’m now searching for one like you specified at the end of the video to make my own. Thanks for doing what you do.
That tachometer is probably my only issue with this generation interior. It just wasn’t commonly equipped, so most trucks just had the blank hash marks right in the middle of the cluster, constantly reminding you there’s no tach. This was one thing they fixed with the 87 update, there were 2 different clusters used for with or without a tach.
@@chriswilkerson1493 Right, It had a tach, the 9" rear end tow package, dual tanks, but was a 300 strait 6 with a auto trans. Got it when I was 16. I put many miles on it.
Man, what a video for Thanksgiving Day. I'm a car guy primarily, but it's hard to argue with any classic truck. That being said, these fords in particular are excellent... and a certain 86 F150 Lariat is one of the most sentimental cars. My family fell on hard times after the 08 housing crash, and after my father's Toyota pickup died, he bought the old Lariat F150 from a neighbor who had just backed his Cadillac into the bed, taking out the primary fuel tank (thankfully it still had the secondary tank). Even though it had spent years with rough abuse and hard work, even spending some time carrying rocks in a quarry, it kept my family moving for several years. Of course it had issues, especially once my dad started commuting 100 miles a day with it. It was managing 16 MPG on the highway with a tired FI 302 and the clunkier AOD that made us all afraid the rear end was gonna fall out whenever it shifted into overdrive. Eventually the Ford was retired after we bought a brand new Cruze (the gas savings alone basically paid the payments), but still soldiered on as our trusty steed for hauling trash up to the dump. It started having more and more issues running, and after a mechanic told us that the electronics had been botched so bad by previous owners that it really wasn't safe, we parked it. The engine was knocking and the transmission was really acting like it was on its way out. Sadly, it's now sat for about a decade. I'd love to get it running again, but the truth is that it's probably beyond saving. There isn't a straight or rust free square inch of sheet metal on the old truck, even before we got it. It makes me sad, because I've never had that sort of sentimental attachment to any vehicle. It's like a part of the family, even if it has probably reached the end of its light. Having to find a new engine and trans probably wouldn't be too bad, but the electrical problems (before sitting for so long), leave me with a lot of concern as to how much work and money would go into the project. At this point, I almost feel like it would be worth tAking parts of ours and grafting them into another, equally less fortunate old bullnose, and trying to bring two of these great old trucks back to life. Low mileage examples are great to own, but I really do feel an attachment to the examples of these old vehicles that were just workhorses for so long. Nightmares as they might be to own, they have character all their own. I guess wish me luck and hope that I can somehow find the guidance to do the right thing by my 86 F150 Lariat. It's the extended cab with the back opera windows, as I always called them. Black paint with the rockers painted red. I still think they're the sharpest looking trucks ever made.
I bought a 1986 F150 XL brand new for $9545.00 after a $600.00 rebate the dealer got. Mine had the 300cid 6 cylinder, manual 4 speed transmission which used 1st gear only as a "granny gear". It could be had in automatic, regular 4 speed, or 4 speed with granny (meaning 1st gear wasn't synchronized so you used 2nd, 3rd, and 4th when daily driving) it could be had with the 5.0V8 but they weren't fuel injected until 1987. Mine was called a 4x2. It was 2 wheel drive but the rear axle had limited slip. I drove it for 9.5 year's. It was a good truck. I vividly remember loading it with 85 8"x8"x16" concrete blocks, a 16' chain, a bag of cement, myself and one passenger. I remember the 14 mile ride back home with all that weight. It had the power but every small hill felt like the front end was going to lift! Shortly after I bought it, I wished that I had gotten an automatic and 4 wheel drive. But when I bought it that was all I could afford. I was 32 years old and that was my first brand new vehicle. In 1987, I put an aluminum cap on the bed and my wife and I took a trip to Niagara falls and slept in the back of the truck on an air mattress in a camp ground on the Canadian side. In 1995 I bought a new F150 4x4 reg cab automatic and gave the "86" to my dad after I put new tires and a gas tank on it. It was a good truck but after a couple more years it turned into a rust bucket. To bad, because the motor and transmission were still perfect. Good video but the fuel injection came out for the "87" model year
My dad had 2 Fords of this era, both HD 1 ton duallys. His 81 F350 with the 400 and manual was a great truck, although the factory exhaust was so restrictive that he couldn't go over 60 mph so he had a muffler shop put on a high flow cat/muffler and the truck ran great, he sold it in 87 with just over 300k mi and I still see it around town occasionally, as he sold it to a furniture store His 87 F350 460 manual was another story. He had front end problems from the get go, even losing complete steering control when the truck was less than 6 months old. As was mentioned in the video, whenever the twin I beam was severely out of alignment, Fords remedy was to replace the entire front end. 2 new front ends before it hit 3 years old my dad sold the truck for pennies on the dollar and swore off Fords permanently. He was in the battery business and needed another HD dually to carry huge loads so he went with the Isuzu cab overs and the company is currently on its 3rd one of those. As the business got more successful he didn't have to use a dually as his daily driver he bought a 1990 GMC C1500 with the TBI 350. He still has that truck and it's currently sitting at a little over 645k mi on original engine. After the troubles with the 87 Ford he has been a GM man ever since and has never owned another Ford.
I had an 80 F-150 “Explorer” model, single cab, 4 on the floor 2wd, 300. Oh man the memories. First kiss with my now wife, and many, many more. Now I have a ‘59 F250 factory 4x4, 4 spd. It’s a WIP. Cheers, great content. Happy new year
These things were _everywhere_ when I was a kid. There was still a Ford dealer in town at the time, and they basically sold trucks, trucks, more trucks, even more trucks, and three Crown Vics a year for the cops. :)
I had an '86 F-150 4x4 regular cab. Straight 6 4 speed. No bells and whistles. Pump the pedal 4 times and turn the key.......hit the trails. They are great trucks.
The beginning of the end for me. I always had a pick up because of how practical they are when you own a home. But these new trucks are nothing more than a luxury vehicle with an open trunk because most of the beds are small due to the fact that the cab is so absurdly HUGE!😆
Loved ths video, Adam. As a work truck, I was given a new 1980 F250 Custom to drive. Itas the 300 six and 4-speed and a few other options. It was really good on gas compared to the previous year's V-8 models and did everything asked of it. I enjoyed it for a few years.
I have and drive regularly my 1984 F150 XLT. It has the 2150 carburetor, 302 V8, AOD transmission, "tu-tone" paint (silver over dark blue) and a lot of accessories. Only the seat was the common everyday blue vinyl. Even though Ford seemingly made billions of these trucks and they were everywhere back in the day, I don't see any of them on the road today. When I do drive it around town, people do notice by stopping to look, and even the occasional "Hey, nice truck." They are cheap to keep, and mine has no rust being a central Texas truck. It won't win any awards for fuel economy. I bought mine used for $2,750 .00 when it was 7 years old. I've had it now for 31 years.
Own a 1986 f250 4x4 6.9idi/c6. Bought it new been driving for 37 years everyday to work and back. Mine is a lariat extended cab. Love this truck. I keep it maintained and everything works pwr windows ac/heat everything works. After almost 40 years driving it. I'm saving up to rebuild motor/transmission/transfer case and suspension. Pulling body off and sandblast and repaint the frame all new rubber and seals.. I bought all the parts for the engine at r&d and ebay to rebuild my motor.
My grandfather had a 1978 ford f-150 extended cab with the 460 V8, stock AC, cruise control, dual fuel tanks and tow package. It couldn’t go more than 70 mph with it’s gearing but that big ass 460 could move anything. He had modified with a home made roof rail and bed mounted side tool boxes. I wish we had saved it instead of selling it.
I managed to pick up one of these 1986 beautiful lariat pick ups at an estate auction in Arkansas several years ago. The previous owner had lived in Southern California and then had retired to Northwest Arkansas. He had passed away and the vehicle sat under a carport for several years before it was finally sold at auction. There are several dings and dents and some fading paint, but the body is completely rust free. I only briefly registered and insured it; but not needing it for on highway use, I keep it around the farm to fix some fences when they need repair. With only 139,000 miles on it, it starts every time and runs beautifully. I’m turning 75 and probably won’t be driving it much longer. I might put it up for sale and see if someone wants to restore it.
-Back in my college years, in 1986 and 1987 in the summers, I worked for Dave Thomas landscaping in Trenton, Michigan. I drove an '81 stake-bed F150 and towed a trailer with several mowers. There were four of us who cut the grass at the various Detroit Edison plants, and some places around Detroit and downriver. That truck was powered by a 351 Windsor with a two barrel, while it served us well, it already had a few rust spots and we had to push start it a few times in 90 degree Detroit heat when the starter went out. It wasn't luxurious at all, but it did do the job and while I was a Volkswagen guy at the time, I regarded it as a solid vehicle. My boss had another '81, a regular pickup with the 300 truck 6/four speed on the floor and told me to take it to Connor's Creek power plant one day with a big weed whip and cut the berm. I drove the truck from Trenton to the east side of Detroit and I did just that, but one thing I will tell you about Ford trucks is that the steering gearbox on these, [and I eventually had a '66 Ford F100 that did the same thing] develop play with age, and the truck wandered all over the road. You have to constantly correct this vehicle! [We used to go to Connor's Creek power plant and when we drove through that neighborhood on the east side to get to the plant? Four big 20 year old college guys used to roll up the windows, lock the doors, and drive through stop signs; That was NOT a good neighborhood! The year before I worked there, one of the mowers was mowing grass outside the plant and as he was walking along, noticed a horrid smell. He didn't come up a dead raccoon, he came up on a dead woman. Welcome to Detroit~] Honestly, I think that is really the only drawback of these trucks. Though, I will say...I never considered that interior "luxurious". My boss eventually bought in 1987 a silver Chevy pickup, and one summer day sent me to do some work at the Mobil oil plant in Woodhaven; I found the truck to be lacking interior-wise compared to Dave's Fords. GREAT video!
I have a red and white 1986 F-150 XLT Lariat. 100k original miles. AC still blows cold. Beautiful condition. The AOD shifts awfully but it seems pretty well made.
I had a 1987 F150 4X4 with the 5.8 4-bbl and C6. We got it new, but late in `87. It was the base trim level called "Custom", but had been ordered by the dealer with some nice options, like cloth seat, argent rims, and chrome bumpers and mirrors. It had no carpet and I was glad of that. But if I wanted a luxurious classic, the truck in this video looks like a great choice. It looks amazing.
Those seats were SOOO COMFY for the time! I loved that 80s Ford velour fabric when I was a kid. The AOD took some getting used to if coming from another make or an older Ford, but I had a generally very good experience with the 3 I've owned/had lots of time with.
I did a lot of wheel alignments on these. Moon was very quick to put cambered bushings on our shelves. They came in 1/2, 3/4, and 1 degree offsets. The trucks came from the factory with high degrees of caster which drove pretty straight if the tires were good. The alignment was never an issue in my head but the rubber tie rod ends of 1986 were crap. The story from Ford was that the bushing style knuckle was more self centring but in reality I think cost cutting attempt was the driving force there. I say attempt because warranty costs far outran those little savings.
I remember reading about those rubber tie rod bushings. Neither of my 86 trucks had them so I guess they all got replaced with conventional ball joints after some point.
the 1980-1985, I don't include the '86's, were premier pickups and one I'd gladly own again. Had several through that lineage, including an '85 that seemed to be one of the 100 they added fuel injection to before kicking off the '86 year. The only pickup class I think was better were the bumpside Ford pickups from '67-'72 that offered flareside beds from 6, 8 and 9 feet in length while still offering crew cab comfort and even dual tank modification. Considering what we can do with modern switches, you can now add a third tank for even more range. Wouldn't drive any other pickup but a Ford.
My old man purchased a ‘72 C20 pickup brand new back in the day and I remember the afternoon he brought home from the dealership for the first time as if it was yesterday! Let’s just say that in the “luxury department” it was a SIGNIFICANT step up over the ‘66 Dodge Sweptside half ton it replaced…..😮 The truck had the “tarted up” interior with bright orange plaid seats with white vinyl trim and lots of faux tooling on the trim and plastic molded door panels. It was also the first time I had ever seen air conditioning and a tilt steering wheel in a pickup - I think the only time the AC ever actually got used was in that first week when he would take someone for a ride in his new truck! So even in the early 70’s you were starting to see creature comforts work their way into our beloved pickups!
We have a 86 F350 2x4 XL dually crew cab long bed with a C6 transmission with a gear vendors under / over drive. 6.9 IDI non turbo diesel. Currently has 121k miles. I bought it for 500 bucks Jan 2021 with 118k miles. It sat under a tree for 15 years. Went through it and got it running very easily. I have a video of its 1st start after it sat. The truck was straight, 1 tiny rust spot, the interior has 1 small tear in the seat but, overall a clean truck with everything working. I also have a 2016 Ram 1500 4x4. I sometimes like driving the Ford more than the Ram. Thanks for your vid.
Great video! My first pickup was a 1986 F150 XLT Lariat with 351W HO engine and C6 automatic, it was absolutely a step above for trucks at the time; however, rust was definitely an issue.
Was the 351 strong ? I just bought an 85 with the HO that was locked up and bought a new remanufactured HO to put back in mine also has the C6 and 9 inch rear axle
@@drjohnsonhungwell5115 It ran great! It was actually probably stronger than what I needed to be driving at the time (I was 18 years old haha). I remember I had to use 93 octane fuel to prevent pinging as I think that engine has a higher compression ratio, thankfully I owned the truck at a time when that grade of gas was "only" $1.25 per gallon as the best fuel economy I could get was 12.5mpg.
The upholstery fabric of the Lariat matched in quality (if it wasn't exactly the same!) that which was used in at least the '87 Grand Marquis and Colony Park LS package. Best upholstery Ford ever used, in my opinion.
For years we had a car and a truck, "car for family--truck for work." Trucks now having four doors with a up-scale interior make it so now we only have a truck as it can still do "truck work" as well be a family car, one car payment and one vehicle to insure. HAPPY THANKSGIVING.....
I worked with a guy at my very first job at a grocery store; he was a butcher and drove Chevrolets version of the Lariat... He had a K20 Silverado... loaded with a 4-bbl 350, power windows and locks, stereo tape, etc., etc. I remember being surprised how comfortable it rode... it really wasn't that much different than the full-size luxury and near-luxury boulevard cruisers I had grown up with and subsequently drove myself. Trucks have come a long way... and I think the Silverado and Lariat were the trendsetters for the pick-ups transformation from a bare bones work vehicle to the "family cars" they are today.
One thing i did like about those '73-'87 Chevy/GMC Silverado/ Sierra trim pickups that were equipped with AC, was the lower vent in the left side of the dash. On a hot day with the AC going you could direct that vent to a certain position (cool certain body parts) and make a man very comfortable while he was driving. Ford and Dodge those vents won't available. They had the raised vents.
I like the design of these old ford trucks. Personally i think 2018 and onward has the best look all around but the 80s and early 90s ford trucks were damn good looking. That interior is REALLY nice. It looks like a velvet like material, the wood grain looks cool and the electronics scream 80s which i love.
There was a predecessor to this truck that I believe first appeared in 1965. They were the F100 and F250 Camper Specials. They had nicer, more comfortable interiors than the typical work truck and were set up for a camper to be carried in the bed or to pull a travel trailer. Ford's Twin I Beam suspension gave a very nice ride.
My dad bought a used 1986 in 1988. It was XLT lariat 2wd with the 300 six I think it was a four speed. That truck floated on air and the seat was like a plush couch. Most comfortable truck I ever rode in.
Hello Adam. This was a lovely video. I might add also that it was called the Twin Traction Beam front end. And yes they are a pain to keep aligned as they are.
When I was a kid my dad had a 1986 F150 Lariat, super cab, long bed, with the 5.0. It had every option on it, including the somewhat rare tachometer that I don’t think even any of the trucks you pictured had equipped. You are correct too, that was the most comfortable truck to sit in ever, with it’s bucket seats, and center console. I loved that truck, and still wish to this day my dad hadn’t got rid of it. If I was just a bit older, and closer to getting my license, I possibly could’ve saved it, but it was not the case. Unfortunately, we knew the guy my dad sold it to, and we saw the truck regularly. That trucked died a slow painful death, everytime we saw it something new was broken. Saw it one day, and the back window was busted out, but then a week later I saw it again, and the tailgate was folded in half. It just got worse, and worse, until the engine seized, and the guy scrapped it. What I would give to have that beauty of a truck back, I have a 89, 91,and 92, of the same plateform, (different front clip, and interior mostly) but they are no match to that 86. I would like to find one, but they are getting a bit expensive for what they are these days. Plus, I’m in the rust belt, so finding a nice one nearby is even harder. Maybe someday I’ll rid myself of my other old Ford trucks, and take the money from them to get another 86. Excellent video.
Thanks for the video. This takes me back a few years. I actually had a 1981 F-150 (Ranger) that had the brown/orange paint scheme like the one at 1:35 in the video. I like the wheels shown on the red truck at 2:25 in the video, those are some of the coolest factory rims ever. At 6:45, I had a 1988 F-150 in that color scheme. At 5:40 that's a nice picture of the dash in that era. Back when vehicles had a little bit of style built into them. It's neat seeing the manual shifter as well. I read a comment one day that said millennials consider the manual shifter an anti-theft device🤣. At 8:30, I like the color combination of the dark blue/tan paint, that's a cool look. This was a cool era for Ford trucks with the bullnose years (1980-1986) and then the brick nose years (1987-1991) that followed. Th 1987-1991 years had nice dash layouts with the cool green backlighting for the gauges.
Not sure if you just mis-spoke but 1986 was the last year of the bull nose ...1987 started the brick nose era. You were comparing 86-87 interior . Ford did offer alignment "slugs" to adjust the caster and camber without replacing the arms. Good video.
Авто/Мото
Ah, the good old days when you could get a pickup with a regular cab, manual transmission, bench seat and two-tone paint.
Please don't forget the 8 foot bed which was a standard feature not special order.
Manuel windows.
This is why I'm hanging on to my 2007 Silverado Classic LS. manual transmission, 8 foot bed, manual windows v6 engine with 196,000 miles. The cruise control is pretty handy too. I'm an older guy (71) and could afford a new full-size truck, but I still love driving it.
@@rightlanehog3151 an actual usable bed.
@@larryrowe5259 I believe the phrase- keep on truckin' would apply 😁
My buddy’s dad had one of these. He was a foundation contractor and used Chevys for the business , but somehow one these found it’s way into the fleet. This truck didn’t go to the job site but was used for “goin’ into town” 😎
In the day GM trucks could always haul more within the respective classes (regardless of mfg ratings) but Fords were the nicest to be in and drive.
Cheers 🇨🇦
Goin' into? No "good old boys" talk that way. Repeating "in" back to back with the firm t of "to" is uncomfortable and not relaxed and bein a good ole boy is all about comfort and relaxin.
@@mwilliamshs who gives a shit
@@mwilliamshs ok potato farmer
@@mwilliamshs real good ole boys don’t give a shit how you talk
My daily driver is a 1985 F150 Lariat. 302, 2v, two wheel drive. I love it!
Also don't forget about the 1980 and 1981 ranger trim package, those were quite nice for the era as well.
I bought a used 1985 XLT Lariat in 1994. It was a beautiful truck, and was loaded. It had cruise control, power steering, brakes and windows. A nice stereo system, sliding rear window, automatic transmission and the 351 Windsor V8. I still miss this truck.
I had an 85 xlt lariat as well. Great truck. Sold it to the ford dealer owner when I traded it for a 1992 zlt lariat
I’ve had a 1982 lariat short wide 4x4 since I was 15, thing is loaded, pretty sure there wasn’t an option it doesn’t have, power everything, 351w, auto trans, A/C, dual tanks, cruise, paint got pretty bad, so had it restored, but found in the glove box when I bought it that all the original sales contracts from 82 were there, plus service records all the way up into the 90’s, seemed like the original owner was pretty meticulous about that pickup
When I was in high school, my parents finally went and bought a brand new truck, 1985 Ford F150 lariat super cab. It had velvet red cushion puffed seats, two-tone, dark, silver and light silver paint, and a thin, bright, orange stripe, very shiny chrome wheels. It was truly one of the most beautiful trucks in town, will never forget that truck.
I worked at a large local Ford dealer in 1980 when this generation came out. I drove an F150 daily with I6 and manual trans. Not a 4x4...rode and drove
out well. Good mileage. We called them Swiss cheese pick ups because it appeared in order to lighten them for better mileage there were sections of the frame devoid of metal. We don't see many from this generation on the road here in Minnesnowta any more!
I live in Ontario and have seen my share of cars rust to oblivion over the decades. Now annual rustproofing is top of my list for preventative maintenance and my 17 year old car remains more solid than anything I owned before it. Do you have Krown Rustproofing dealers or any other credible brand out there?
The swiss cheese frame was only on the entry models and only for the first year, then they were all standard frame
@@rightlanehog3151 Every Spring, I blast out the underside of my 99 Prelude just with a garden hose, and that has saved it here in New England- no rust after all these years.
Exactly what process for annual rustproof were you describing?
@@67marlins I take it to my closest Krown dealer once a year. There are numerous videos posted on RUclips detailing their process.
@@rightlanehog3151 OK, thank you.
I've never seen such a thing here in Massachusetts, but maybe it's not a good cost/benefit thing if late-model cars are enjoying a profitable turnover anyway....?
Laying on a wet lawn, blasting out the underside of my 1999 Prelude with a garden hose isn't a pleasant job, but I pick a warm Spring day, am very thorough, and have saved the little car from any rust underneath by cleansing out all Winter salt & sand this way.
Sadly, I've seen other 5th Generation Preludes ( 1997 To 2001 ) display appreciable rust over the rear wheel wells....
I found a super clean rust free 86 XLT Lariat. Had to drive a day to get it and the price was pretty solid. Glad I got it. I love the truck.
The Lariat was a very luxurious cab. When I was a teen, our neighbor had one of these with a fuel injected 300 straight 6 under the hood. That motor was smooth as velvet, quiet, and nice torque
One of the best gasoline engines ever put in a vehicle. Period. And I'm a GM guy saying this.
I had one. Couldnt kill it
I had several of the inline sixes on F-150s and 250s. The best decision I ever made was when I quit buying Fords. Freed up much time for me. Because my weekends weren't spent working on my truck after I bought Chevys. The only thing good about those Fords were the engine everything else fell apart around them. Nickel and dime repairs was killing me. Electrical problems Galore.
@@djg3996coming from a gm costumer the gasoline engines with the deactivation are garbage😂
My dad has a 86 F150 XLT Lariat that's in pretty good shape. It still has its original 351w 4bbl engine. I was driving my 13yr old daughter around in it over the summer and was trying to explain to her that this was the top of the line truck back in the mid 80s. She looked at me like I was crazy! I've always dug the bull nose fords and still think they are of of the best looking pickup ever made.
Is the 351 pretty strong I just bought an 85 with the HO engine and putting a remanufactured engine back in now .
@@drjohnsonhungwell5115 compared to today's engines, no. But for the time they were fine. They havr good tourqe down low. You won't win many drag races with it but it can get out of its own way.
I have the 351 h.o it was strong for a truck of that time. I've let it sit to long.
@@drjohnsonhungwell5115it’s great f when compared to other engines of the time, but something like GMs new 2.7 turbo 4 cyl will make more power & torque at a broader rev range. Technology really does make a difference
@@calebnation6155 I've got mine running now but have only been across the street from my shop still have to have new exhaust ran on it replaced the old locked up 351 with a new one of the same specs as original from what I've read on a couple forums it'll be comparable to a 73 and up 460 with similar HP and torque
My dad had one of these beasts , the 460 engine is a beast
Love the old commercials, crazy how expensive some of these trucks are today. Definitely a way to get that road isolating full frame old school luxury ride 🦃
As he said the Chrysler land yachts were unibody and maybe some of the Lincolns. My medium truck has huge frame members but thats to take the weight of loads. It rides pretty crummy with front and rear leaf springs. I don't worry about anyone rear ending me in that thing unless they are driving a train. My TR 6 has a full frame and you can see the doors flex at the jambs up to two inches. And it rides lousy.
Full frame and no freak wheel drive for me
Handsome trucks with an excellent driving position with more leg room than a Chevy of the time. I had a 1980 F250 camper special for a work truck from ‘86-‘90. Aside from it being a lo-po 302, that used oil, drank gas prolifically, had rusty floor boards, and unless it had a heavy load on it drove for the ditch; was dependable and with the 2-tone paint and XLT Ranger trim, very handsome indeed.
Even by today's standards of styling this era of Ford F150's was a very good-looking pickup!
Mu uncle had a 85 lariat with a 351w when I was a kid. He talked it up and was proud of the lariat trim level. In my driveway right now I have a 95 f350 crew cab 7.3 powerstroke. Pretty much the pinnacle of those boxy ford's. I think about him whenever I drive it.
Hi Adam, great video as always. I would point out a small inaccuracy regarding the front alignment provisions in the Twin Traction Beam models. Caster and camber were adjustable through the replacement of caster/camber “slugs”, which were the bushings for the knuckle upper ball joint attachment to the axle beam. These bushings could be ordered with an off-center hole in various positions to adjust front caster and camber. The factory would trend set caster and camber to hit the target values for each, and if a vehicle had been damaged or modified in service, slugs with a different offset could be installed to being caster and camber back into the desired range. The only scenario where an axle replacement would be warranted would be if the axle had been damaged/bent to such an extent that they were unalignable with the available range of caster/camber slugs.
Back in the spring of 2019 my brother called me to ask about going down and helping an old family friend that was well known in the community in general back to the late 1960s.
"Rod" was getting up into his early 80's and need some help with various things so no problem or so I thought.....
Called up Rod - setup a time to visit and see what he needed help with - then went down to see him. Walked in thru his garage and did a triple take as to the far right sat a 1981 Ford F150 Custom 2X4 with a 302 V8 automatic w/cruise control 8' box two tone green & white with dual gas tanks. A pickup truck that I used many times over in the 1980's to move myself and my girlfriend to and from and college. I thought the truck was long since gone to a junkyard and had been scrapped and yet there it was - sitting since 1994. 77,000 miles in pretty dang good condition as never used in the winter.
The primary project was to be cleaning everything out of the box/on the truck and out of it besides as he explained to me. Then see if we can get it running and out of the garage as he wanted the space. Asked him of course what then with this "Bull Nose" that freaked me out to see it for the first time in roughly close to 30 years and he smiled telling me he will sign/give me the title keys do whatever I want with it - SCORE!
Took some work but got it all cleaned out and running but not real good to begin with as it need a carb rebuild and other things from sitting including tires and such but all there and still in pretty good shape it was 38 years old and been sitting for 25 years.
The truck has many connections including back to my Dad's older brother as it came from his Ford dealership originally - a brother to my father who had passed away only a month before and 2 weeks previous to planned trip to drive my parents cross country to go see him before he passed but that did not work out.
This truck was sold @ an auction to our friend sort of by accident when my father sold out his businessand instead of just purchasing it back my father let it go.
Now it came back and it will never leave our family again - going thru restore and besides my brother/I for now - a nephew/grandson wants it after we are gone to continue on - never to sell it.
I recall this truck with the 302 w/carburetor - not fuel injected or with a lot of electronic "goo" on it as today's have never lacked in power - performance as well always stayed in the 25-28MPG for mileage.
The old girlfriend from college is also anxious when all done with it to see it/drive it/ride in it once again as many many good memories from the long drives/moving we used it for so many times and then while @ college and when we would come back home besides.
Once I finally had a lot of mechanicals all checked out and such - stopped over by my parents one evening and engaged my father in particular in a conversation about that truck and when he commented how he wish that truck was still ours and around - reached in my pocket and pulled out the original OEM keys still on the same FORD keychain from his brother's FORD dealership and asked him if Mom & him go get it and get it to my house so I could continue working on it - he lost it pretty good for a bit and freaked out that it was still around and driveable.
As I guessed it just made it to my parents for the remainder of the year until winter was coming in and then to my garage as he stuck it in there garage for that year and messed with it for months.
So a video like this just adds to it overall and you bet these were real truck meant to be used as trucks and not over priced/over rated "show & tell" toys as many are today with way to much electronic goo on them that only serves to cost lots of $$$ constantly. 🙂🙂🙂
Had a mid eighties pickup 8 foot bed and 4 speed manual on the floor. Drove it barefoot in the summer time and got really good at rolling down the passenger windows with my foot. Great trucks and great memories!
Adam, I would like to take the occasion of Thanksgiving 2022 to THANK you for all the time and hard work you put into this channel throughout the year. I would also like to pay tribute to your growing group of SUBSCRIBERS who, by and large, post thoughtful and respectful comments about our shared interest in the underappreciated classic cars of yesteryear. 😁
I have to add a small correction, Adam. The EFI equipped 5.0 v8 was introduced in 1985 as an option and then became standard issue from 86 on out. The 1985 engines are actually a bit better than the 86 version because they had forged pistons from the factory. I know this because my first truck was a 1985 F-150 Lariat with that fuel injected 5.0. The original owner claimed it was the first of its kind on the lot in early spring of 1985 when he bought it from Billingsley Ford in Ardmore, Oklahoma. I really enjoy the channel. Happy Thanksgiving!
One of my brothers has a 1985 4x4 with the 5.0 F.I. engine
Had over 300K miles on a 300 slant 6 still going strong
until a cement truck totaled it :(
My 85 5.0 Crown Vic had CFI, the 86 had full FI like on 2022 car.
Ardmore,Oklahoma has a major gray iron foundry there. E.J. Foundry.
@@JohnSmith-if4uy Ford 300 six would only be slanted after hit by a cement truck. One of the best engines ever .
Happy Thanksgiving, Adam.
I ordered new a '86 F-250 HD super cab 8' box w/ 6.9 XLT Lariat. Captains chairs w/ dual armrests. The most comfortable vehicle ever. Put over 350,000 miles on that truck. 1 set of head gaskets and a water pump. Great truck. Should have never sold it
My dad drove an F150 with the I6 300 for years. Such a reliable tank.
I loved my '80 and '84. Then I had an '82 bronco. This is my favorite Ford truck, guess I grew up on this body style, great video!!!
I remember a neighbour buying a 1980 F250 Supercab and it making my fathers 1977 F250 Crewcab look so outdated. I also recall driving around in a red 1986 Lariat just like in this video and being awestruck by the interior, it was luxury for the time. Now that I’ve owned vehicles with leather seats I actually prefer the older velour material for seating surfaces.
Happy Thanksgiving Adam and Subscribers! I miss the two tone paint that used to be the calling card of full size pickups. I also miss two ton full-size pickups as many nowadays weigh closer to 3 tons. Most of all I miss the shared notion that trucks were primarily intended for work duties. Far too many today are nothing more than 3 tons of self-indulgent status symbol.
Agreed.
Most. Why would you get all that crap to beat it to death on a job site. My farmer neighbor absolutely trashes his out. He has several.
@@rogersmith7396 -- because for many it's their office if you worked out of your truck 10-12 hrs a day wouldn't you want all the creature comforts, besides why are you complaining your not paying for it
@@mdlclassguymdlclassguy6488 You could say the same thing about a car or a canned ham trailer. See Uber.
Where I work there is a literal 'arms race' with our current mega-big full size pickups, which make up nearly half the parking lot. Seems like ~2/3 were bought solely so the owner could make a statement (that includes a middle finger) versus them actually needing such a huge truck, especially for commuting purposes. Then they have the chutzpah to also complain about high gasoline prices..
I have to agree, the E4OD that replaced the AOD was a much better trans. I have a 1991 F-350 with the E4OD, and it has 486k + on the original engine and trans, with no issues to speak of. I personally love the Bull Nose best, but the Brick Nose has a very special place in my heart. I remember being a little boy, building model kits of a brick nose, extended cab, dually F-350, always red, and telling my mother that I would some day own the real thing. Fast forward to 2018, I bought the F-350 I still have today, a 1991, Extended Cab, dually, F-350 in red, with a red interior. My mother in law's adopted kids named her Big Red, and that truck is still my baby.
The basis for the E4OD transmission is the C6.
I still own a truck that my late farther purchase New. 1986 Ford F-250 XLT Lariat std. cab 4X4 Pick-Up. Options selected by my late father, (E-5) Eng. 460ci. (E-16) Trans. C-6 Auto. (C-8) Camper Pkg. (B-13) Heavy Duty Frt. Suspension. (B-17) Eng. Oil Cooler. (C-9) Axle Ratio- 355:1 (Limited Slip Rear Axle) (C-5) Trailer Tow Pkg. (C-29) ICC-Cab Lights. (C-1) Air Condition.
Truck is one family owned since new, a California vehicle since new with zero rust /Cancer. I enjoy taking it for a drive.😎 Thanks Adam for this video.
1984(?)F-150 stepside 4X4 straight six was my favorite farm truck of all time. Now I’d literally have to win the lottery to afford one! 😂
Wow, that red interior brings back some memories. I had that sea of red in my '84 XLT model that I bought much later from the original owner. It had an H.O. 351 (High Output) which was the Windsor with the Holley 4V carb from the 460. Very little info about the HO351 in shop manuals or books but that's how they built them. When I was in high school my dad leased an '85 F-250 with a 460 and a 5-speed, no granny gear, just a regular 5-speed and the same factory Holley four barrel carb. That thing would burn the tires literally as long as you wanted. We never did use that as a work truck and it was my primary mode for my junior and senior year. A teal green two wheel drive F-250 with a 460 and a 5-speed in the hands of a high school punk. I have no idea what my parents were thinking, but it did cure me of street racing. It would NEVER hook up off the line in regular driving, let alone racing. That was my school of throttle modulation. I've never seen another truck like it since.
You got that same 4180 carb in a 5.0 Mustang GT back in '85.
Unfortunately the Zf- 5 speed was not available behind a 460 until late in the '87 model year.
I'm still driving mine, with over 400k on the clock (but a reman engine installed in '08)
Thanks for another great video Adam. This brings back fond memories of the 80s, where my best friend’s dad owned several bull nose Ford F100 Ranger and F150 XLTs for his construction business…mostly stripped down models but with V8s and automatics. Then in 1986 he bought a “boss truck” which was a two-tone 4x4 XLT Lariat with the same red velour and power options. Absolutely gorgeous truck. Today I find it rather humorous what passed for “Luxurious” in 1986 compared to my 2022 PowerBoost today. But I’d still love to have that truck today.
Please do a video like this for all the pickups! Well done Adam! 🛻
Pickups!!
Adam, another great video! You really hit the nail on the head with this one. I still have brochures from the '85 and '86 model years, and those Lariat interiors were over the top!
As someone who grew up on (and eventually returned to) a farm, I have experienced many Ford and GM pickups - purchased both new and "slightly" used - ranging from 1965 to 2020. And most of them are still present in various states of operation (or potential restoration, lol). Among them are a 1992 F-150 Custom and a 1994 F-150 XL, both two wheel drive with the 5.0/AOD configuration. The '92 was purchased close to new, followed by the '94 which was new. Both served as our crew supervisors' trucks for decades over hundreds of thousands of hard miles. I only recently retired the trucks from that duty when I recently bought 2018 and 2019 F-150's.
Although the '92-'96 trucks are frequently lumped in with the '87-'91models in discussion forums, I always thought that the '92 front clip redesign really paid tribute to the 1980-1986 in a positive way.
Always love seeing that classic 1970s and 1980s style Ford or Chevy pickup on the road today! Such a great flashback! 🛻
My Aunt had an '86 ECLB Lariet brand new in late '85. 2 tone grey and silver with red velour interior. Dad drove a '78 K20 Cheyenne and I remember getting yelled at for opening a wing window in the Ford because she had A/C. Pa, did not. Fun memories of that old Ford. Got stuck in a rain storm while camping and I got to sleep in the back seat while my aunt kicked back the drivers seat. Good times as a child.
These and the 1960 model are my favourite F series. I have a very nice metallic brown and tan 1986 F250 XLT Lariat. Two wheel drive with the 460 V8 , cruise, power windows and brown velour interior. The “bullnose” model is such a good looking truck in my view and are only now starting to be appreciated. Again, I bought mine when nobody was really collecting them. They were cheap to buy then.
That red interior is gorgeous
The difference between the sheet metal they used in the 70s models and 80s models is unbelievable.
One of my favorite videos that you’ve done, even though I watch them all. I’m a little partial to this one because my best friend in high school had a red ‘84 2wd flare side with the 300 and 4-speed. It was not the XLT Lariat, just a custom, but he was 2 years older than me, so it was my ride to and from school my sophomore and junior year. And we went everywhere else in it too. It was steel freedom and I learned how to do most of my first mechanic work on it… brakes and tune ups and such. I’m now searching for one like you specified at the end of the video to make my own. Thanks for doing what you do.
I had a 86 F150 lariat, It had a tachometer in the center pod in the dash too.
That tachometer is probably my only issue with this generation interior. It just wasn’t commonly equipped, so most trucks just had the blank hash marks right in the middle of the cluster, constantly reminding you there’s no tach. This was one thing they fixed with the 87 update, there were 2 different clusters used for with or without a tach.
@@chriswilkerson1493 Right, It had a tach, the 9" rear end tow package, dual tanks, but was a 300 strait 6 with a auto trans. Got it when I was 16. I put many miles on it.
Man, what a video for Thanksgiving Day. I'm a car guy primarily, but it's hard to argue with any classic truck. That being said, these fords in particular are excellent... and a certain 86 F150 Lariat is one of the most sentimental cars.
My family fell on hard times after the 08 housing crash, and after my father's Toyota pickup died, he bought the old Lariat F150 from a neighbor who had just backed his Cadillac into the bed, taking out the primary fuel tank (thankfully it still had the secondary tank). Even though it had spent years with rough abuse and hard work, even spending some time carrying rocks in a quarry, it kept my family moving for several years. Of course it had issues, especially once my dad started commuting 100 miles a day with it. It was managing 16 MPG on the highway with a tired FI 302 and the clunkier AOD that made us all afraid the rear end was gonna fall out whenever it shifted into overdrive.
Eventually the Ford was retired after we bought a brand new Cruze (the gas savings alone basically paid the payments), but still soldiered on as our trusty steed for hauling trash up to the dump. It started having more and more issues running, and after a mechanic told us that the electronics had been botched so bad by previous owners that it really wasn't safe, we parked it. The engine was knocking and the transmission was really acting like it was on its way out.
Sadly, it's now sat for about a decade. I'd love to get it running again, but the truth is that it's probably beyond saving. There isn't a straight or rust free square inch of sheet metal on the old truck, even before we got it. It makes me sad, because I've never had that sort of sentimental attachment to any vehicle. It's like a part of the family, even if it has probably reached the end of its light. Having to find a new engine and trans probably wouldn't be too bad, but the electrical problems (before sitting for so long), leave me with a lot of concern as to how much work and money would go into the project. At this point, I almost feel like it would be worth tAking parts of ours and grafting them into another, equally less fortunate old bullnose, and trying to bring two of these great old trucks back to life.
Low mileage examples are great to own, but I really do feel an attachment to the examples of these old vehicles that were just workhorses for so long. Nightmares as they might be to own, they have character all their own.
I guess wish me luck and hope that I can somehow find the guidance to do the right thing by my 86 F150 Lariat. It's the extended cab with the back opera windows, as I always called them. Black paint with the rockers painted red. I still think they're the sharpest looking trucks ever made.
I bought a 1986 F150 XL brand new for $9545.00 after a $600.00 rebate the dealer got. Mine had the 300cid 6 cylinder, manual 4 speed transmission which used 1st gear only as a "granny gear". It could be had in automatic, regular 4 speed, or 4 speed with granny (meaning 1st gear wasn't synchronized so you used 2nd, 3rd, and 4th when daily driving) it could be had with the 5.0V8 but they weren't fuel injected until 1987. Mine was called a 4x2. It was 2 wheel drive but the rear axle had limited slip. I drove it for 9.5 year's. It was a good truck. I vividly remember loading it with 85 8"x8"x16" concrete blocks, a 16' chain, a bag of cement, myself and one passenger. I remember the 14 mile ride back home with all that weight. It had the power but every small hill felt like the front end was going to lift! Shortly after I bought it, I wished that I had gotten an automatic and 4 wheel drive. But when I bought it that was all I could afford. I was 32 years old and that was my first brand new vehicle. In 1987, I put an aluminum cap on the bed and my wife and I took a trip to Niagara falls and slept in the back of the truck on an air mattress in a camp ground on the Canadian side. In 1995 I bought a new F150 4x4 reg cab automatic and gave the "86" to my dad after I put new tires and a gas tank on it. It was a good truck but after a couple more years it turned into a rust bucket. To bad, because the motor and transmission were still perfect. Good video but the fuel injection came out for the "87" model year
Thanks Adam! I just bought an 85 F-150 base! I haven't even taken delivery yet 👍
My dad had 2 Fords of this era, both HD 1 ton duallys. His 81 F350 with the 400 and manual was a great truck, although the factory exhaust was so restrictive that he couldn't go over 60 mph so he had a muffler shop put on a high flow cat/muffler and the truck ran great, he sold it in 87 with just over 300k mi and I still see it around town occasionally, as he sold it to a furniture store
His 87 F350 460 manual was another story. He had front end problems from the get go, even losing complete steering control when the truck was less than 6 months old. As was mentioned in the video, whenever the twin I beam was severely out of alignment, Fords remedy was to replace the entire front end. 2 new front ends before it hit 3 years old my dad sold the truck for pennies on the dollar and swore off Fords permanently. He was in the battery business and needed another HD dually to carry huge loads so he went with the Isuzu cab overs and the company is currently on its 3rd one of those. As the business got more successful he didn't have to use a dually as his daily driver he bought a 1990 GMC C1500 with the TBI 350. He still has that truck and it's currently sitting at a little over 645k mi on original engine. After the troubles with the 87 Ford he has been a GM man ever since and has never owned another Ford.
Adam, I love what your doing, and I am really interested in you doing more on trucks, SUVs, and anything else from the 70’s and 80’s. Thanks
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
I had an 80 F-150 “Explorer” model, single cab, 4 on the floor 2wd, 300. Oh man the memories. First kiss with my now wife, and many, many more. Now I have a ‘59 F250 factory 4x4, 4 spd. It’s a WIP. Cheers, great content. Happy new year
These things were _everywhere_ when I was a kid. There was still a Ford dealer in town at the time, and they basically sold trucks, trucks, more trucks, even more trucks, and three Crown Vics a year for the cops. :)
Still by far my favorite Ford pickup style. I regret selling my short bed 2wd for $900 back 17 years ago
I had an '86 F-150 4x4 regular cab. Straight 6 4 speed. No bells and whistles. Pump the pedal 4 times and turn the key.......hit the trails. They are great trucks.
The beginning of the end for me. I always had a pick up because of how practical they are when you own a home. But these new trucks are nothing more than a luxury vehicle with an open trunk because most of the beds are small due to the fact that the cab is so absurdly HUGE!😆
Loved ths video, Adam. As a work truck, I was given a new 1980 F250 Custom to drive. Itas the 300 six and 4-speed and a few other options. It was really good on gas compared to the previous year's V-8 models and did everything asked of it. I enjoyed it for a few years.
I have and drive regularly my 1984 F150 XLT. It has the 2150 carburetor, 302 V8, AOD transmission, "tu-tone" paint (silver over dark blue) and a lot of accessories. Only the seat was the common everyday blue vinyl. Even though Ford seemingly made billions of these trucks and they were everywhere back in the day, I don't see any of them on the road today. When I do drive it around town, people do notice by stopping to look, and even the occasional "Hey, nice truck." They are cheap to keep, and mine has no rust being a central Texas truck. It won't win any awards for fuel economy. I bought mine used for $2,750 .00 when it was 7 years old. I've had it now for 31 years.
Thank you for talking clearly and not so fast. You have my attention.
Another great video - Happy Thanksgiving from Massachusetts.
Thanks for the great video. Truly beautiful trucks.
Own a 1986 f250 4x4 6.9idi/c6. Bought it new been driving for 37 years everyday to work and back. Mine is a lariat extended cab. Love this truck. I keep it maintained and everything works pwr windows ac/heat everything works. After almost 40 years driving it. I'm saving up to rebuild motor/transmission/transfer case and suspension. Pulling body off and sandblast and repaint the frame all new rubber and seals.. I bought all the parts for the engine at r&d and ebay to rebuild my motor.
I’m a Ford truck slappy, but it’s hard not to love all the pick ups of this era. Great video!
My grandfather had a 1978 ford f-150 extended cab with the 460 V8, stock AC, cruise control, dual fuel tanks and tow package. It couldn’t go more than 70 mph with it’s gearing but that big ass 460 could move anything. He had modified with a home made roof rail and bed mounted side tool boxes. I wish we had saved it instead of selling it.
I managed to pick up one of these 1986 beautiful lariat pick ups at an estate auction in Arkansas several years ago.
The previous owner had lived in Southern California and then had retired to Northwest Arkansas. He had passed away and the vehicle sat under a carport for several years before it was finally sold at auction.
There are several dings and dents and some fading paint, but the body is completely rust free.
I only briefly registered and insured it; but not needing it for on highway use, I keep it around the farm to fix some fences when they need repair.
With only 139,000 miles on it, it starts every time and runs beautifully. I’m turning 75 and probably won’t be driving it much longer.
I might put it up for sale and see if someone wants to restore it.
I bought a new f-150 in the fall of '84 it was a wonderful truck and it got me through almost 2 years of college I loved it
-Back in my college years, in 1986 and 1987 in the summers, I worked for Dave Thomas landscaping in Trenton, Michigan. I drove an '81 stake-bed F150 and towed a trailer with several mowers. There were four of us who cut the grass at the various Detroit Edison plants, and some places around Detroit and downriver. That truck was powered by a 351 Windsor with a two barrel, while it served us well, it already had a few rust spots and we had to push start it a few times in 90 degree Detroit heat when the starter went out. It wasn't luxurious at all, but it did do the job and while I was a Volkswagen guy at the time, I regarded it as a solid vehicle. My boss had another '81, a regular pickup with the 300 truck 6/four speed on the floor and told me to take it to Connor's Creek power plant one day with a big weed whip and cut the berm. I drove the truck from Trenton to the east side of Detroit and I did just that, but one thing I will tell you about Ford trucks is that the steering gearbox on these, [and I eventually had a '66 Ford F100 that did the same thing] develop play with age, and the truck wandered all over the road. You have to constantly correct this vehicle!
[We used to go to Connor's Creek power plant and when we drove through that neighborhood on the east side to get to the plant? Four big 20 year old college guys used to roll up the windows, lock the doors, and drive through stop signs; That was NOT a good neighborhood! The year before I worked there, one of the mowers was mowing grass outside the plant and as he was walking along, noticed a horrid smell. He didn't come up a dead raccoon, he came up on a dead woman. Welcome to Detroit~]
Honestly, I think that is really the only drawback of these trucks. Though, I will say...I never considered that interior "luxurious". My boss eventually bought in 1987 a silver Chevy pickup, and one summer day sent me to do some work at the Mobil oil plant in Woodhaven; I found the truck to be lacking interior-wise compared to Dave's Fords.
GREAT video!
My first NEW Ford pickup was a 1983 F-150. I moved up to PS, PB,
and a 5" foam seat.
I have a 96 F-150 4X4 now, absolutely love them
I have a red and white 1986 F-150 XLT Lariat. 100k original miles. AC still blows cold. Beautiful condition. The AOD shifts awfully but it seems pretty well made.
I had a 1987 F150 4X4 with the 5.8 4-bbl and C6. We got it new, but late in `87. It was the base trim level called "Custom", but had been ordered by the dealer with some nice options, like cloth seat, argent rims, and chrome bumpers and mirrors. It had no carpet and I was glad of that.
But if I wanted a luxurious classic, the truck in this video looks like a great choice. It looks amazing.
The very first sentence you spoke was EXACTLY on the money! Rarely has a nail been hit so squarely on the head. It could be a video of its own.
Those seats were SOOO COMFY for the time! I loved that 80s Ford velour fabric when I was a kid.
The AOD took some getting used to if coming from another make or an older Ford, but I had a generally very good experience with the 3 I've owned/had lots of time with.
I did a lot of wheel alignments on these. Moon was very quick to put cambered bushings on our shelves. They came in 1/2, 3/4, and 1 degree offsets. The trucks came from the factory with high degrees of caster which drove pretty straight if the tires were good. The alignment was never an issue in my head but the rubber tie rod ends of 1986 were crap. The story from Ford was that the bushing style knuckle was more self centring but in reality I think cost cutting attempt was the driving force there. I say attempt because warranty costs far outran those little savings.
I remember reading about those rubber tie rod bushings. Neither of my 86 trucks had them so I guess they all got replaced with conventional ball joints after some point.
I love my twin I beam front ends.
the 1980-1985, I don't include the '86's, were premier pickups and one I'd gladly own again. Had several through that lineage, including an '85 that seemed to be one of the 100 they added fuel injection to before kicking off the '86 year. The only pickup class I think was better were the bumpside Ford pickups from '67-'72 that offered flareside beds from 6, 8 and 9 feet in length while still offering crew cab comfort and even dual tank modification. Considering what we can do with modern switches, you can now add a third tank for even more range.
Wouldn't drive any other pickup but a Ford.
My dad bought an 85 Ford Lariat brand new. It was a gorgeous truck.
My old man purchased a ‘72 C20 pickup brand new back in the day and I remember the afternoon he brought home from the dealership for the first time as if it was yesterday! Let’s just say that in the “luxury department” it was a SIGNIFICANT step up over the ‘66 Dodge Sweptside half ton it replaced…..😮
The truck had the “tarted up” interior with bright orange plaid seats with white vinyl trim and lots of faux tooling on the trim and plastic molded door panels. It was also the first time I had ever seen air conditioning and a tilt steering wheel in a pickup - I think the only time the AC ever actually got used was in that first week when he would take someone for a ride in his new truck!
So even in the early 70’s you were starting to see creature comforts work their way into our beloved pickups!
I want one 😮
We have a 86 F350 2x4 XL dually crew cab long bed with a C6 transmission with a gear vendors under / over drive. 6.9 IDI non turbo diesel.
Currently has 121k miles. I bought it for 500 bucks Jan 2021 with 118k miles.
It sat under a tree for 15 years. Went through it and got it running very easily.
I have a video of its 1st start after it sat.
The truck was straight, 1 tiny rust spot, the interior has 1 small tear in the seat but, overall a clean truck with everything working.
I also have a 2016 Ram 1500 4x4.
I sometimes like driving the Ford more than the Ram.
Thanks for your vid.
Best selling vehicle for decades. Happy Thanksgiving!
Great video! My first pickup was a 1986 F150 XLT Lariat with 351W HO engine and C6 automatic, it was absolutely a step above for trucks at the time; however, rust was definitely an issue.
Was the 351 strong ? I just bought an 85 with the HO that was locked up and bought a new remanufactured HO to put back in mine also has the C6 and 9 inch rear axle
@@drjohnsonhungwell5115 It ran great! It was actually probably stronger than what I needed to be driving at the time (I was 18 years old haha). I remember I had to use 93 octane fuel to prevent pinging as I think that engine has a higher compression ratio, thankfully I owned the truck at a time when that grade of gas was "only" $1.25 per gallon as the best fuel economy I could get was 12.5mpg.
Completely agree with your analysis the 1986 Lariat trim was very luxurious. Love velour trim. Liked the smooth gear shifter on the column.
The upholstery fabric of the Lariat matched in quality (if it wasn't exactly the same!) that which was used in at least the '87 Grand Marquis and Colony Park LS package. Best upholstery Ford ever used, in my opinion.
For years we had a car and a truck, "car for family--truck for work." Trucks now having four doors with a up-scale interior make it so now we only have a truck as it can still do "truck work" as well be a family car, one car payment and one vehicle to insure. HAPPY THANKSGIVING.....
Lovely pickup trucks.😍😍😍
I worked with a guy at my very first job at a grocery store; he was a butcher and drove Chevrolets version of the Lariat... He had a K20 Silverado... loaded with a 4-bbl 350, power windows and locks, stereo tape, etc., etc. I remember being surprised how comfortable it rode... it really wasn't that much different than the full-size luxury and near-luxury boulevard cruisers I had grown up with and subsequently drove myself. Trucks have come a long way... and I think the Silverado and Lariat were the trendsetters for the pick-ups transformation from a bare bones work vehicle to the "family cars" they are today.
One thing i did like about those '73-'87 Chevy/GMC Silverado/ Sierra trim pickups that were equipped with AC, was the lower vent in the left side of the dash. On a hot day with the AC going you could direct that vent to a certain position (cool certain body parts) and make a man very comfortable while he was driving. Ford and Dodge those vents won't available. They had the raised vents.
I have the 86 XLT Lariat as my daily driver. This video was cool.
I like the design of these old ford trucks. Personally i think 2018 and onward has the best look all around but the 80s and early 90s ford trucks were damn good looking.
That interior is REALLY nice. It looks like a velvet like material, the wood grain looks cool and the electronics scream 80s which i love.
I got an 86 XLT lariat explorer F150 with the 5.0EFI paired with the C6. Air cruise tilt. Red velour interior. I LOVE IT
I owned two Bullnose Fords. Had an Uncle who owned one he used for hauling. Favorite years of Ford.
My dad had one of these, it was amazing
There was a predecessor to this truck that I believe first appeared in 1965. They were the F100 and F250 Camper Specials. They had nicer, more comfortable interiors than the typical work truck and were set up for a camper to be carried in the bed or to pull a travel trailer. Ford's Twin I Beam suspension gave a very nice ride.
My dad bought a used 1986 in 1988. It was XLT lariat 2wd with the 300 six I think it was a four speed. That truck floated on air and the seat was like a plush couch. Most comfortable truck I ever rode in.
I love my 90 lariat. The wood grain is so pretty.
Hello Adam. This was a lovely video. I might add also that it was called the Twin Traction Beam front end. And yes they are a pain to keep aligned as they are.
Gotta love the old 80-86 Ford Bumpside trucks Adam, they're one of the toughest Old Fords out there.
I have a ‘96 F150. I absolutely love it.
I pick up a 85 xlt tomorrow.. really looking forward
When I was a kid my dad had a 1986 F150 Lariat, super cab, long bed, with the 5.0.
It had every option on it, including the somewhat rare tachometer that I don’t think even any of the trucks you pictured had equipped. You are correct too, that was the most comfortable truck to sit in ever, with it’s bucket seats, and center console. I loved that truck, and still wish to this day my dad hadn’t got rid of it. If I was just a bit older, and closer to getting my license, I possibly could’ve saved it, but it was not the case.
Unfortunately, we knew the guy my dad sold it to, and we saw the truck regularly. That trucked died a slow painful death, everytime we saw it something new was broken. Saw it one day, and the back window was busted out, but then a week later I saw it again, and the tailgate was folded in half. It just got worse, and worse, until the engine seized, and the guy scrapped it. What I would give to have that beauty of a truck back, I have a 89, 91,and 92, of the same plateform, (different front clip, and interior mostly) but they are no match to that 86.
I would like to find one, but they are getting a bit expensive for what they are these days. Plus, I’m in the rust belt, so finding a nice one nearby is even harder. Maybe someday I’ll rid myself of my other old Ford trucks, and take the money from them to get another 86. Excellent video.
Nice delivery, professional and eloquent as usual....Now let's see a Chevy/GMC truck video!
Thanks for the video. This takes me back a few years. I actually had a 1981 F-150 (Ranger) that had the brown/orange paint scheme like the one at 1:35 in the video. I like the wheels shown on the red truck at 2:25 in the video, those are some of the coolest factory rims ever. At 6:45, I had a 1988 F-150 in that color scheme. At 5:40 that's a nice picture of the dash in that era. Back when vehicles had a little bit of style built into them. It's neat seeing the manual shifter as well. I read a comment one day that said millennials consider the manual shifter an anti-theft device🤣. At 8:30, I like the color combination of the dark blue/tan paint, that's a cool look.
This was a cool era for Ford trucks with the bullnose years (1980-1986) and then the brick nose years (1987-1991) that followed. Th 1987-1991 years had nice dash layouts with the cool green backlighting for the gauges.
I would love to see you do vids on pickups. 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, chevy, ford, dodge, i don’t care i love em all.
Loved my 86 Lariat inline 6 with 4 speed.
Not sure if you just mis-spoke but 1986 was the last year of the bull nose ...1987 started the brick nose era. You were comparing 86-87 interior . Ford did offer alignment "slugs" to adjust the caster and camber without replacing the arms. Good video.