I bought it from a older man who had it at his deer lease for the last 10 years. It only has 71,000 miles on it, same engine, trans, diffs. It has like new N78 buckshots on it with a good N78 Co-op spare. He told me before i went looked at it that some rats or something chewed a fuel line last year, and he does not want to fool with it any more. I gave $600 dollers for the truck. Got it home, sprayed the dust/mud off of it and started looking...Well while there is quite a few electrical wires that have had the insulation chewed off, I found no cut, pinched, or broken fuel lines. So me and pops tested the fuel pump, and all was good there. We started talking and we noticed the float bowl was empty...Hmm, took the top of the carb off cleaned everything up a little, put it back together and the ol 20R fired up and purred like a kitten. No smoke or anything. Turns out the needle was stuck, not letting the float bowl fill up.

Now for the bad, suprisingly the rust on the bed is tolerable. The floorboards however are gonna have to be replaced. The front bearings, TRE's, swaybar bushings, and front leaf springs all need some attention. Along with the usual vacuum lines and chewed up wires. Other than that it runs like a top. Now for the pics

 

I was amazed at how good of shape the interior (other than the floorboards) was in for a 30 year old truck.

 

Here is a pick of my '83. It will probably be the floorboard doner unless i can make the ones out of my '86 work (hopefully i can).....

 

AWESOME!!!!
let me be one of the first on here to congratulate you on a great find.
keep us posted with how the project progresses and don't be afraid to ask for help!
oh, and dont forget:
HAVE FUN!!!!!!

 

nice find. and what a bumper that things huge, u going to keep it?

 

Thanks, and yes ill probably leave the bumper.....Its going to be a hunting truck so it might come in handy one day if a tree gets in the way...I just changed the dist. cap, plugs, plug wires, and oil in it....Anyone have a link or any suggestons for a good set of front leaf springs that will give 2"-3" of lift? In need somethin to make up for this big chunk of metal up front...lol

 

nice truck for sure. looks kind of like mine years ago when i first got it.
as for the sway bar bushings just take the sway bar off. you wont be able to feel the difference with or without it.

 

So i can just remove the swaybar?......I have been searching everywhere and can not find the info i want concerning putting the rear springs off either my '86 or '83 on the front of the '80. Will i have have to move the hangers? I measured the front and rear springs on the 83 and they measured about the same. I did find that they will give 3"-4" of lift. Sorry for beating a dead horse, but i searched on here for a hour and all i saw was mostly SFA conversions. So if someone could fill me in, or give me a link on the complete process of putting the rear springs up front it would be much appreciated.

 

is your friend:
RUF FAQ

 

I literally just found the RUF faq (off pirate) you posted in a previous thread.....Thanks man......Anyway, i think im just gonna go with some OME 3" front springs or something to that nature...Im basically looking for the most simple way to level the front of my truck out with this big bumper. So im kinda leaning towards something that will bolt into the stock locations, basically a bolt on bolt off type deal.

 

What are some opinions on wheels? Im thinking about breaking the N's off the stock wheels, sanding them down, and repainting them white. I have sanded, primed, and cleared a few different sets of foarwheeler wheels in the past with good results....Either that or go and buy some cheap wagon wheels....I like the nastalgic look of the stockers with some old school m/t's though. Thoughts?

 

You stole it at that price! The tires alone are worth that. Here's a question...why the hell would you use your 83 as a parts truck? It looks to be in great shape too.

 

Trust me, the last thing i want to do is cut up my '83....The only thing i "plan" on taking off is a section of the bed, the deluxe mirrors, and side vent covers. The game plan is for me to try and make the floorboards off of my '86 to work in the '80 so i dont have to cut them off the '83...The cab, front fenders, and hood are all in good shape on the '83, but the bed is shot. So if i can get the '80 the way that i want (no rust, mainly on the floorboards) without cutting into the '83, i plan on building a FB for the '83 with some sort of small block, and regearing for 35's. So hopefully i will just be pulling stuff off of it, that i will be able to replace later.

 

Great find and welcome to the forum. Yes restore your rims if you have had good luck in the past. Ocdropzone should have told you to go with Old Man Emu spings in the front if your looking to restore the factory ride height. (We both have them) and they ride good too. Dont think your 86 floor boards will work though. They may with major motifications but dont count on it. Those cabs are longer than the first gens. Great find and if you decide to use your 83 for parts then make sure you sell all the other parts on ebay. Even the small stuff will bring descent money. Please dont scrap it. Especially the bed.

 

I would like to buy your chrome cab vents. (vents behind your door handles) send pm if interested. Thanks

 

u mentioned deer lease.... maybe that bumper was meant to do the killing?? sweet deal at 500.... even if u have to replace the floors.. i love the smell of fresh welds in the morning..

 

I put the deluxe mirrors and chrome side vents on the '80 already. I have something in mind to cut down the size of th front bumper a little.

 

I bought an identical truck a couple weeks ago. Wonder if it's this one as mine came from down south, still has red clay underneath in spots. Let me know!

 

Nope i still have both of mine....The yellow one now looks like this:

 

Man your truck is looking great! Here is a small pic- don't know how to post the big ones yet- of the truck I saved from the scrap metal dealer in town. Sorta looks like your grey one.