hi
i have a nice bullnose crew but is a project i have to put on hold or sell
my plan is to buy a 87-97 ready to go
but i prefer the early front and paint schemes
is it easy enough to switch a bullnose front and bed onto an 80-97?

 

Not really
The core support is different
fender hooks to the bottom of the cab different.
fender hooks to the core support different through the years
doors change 80
doors change 80-86
doors change 87-91
doors change 92-97
bed stays the same inside 73-97
tailgate 80-86
tailgate 87-91
tailgate 92-97
front frame 80
front frame 81-91
front frame 92-97
Then we can start on the inside of the cabs.... wiring harnesses, drive trains etc.
i could write a whole thread. LOL

 

i know theres various differences with door panels etc and style of tailgates
but will the stuff actually swap? the body lines appear the same to me 80/97

i would be surprised if you cant swap doors 80-97 without too much hassle

if i were to swap front core panel hood fenders etc from a bullnose will it fit the 86-97?

i have done this with various european fords
pretty easily

 

Early doors won't close on later cabs.
seat belt designs, and flow through vents changed the bottom back half of the door.
doors appear the same
body lines change from 80-86 and 87-97
even IF the door would close, it would have a big sclupture at the bottom where the body line changes

 

You can change the core support over, but hooking the bottom of the fender in will require some fabrication
You will also find that the cowl is different.

 

ok thankyou maybe they interchange one way easier than the other?
would be nice insurance to have airbags etc on a bullnose
maybe just swap coloumn and sensors???
( thinking out loud)

 

Air bag is only in the steering wheel until 97

Not sure how involved it would be to put a system in an early truck, as the steering shaft where it hooks between the steering box and the column is different

Could be done I guess

 

im
sure there will be horrified faces reading this
but prob not that big a deal to retro fit yes steering wheel would be fine. i used to remove them all the time and set them off in various things just for the heck of it

 

Clock spring is part of the steering wheel. Horn changes over to sides instead of center

92,93 use a big steering wheel and the same steering head.

 

looks like its just you muel and me on this forum
dusty!
im not sure what would need changing weather its just the wheel and some wiring or the whole coloumn.
so... what years CAN you fit a bullnose front clip?
i dont mind a bit of fab if the body lines up.
this is all just ideas as i am chewing over

 

Don't worry everyone here reads every post. we are all a group, and help each other out
When one of us have it covered, the rest just keep an eye open, and add as needed
Back to the question
Frame stays the same 80-91
you would have to do some fab work to fasten the bottom of the fender on the cab

Not sure what you would do on the new "crush" front frame

 

actually i do much prefer the earlier paint schemes and i also prefer the look of the early dash
but i could live with that
it just might be nice to have the later options but with the early front also makes it easier to find a truck when your now looking at 80-97