I love the license plate on this 1981 Ford F-100 Flareside pickup: “Fine 4.9”, relating to the fine 4.9-liter/300-cu.in. inline-six, a rock-solid engine if there ever was one. It appears that there’s been some sort of touch-up paint on the left fender wheel arch and the rocker panel? The seller has this one posted here on craigslist in Bellingham, Washington, and they’re asking $10,000 or best offer, or an interesting trade. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Scott for the tip!
Why didn’t I buy eBay, Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft stock 25-28 years ago when I started noticing those companies in my adult life, with my first job after college? I could have a two-acre climate-controlled warehouse by now, filled to the brim with vehicles like this Ford Flareside. I’m like a Golden Retriever; I bounce through life basically happy, and I like everything and everyone. Well, not people who don’t signal lane changes, but pretty much everyone else. And, I especially like all vehicles. It wouldn’t take long to fill that warehouse.
I don’t even have a master wish list anymore; it wouldn’t make any sense because every vehicle I write about here on Barn Finds would make the list. It’s hard to beat the seventh-generation F-Series, made for the 1980 through 1986 model years. This is one we don’t get to see too often, a Flareside box, or bed model. This bed floor is starting to crumble, so the seller added plywood, and that works for now, but I’d redo that after tackling any rust issues that may be lurking.
The bare foot accelerator pedal gets a solid A, but the matching high/low beam pedal gets an A+. A Minnesota Vikings steering wheel cover would be much better, but… (ha, just kidding) This truck had a three-speed manual with a column shifter from the factory, but it was converted to a floor shift, and that’s one heck of an interesting angle on that shifter. I’m not sure what to think about that, but I might redo the linkage and put it back on the column. Otherwise, it looks great inside from what I can see. The seller has provided good photos, and in a craigslist ad no less – well done! They’re horizontal (!), there are a bunch of them, including detailed photos (!!), and there are three engine photos!!! I may need a moment.
There’s lots of surface rust here (that’s surface rust, not patina, right?) on the 300-cu.in. OHV inline-six, known as a Fine 4.9. The engine is backed by that three-speed manual, sending power to the rear wheels only on this truck. Hagerty is at $7,200 for a #3 good-condition truck, so that $10k asking price may be a bit on the high side, or maybe they’re getting ready for “Would you take $7,500?” offers. This one has power steering but manual brakes (perfect), and runs fine. What’s your offer on this Fine 4.9 Flareside?
Overall this looks like a very solid little Ford. The only thing about these, is in the 80’s of you had the 3 speed on the column, they often had ridiculously tall rear ends in them for gas mileage. ( GM and Dodge was guilty of this too). My neighbor across the street from me had one with an 8 ft bed. 300 straight six 3 speed stick. He had to ride the clutch a half a block till he could fully let it out it was geared so hi. And backing up was even worse. I remember the clutch chattering from him having to drive it that way.
But that 300 will run even without antifreeze, even without oil, heck some people will say even without gasoline ( ok maybe I went a bit too far but you get the point) its a great truck engine.
Great find and write up here Scotty. Thanks
I’ve got an ’84 long bed that came from the factory with a 300, 4speed OD and a 2.73 rear. It was all you could to get started on flat ground let alone the hills around here! Found a used 3.08 which helped but a 3.25 would be better. And no I never did find out just how fast it would go!
Flareside Fords (thank you Scotty for using the correct model name and for the good write-up) rank high on my list of favorite Ford pickups. I’m sure it is because my dad had a series of them in work truck form. This one is quite basic, but that’s fine with me. I’d prefer it still had the three-on-the-tree. Those wheels are definitely old school, I might go with something else. Otherwise it looks to be in good shape; maybe spruce it up a bit and just enjoy it. Good ad, rare for Craigslist.
I have a 300 straight six “runs with no oil” story, but it can wait for another day.
Bob, I wasn’t kidding either. Knew a man years ago who had his own business. Oil light came on going over the Easton PA bridge on route 22. It had no oil he drove it……. almost 20 miles to the garage ( the old gas station I worked at). Don’t remember why it lost its oil but once they filled the crankcase, they started it, no spun main bearings, no rod knocks nothing. The 300 is a very stout truck engine.
I think the Slant 6 and 292 Chevy straight 6 deserve honorable mentions here too
If a mechanic ever tells you that your 4.9 needs a new timing chain, drive away 👋
Back in the late ’80s – early ’90s I knew a guy with a squarebody Chevy C10, truck had been converted from a three-on-the-tree to a 3 speed floor shift.The shifter was extremely short and also had a weird angle. I think most of those aftermarket shifter kits are intended for passenger cars where the geometry of where the transmission is in relation to the driver’s seat is different to what it is in a truck.
Maybe I don’t get out enough, but this is the latest model three-on-the-tree truck I’ve ever seen. I thought all three-on-the-tree transmissions were gone after the 1979 Model Year. Also never heard of the 300 referred to as a “Fine 4.9”, I always knew it as a “Super Six”. Fantastic Find!
Same here regarding the column stick. What surprises me, though, is the lack of a power brake booster. I thought anything but a Chevy Chevette had power brakes long before 1981.
To an extent, drum brakes are self energizing, so you can get away without power brakes on a fairly heavy vehicle. This master cylinder, however, looks like it’s for front disc brakes. I can’t imagine trying to stop something the size of a half-ton pickup truck with disc brakes with leg power alone. Every day is leg day.
My neighbors across the street was indeed an ’85. I know GM held onto the 3 on the trees into the 80’s as well. It was ” standard”. Not many around, even then.
GM offered a 3-speed thru ’87. My favorite was a fully loaded Custom Deluxe step side we had at the Grounds. Two tone brown 4.3 V6.
I had a 1980 econoline e150 van with a 300-6 and 3 on the tree and loved it!
Ideal for a van 👍 Tim. Too cool 😎
My Dad had a 1976 ford e-100 with a 4.9 engine and a 3 on the tree 3 -speed in the mid 1980’s It was orange and it was a panel van with non rear side windows.
My uncle bought a new 86 F150 with a 3 speed on the column. I believe that was the final year.
Nice truck, and timely. I just hauled a 1983 F150, 300 4speed, 4WD to its new home. I was not sure of its value but gave the guy $2500. It is in comparable condition as this truck but needed a little help as the tree rodents had eaten a few wires in the engine bay. Oil change, new battery, new fuel, and electrical tape and such. I am enjoying this “yard find”. Thanks for this site – it is a daily read.
Love the flair side body style and the stout Yeah6 cylinder three speed with power steering is great.
Love this front end styling and the simple Custom trim.
Great engines, but the best thing that ever happened to the “300/fine4.9 was SFI. No more stretched manifold studs, no more loose carburetor screws, and no more outer 2 cylinders running lean while the middle 4 run rich. People liked their old 4.9s. But absolutely loved their SFI 1987 and newer 4.9s. In fact, if you are looking for a used Ford F150 and can find a ’87 or newer 4.9, 5 speed, buy it! You will love the torque, smoothness and fuel economy. I had one for a demo with 3.55 gears and almost cried when I had to give it up. I wanted to buy it. But already had too many vehicles in the fleet and didn’t want to give any of them up. What a wonderful pick-up truck it was.
In 1981 I had just gone through a divorce from second wife(I’m hard to live with) and moved to Killeen, Texas with my career army brother. I got a job turning wrenches at the new Sears Auto Center. Starting to feel good about myself I went to the local Ford dealership to check out the new trucks. I found one I liked and filled out the required credit application. I was denied due to recent events in my life. I still love these trucks. Now time has taken its toll on me. At 78 years and widowed with some spendable cash in the bank I’m very tempted to make an offer on this truck. The only problem I see is the distance from me to the truck, nearly 2,000 miles. Well anyway it should go to a younger person who can tinker and love on this beautiful truck.
God Bless America
My brother in law put over 400,000 miles on his and never once changed the oil, just topped it off. One of the best engines ever made in my opinion!
Oh, I forgot, the bend in the floor shifter is to clear the bench seat incase of a short person. Meaning, the shifter is the correct application for this truck.
My late, dear friend in Fairbanks had a ’72 Ford straight side box (don’t know what Ford calls their Fleetside) that he converted from column to floor shift. 302 V8. Personally, I’d leave it on the column for easier reach, but that’s me.
I’d probably add power disc brakes for safety, fix the corrosion, and trade those rims for body color rims and hubcaps. Nice to see a simple vehicle.
Style Side
The 300 Ford 6 is probably one of the best engines they ever made.I like this truck just the way it is. $6.000 might be a better price.