New purchase-asking for guidance

[Newto729]

Hi all-

 

I recently purchased a cheap 1985 720 4x4 . The pickup is ugly but I’m excited. I’ve flushed the transmission, changed the oil/filter, and flushed the fuel system. I ordered a a new coolant reservoir. 

The instrument cluster has backlights but none of the gauges work. The same can be said about the heating/air controls. I am not mechanically inclined but I’d like to dig into this pickup myself. Any guidance on where to start would be greatly appreciated. 

 

[NC85ST]

Try checking the fuses to begin with. The fuse panel is on the driver side, under the hood release. Are you saying the the hvac controls don’t work?

[datzenmike]

4th fuse over from the left side is for many things but includes the gauges. If back up lights and turn signals also not working then the fuse is blown of not making contact.

 

6th fuse is for air con. If wipers work it's not this fuse.

 

10th fuse is for the heater fan motor

[toshts]

Check for corrosion on the fuse panel for any fuses to stuff that doesn't work (or just all of them), windshield leaks which are common can drip right onto the fuse box and make it too corroded for a good fuse to have connection

[Thomas Perkins]

Don't look like a 85 4x4 to me.Must have  different front body parts.

Edited May 5, 2025 by Thomas Perkins

[datzenmike]

Door and box have stripes that the front end doesn't. Also 4x4s didn't come with chrome bumpers they were black

[powderfinger]

Looks like someone also installed a 2x4 grill. Guessing this truck had significant front end damage and someone swapped on the entire front from a 2x4 truck.

[ElliotV]

6 hours ago, powderfinger said:

Looks like someone also installed a 2x4 grill. Guessing this truck had significant front end damage and someone swapped on the entire front from a 2x4 truck.

it seems to be common as none of my trucks have 2 perfect fenders and out of 4 I have only gotten 2 good grills. I've noticed if the sides of the bumper are still bolted to the fender they tend to push against the fender and will fold the fender in as well if you bend the bumper trying to manuever around a tree or something in the woods. This truck is a little rarer being a swb 4x4 truck. I have only ever seen one swb 4x4 truck the rest have been king cabs or I have seen a couple long bed 4x4 trucks. 

[ggzilla]

7 hours ago, powderfinger said:

Looks like someone also installed a 2x4 grill

 

you mean like this?

Kinda fancy 2x4 grille, stained and sealed with polyurethane. Back in my day we used just the raw cut wood, it was plenty strong

[Thomas Perkins]

[Newto729]

*thank you all. 
 

I appreciate the help. I’m not at all familiar with it. The front end was swapped out. I don’t see any deflection, twisting or damage in the frame or front end. 
 

Someone had replaced the CV’s recently. 
 

I’ll check on the fuses. I pulled the instrument cluster and found the odometer cable is disconnected. 
 

Again, I appreciate you all. 

[Newto729]

*speedometer  

[Newto729]

On 5/4/2025 at 2:25 PM, datzenmike said:

4th fuse over from the left side is for many things but includes the gauges. If back up lights and turn signals also not working then the fuse is blown of not making contact.

 

6th fuse is for air con. If wipers work it's not this fuse.

 

10th fuse is for the heater fan motor

Thank you!!!! 
 

wipers work, but I’ll go through the rest! 

[Newto729]

On 5/4/2025 at 6:31 PM, Thomas Perkins said:

Don't look like a 85 4x4 to me.Must have  different front body parts.

Any idea what year the front end could be off of? 

[Thomas Perkins]

85 

[ggzilla]

I think it's just the grille and bumper are 2WD parts. 4WD has a no-chrome grille and a black bumper. Perhaps it was in a minor fender-bender and those two parts got damaged