Installed older front end on '79
#1
#5
um . . no you are incorrect. There was a round headlight available in '78, on the low end.Many people will switch to this round headlight to keep everything else as stock; getting the '78 headlight mounts. However, the grille and surround is still the same as the square headlight 78s and 79s. The grille I installed is definitely the older style. Its a 76/77 grille. It requires the 73-77 headlight buckets and mounts and uses a totally different grille surround.
As for the parts I have . . everything except the grille surround as it was dented and I trashed it.
As for the parts I have . . everything except the grille surround as it was dented and I trashed it.
#6
I used to prefer the '79 grill and lights. I never liked the late model grill with round headlights though. Now I prefer the '76-'77, maybe because thats what I look at everyday. My buddy who has always had an eye for detail says the '78-'79 grills never matched the trucks, I dunno. Now all you need are the F-O-R-D letters, that will really set it off. I do now much prefer how the letters are in the grill and not drilled into the hood.
#7
Round headlamps were available in both 1978 F100/350's & Bronco's and 1979 F100/350's.
The reason you see very few 1979's with round lamps is, most were "stripper" Customs (F100/150 Flaresides predominated) sold as fleet vehicles to business owners, telephone co's, construction co's, Gov't agencies, and etc.
Very few have survived, because most were driven into the ground.
btw: What y'all may be unaware of is: The radiator support (D8TZ-16138-A) is different with rectangular headlamps. It's dished inwards behind each headlamp bucket to allow the lamps to fit properly.
With round headlamps, the radiator support (D3TZ-16138-A) is the same 1973/79.
Even though I bought a 1979 Lariat Super Cab brand new, I never cared for its 'fish mouth' grille (what peeps in the biz called it back then). And, IMO round headlamps with the 'fish mouth' grille look out of place.
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#8
#9
Since 1978/79's look exactly the same, the only real way to tell a 1978 from a 1979 is by the last 6 digits of the trucks VIN (the trucks specific serial number), and the specific year stamped on the Warranty Plate.
Otherwise, your guess is as good as mine is, whether it's a 1978 or 1979.
Otherwise, your guess is as good as mine is, whether it's a 1978 or 1979.
#10
Since 1978/79's look exactly the same, the only real way to tell a 1978 from a 1979 is by the last 6 digits of the trucks VIN (the trucks specific serial number), and the specific year stamped on the Warranty Plate.
Otherwise, your guess is as good as mine is, whether it's a 1978 or 1979.
Otherwise, your guess is as good as mine is, whether it's a 1978 or 1979.
In the day, I always went by the headlights, now I know I could have been mistaken
#11
Who is in-correct? Um...you are.
Round headlamps were available in both 1978 F100/350's & Bronco's and 1979 F100/350's.
The reason you see very few 1979's with round lamps is, most were "stripper" Customs (F100/150 Flaresides predominated) sold as fleet vehicles to business owners, telephone co's, construction co's, Gov't agencies, and etc.
Very few have survived, because most were driven into the ground.
btw: What y'all may be unaware of is: The radiator support (D8TZ-16138-A) is different with rectangular headlamps. It's dished inwards behind each headlamp bucket to allow the lamps to fit properly.
With round headlamps, the radiator support (D3TZ-16138-A) is the same 1973/79.
Even though I bought a 1979 Lariat Super Cab brand new, I never cared for its 'fish mouth' grille (what peeps in the biz called it back then). And, IMO round headlamps with the 'fish mouth' grille look out of place.
Round headlamps were available in both 1978 F100/350's & Bronco's and 1979 F100/350's.
The reason you see very few 1979's with round lamps is, most were "stripper" Customs (F100/150 Flaresides predominated) sold as fleet vehicles to business owners, telephone co's, construction co's, Gov't agencies, and etc.
Very few have survived, because most were driven into the ground.
btw: What y'all may be unaware of is: The radiator support (D8TZ-16138-A) is different with rectangular headlamps. It's dished inwards behind each headlamp bucket to allow the lamps to fit properly.
With round headlamps, the radiator support (D3TZ-16138-A) is the same 1973/79.
Even though I bought a 1979 Lariat Super Cab brand new, I never cared for its 'fish mouth' grille (what peeps in the biz called it back then). And, IMO round headlamps with the 'fish mouth' grille look out of place.
#12
Bill, do you remember the early pre-production spy photos for the new 78s that were published in some car magazines. They showed the center part of the grill trim actually going up onto and across the front edge of the hood. They said it was inspired by the Ford LN series.
Now that was really fish mouth ugly!!!!
Now that was really fish mouth ugly!!!!
#13
But Ford managed to do the reverse, by installing a round peg into a square hole.
The 1978/79 fish mouth grille's headlamp openings are kinda square, but when round headlamps are present, IMO, they look out of place, like a fish oughtta water.
#14
Mounting the 73-77 round headlight buckets is just a matter of drilling 4 new holes. An indentation for bucket fitment is actually still in the radiator support. The holes, however are not there and not marked.It is not concave in that area and the headlights fit correctly. I would like to see Ford documentation that says the round headlights were still available in '79.