My 1978 F250 4X4 CC has "1978952" in the DSO space. Does anybody knowwhat this means? My books don't list codes like this. I have posted a photo of the tag in my gallery. Thanks.

 

Standard DSO codes are two digits. The code you have means the truck was special ordered. No doubt by an individual through a dealership.

 

Any idea where to research custom order trucks?

 

How about Ford Motor Company.

 

Sounds like my best bet.

 

DSO stands for Domestic Special Order. All of the U-Haul and UPS fleets were DSO. If enough trucks were ordered under one contract, the Feet Manager from the purchasing organization could specify many of the trucks components. They might include things like sodium filled valves, HD Pistons, duel Thermostat set-up, 5/8 inch wheel studs instead of 9/16, an extended wheelbase, an unlisted GVW package or a whole list of things you cannot even imagine.
I believe (but not absolutly sure) the number in your DSO space is the contract number. From this, a Ford Service Center can tell what parts are on your truck.
Your truck could have been a snow plow or special contruction truck at one time and owned by an organization with enough clout to order DSO.

 

1978952

DSO = 19

78952 =Special Order number per the district.

 

Any idea what DSO-19 is? Mil1on's chart skips 19.
Thanks

 

Can you take a clearer pic of that plate for me ?

I have an idea the 1978 has been mis-placed and is not part of the DSO code.

However,The 90's DSO codes are for exports.

Plus, I have never seen what looks like DDD for the body code.

The Styleside box would be a 4 where the last D is

Any idea of the history of the truck ?

 

That last D denotes six man crew cab in my 1978 shop manual. But, my books do not list any DSO remotely similar to that. The other tag in the door states the truck is from Ford Canada, as I understand that most crewcabs were. I do not have any history except that I bought the truck from a guy in Oklahoma. Can't get a better pic right now but the tag reads as follows:
Vin-26SCCBOXXX
WB-150
COLOR-TM
TYPE/GVW-F264
BODY-DDD
TRANS-G
AXLE-24J
MAX GVWR-07300
DSO-1978952

Thanks

 

Large fleet purchasers can have non-Ford components installed at the factory. They could for example, specify the motor oil in the crankcase, the type of antifreeze used or the brand of undercoating sprayed on during the manufacturing process. I know U-Haul did back in the 70's. In the case of a cab-chassis they also had a non-Ford gas tank installed and a motorola (cheapy) radio.
The only folks who know the details about your truck are Ford and the organization who originally purchased it.
Over the years Ford beat out GM in Truck sales (F-series) year after year, mostly because they were more flexable with fleet purchasers. If a particular large buyer had a national account to use XYZ antifreeze as a maintenance item in there trucks, they could dictate that that antifreeze be put in at the factory.

 

Darn my reply didn't take.

I'll try again.

Yes the 3rd D is for 6-man crewcab with Styleside box.
the 2nd D for Interior colour trim = red
the 1st D for interior type = Bench seats Knit & vinyl

There is something wrong with The DSO # 19788952

The 19 doesn't make it.

I have to assume the 1978 part is for the year of truck

the 952 part maybe breaks down to

Dso-95 which is an import number

The 2 will be the 2nd truck ordered from that import place


In the DSO space when a truck is ordered it would normally look like this for a truck order to Chicago

DSO
41176

This means it was ordered by a Chicago area dealership & it was the 176th truck from that district to be ordered from that area.


so with yours certainly no one ordered 78,952 trucks


Because it is a F250 with 4.11 gears w/power steering,I would suggest it was ordered & sent to a US Railroad company or
another business that would require one.

Pics let see some pics

 

The only pics I have are in my gallery. The truck has racetrack trim and factory ac. It looks like it once had cruise control as there is a cruise unit under the hood but the steering wheel no longer has the switches. The interior has been redone black and the glovebox has the "woodgrain" cover. The exterior has the "crewcab" emblems on the fenders but is marked F250 Custom on the main emblem. I wish these things could tell their story. I filled out the information request for form at the Ford site a month ago but have had no response. Do you know any other way to contact Ford for info?
Thanks for all your help. I think you are right about the DSO# situation.

 

About the 1978 part in that code.

I have seen them stamp the year of the truck in the data plate but away (left) from the DSO area.

The fact that it is a custom only ,means it has the option to build it the way the person wants it,as opposed to a XLT or Lariat which are already trim lines.

EDIT:


Ford Motor Company
Customer Assistance Center
16800 Executive Plaza Drive
P.O.Box 6248
Dearborn, Michigan 48126
1-800-392-3673(FORD)
TDD for the hearing impaired:1-800-232-5952

 

Thanks a bunch!! I'll post what I find out, if anything.