Hi There, I would like to get some help on decoding my Vin # F60ECW41947. I tried it on one of the vin decoders here on this site and it only told me it was a 1975 and manufactured in Ontario which is where all pre-79 Crew Cabs were pieced together, (I believe). Which I already knew. I called Ford and ordered the build sheet for this truck, but they will mail it to me in 6-8 weeks! Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks, Jim.

 

Here you go.

https://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenan...ls/default.asp

 

That is one of the sites I tried. But it will not search for a 11 digit vin # it is only for the 17 digit vin#s that only started in 1980. My truck is a 1975.
Thanks for trying though.
Jim

 

OK, the "F" is self explanitory for Ford.

The "60" denotes model. I'm assuming base F600.

Fourth character is engine code. Looking at my Motor's manual, an "E" is a 4bbl 361.

Fifth character, "C" is Ontario.

6th through 11th is the production sequence number. With the "W" in it, I'm assuming that means sequence number 3241947. There's only room for 6 characters, so they used letters after "9". "W" is the 23rd letter of the alphabet, 9+23=32. My '74 highboy was F26YEU22314 (U22314 being the sequence number) (and yes, I have the memorized).

Plant codes were found here: Ford Truck VIN Decoder 1973 - 1980

 

Got the truck home safe and sound, 3.5 hour drive and it rides like a dream, 70 miles an hour all the way down Hwy # 401 right through the city of Montreal. No shimmys or shakes, you can drive this thing with 1 finger! The brakes are really tight, took some getting used to, just touch them and it stops right away. With no pulling or wandering.
I checked the engine tag and it is a 361 with a 4 barrel holly. Not a 391 as the owner said it was.

 

F60 = F600 (gas).

E = 361 2V FT engine / 361 4V uses the same code, but was not available until 1976.

C = Oakville, Ontario Canada Truck Assembly Plant (this does not mean the truck was only sold in Canada, quite the contrary).

W41947 = 1975 / This is the Numerical Sequence of Assembly, the trucks specific serial number / 1975 serial number range: U80,001 thru X60,000.

1961/66: The serial number is composed of 6 numbers / 1967/77: Ford used a letter as the 1st digit of the serial number / 1978/80: Ford used two letters as the 1st & 2nd digits of the serial number, and...

These serial numbers apply to ALL trucks, Bronco's and Econolines, not just to F Series trucks.

Note: 1961/80: Trucks have 11 digit VIN's / 1981 thru today = 17 digits.

Passenger Cars went to 17 digit VIN's in 1980.

* Why do you ask...does it take sooo long to get a build sheet from Ford for 1967/79 FoMoCo vehicles?

The answer is simple, Ford has none of this info any longer! In the late 1980's, Ford was planning to THROW AWAY all the data that pertained to 1967/79's.

Kevin Marti, a Mustang "nut" in Phoenix AZ found out about Fords plan and got ALL OF IT!

So...when you request a build sheet from Ford, they have to get the info from Marti. I kid you not.

And, if you want more info besides the build sheet, martiauto.com has everything, but there is a fee for his services which escalates depending on how much info you want.

Marti does not have anything prior to 1967 and neither does Ford...cuz they threw it away years ago.

 

Thank you for your help. I wonder how my truck ended up with a 4 barrel
Holly carb on it. Seeing it was a city truck all its life and it still has the govenor seal on the carb and the distributor. So I don't think it would have been changed by the city.

 

The 1973/79 Ford Heavy Truck Parts Catalog does not list a 4V w/a 361 engine until 1976.

It's possible the carb/manifold has been swapped, or maybe...you are mistaking a 2V for a 4V.

 

Maybe this was made late in 1975?. I have had the old oil bath air cleaner off, and it is definately a 4 barrel. I have had many of them on various cars over the years. Anyway, all I really care is that it runs like a swiss clock and hauls ***! Thanks.

 

I would think more along the lines of the engine was swapped for a 391 4v at some point.

Check the stroke. Look through the FE forum for the "Dowel Method".

 

Yea, I read that thread. I am going to it once the weather warms up a bit. Pretty simple to do. Then I will know for sure.
Thanks.

 

I was looking at the vin # plate on the door of the drivers door of my truck. It does not say the year of the truck? Where would the year of the truck be found on a F-600? I have 3 other crew cabs F-250's and F-350's and the date of manufacture is on the pillar post on the drivers door there is a sticker. Same location on a couple of super-cabs I have. This truck does not have a sticker, it has not been painted over or scraped off. So that being said I am wondering if this truck could be a 1976 because it is definatly a 361 with a 4 barrel Holly
The vin # on the door plate says,
WB- 194"
Type-F602
Body- 4 G
Trans- M
Axle -F2J
GVRW- 19200 lbs
DSO- B23807
Can anyone tell me what type of Transmission this would be? (Clarke?)
And the make of axle and ratio? And what does DSO mean and the #'s after it means?

 

The Production Date will be found on the upper left hand corner of the white 'Safety Standards Certification Label' which is glued on.

The last 6 digits of the VIN is the Numerical Sequence of Assembly, the vehicles specific serial number, decodes to the year.

F60ECW41945: W41945 = 1975.

194" Wheelbase.

COLOR code omitted.

F602 = F600 2WD (gas), 19,200 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.

4G = Black all Vinyl.

M = Clark Model 285V 5 Speed Direct Manual Transmission.

F2J: F2 = Eaton Model 15201 Two Speed Rear Axle / 5.83/8.12-1 / 15,000 lb. Rear Axle Capacity // J = Ford Front Axle with P/S, 5,000 lb. Front Axle Capacity.

19,200 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.

B23807: B2 = FoMoCo of Canada-Eastern Division // 3807 = Domestic Special Order number. The truck was special ordered by the original purchaser, not "bought off the lot."

No COLOR code: The truck was painted a non standard color at the request of the original purchaser. When this occurs, the vehicle is a special order.

 

Well where on the truck would I find the year?, it is not on the door plate and there is not a sticker on the door jam. I was told and the ownership says it is a 1975, but you told me earlier in the thread that the 361ft with a 4 barel holly carb only started in 1976. So I am thinking that this might be a 1976, but I can't find a sticker on the truck that says the year.
I will take a picture this weekend of the metal tag on the door. But on that tag the DSO is B23807 there is not any digit between the B and the 2.
The vin # is F60ECW41947
Thanks for all your help with this.

 

You quoted my post #13 before I had a chance to edit it....look at it again. You posted the VIN, but I'd forgotten I had decoded it (in post #6 on 2/14/11) when I read post #12.

If you need additional info, you may have to get it from martiauto.com who has ALL the FoMoCo records that cover 1967/79 vehicles.

In the US, a person can call Ford's 800 number, pass along their VIN and request a copy of the vehicles original build sheet.

But, I do not know if Canadians can get this info from FoMoCo of Canada, so you may have to get it from Marti.