I just purchased a 63 econoline PU. It is very solid, former USAF owned.

The vin plate reads

e10sh438390

090 --- e103 87a a 02

There is no color code. I am guessing it is bc this was a military veh.

Pretty sure the S code in the vin means 200 I6. I have been told that the 200 was not avail until 64. And there is a problem with the power.

It starts easily and purrs like a kitten. On the maiden drive home, I was amazed how gutless it was in comparison to my 62 coupe w the same engine (2spd auto) I am thinking that the rear gear is too low (axle code 02) But it was still having trouble pulling ittself up a hill at 50 in third. I hope that maybe the timing is way out? The thing that is confusing is that it idles and starts so well, just no top end. No smoke or significant blowby, so timing is all I can think of.. Suggestions?

BTW are all 3 speeds super low on the first two gears? THis one is. Code is standard lightweight 3 spd (code A)

 

not sure about the yr but i think they used a sequential no.system my best guess is around 11/63 production. the axle code 02 i think is a 4.0 ratio. 2300 lb. i saw web sight that was defining the various 303 transmissions it had info about the transmissions that proceeded the 303s. it had gear ratios based on serial no.s on the gear box.
as far as the yr. all i can say is good luck if you try to correct the data the mva or dmv or what ever your state calls it. they will have under the bus doing a title search on a govie truck good luck with red tape,let sleeping dogs lay.

goodluck
svj

 

welcome to FTE motorjunkie.
is was hoping you would find this site.
there are some very knowledgeable folks here in regards to the econoline vans and pickups.

as i see from the other site, Terry already figured out you have a 144, and 4.00 rear gears.
any questions you have ask here, and you will get an answer in a day or two.

Tom

{falcoon on TFFN}

 

The truck is a 64. In 1964 the only engines for the trucks and vans was a 144 and 170. The 200 was not available til 65. which also introduced the 240 and 300 then. The 170 was still available, but the 144's were dropped.

 

E10 = E100 Pickup.

S = 144 1V I-6.

H = Lorain OH Assembly Plant.

438390 = 1963 assembled July 1963.

90" Wheelbase.

E103 = Econoline Pickup, 3,600 lbs. GVWR

87A = Body Style of an Econoline Pickup.

A = Ford type 3.03 3 Speed Manual all Syncromesh Transmission.

02 = Ford model WCC-C Rear Axle / 4.00-1 / 2,300 lb. Rear Axle Capacity.

200 1V I-6 (VIN engine code T) introduced in 1964. Installed in misc 1964/83 Passenger Cars, 1965/68 Ranchero's & 1973/74 Bronco's only.

66gpw: 200 engines were not installed in an Econoline regardless of what year it is. The 300 I-6 was not available in Econolines until 1969.

 

I agree the 200 I never seen in a econoline van or truck. Yet the 66 manual says they were installed, I never seen one except what someone may of put in.
I seen the 300 in them up here in Canada. In 1980 we had a shop truck that had one in it and they had the truck at that time since new in 1966. Maybe in the states they did not install them .
I will admit I have been wrong. So this may not be the first time.

 

No 1964/72; 1973/79; 1980/89 Ford truck parts catalogs listing for an Econoline w/a 200 engine / 200 = VIN engine code T / How many Econolines have you seen w/a T VIN engine code?

The 240 I-6 was first offered an an option in 1965, but there is no truck parts catalog listing for the 300-1-6 in an Econoline until 1969 (300 VIN engine code B).

No such thing as a 1968 Econoline. New style Econoline introduced February 1968, but Ford refered to them as 1969's.

Ford is in-famous for introducing new vehicles prior to the normal September introduction.

This jazz also applied to Mustang's, introduced 4/23/1964 as a 1965 model. Mark III's introduced Spring 1968 as a 1969 model. Maverick's introduced June 1969 as a 1970 model, Rangers introduced March 1982 as a 1983 model.

1965 was the first year Canadian truck parts were listed in US parts catalogs.

 

The shop manual I have for 65 shows there was a 200 with S as the code. Yet the 66 Shop manual only shows like you say a 240 and 170 engines and the codes changed. to A for 240 and F for 170. That just makes things more confusing.
The shop truck at where I worked in 1980 had a 300. The friend and Co-worker was there when they bought and he still says it was a 300. He is in his 80's now.
I know the 300 and 240 look very much alike.
Another friend is restoring a 66 Econoline Ambulance with a 240 in it. He thought it was a 300 til he tore the engine down and found it to be a 240.

 

No 1964/72 Ford Truck Parts Catalog listing for a 200 engine. Only 144 & 170's are listed.

1965/67: No listings for an Econoline in the above catalog with a 300 engine, parts catalog lists 240 only.

The 240 was standard equipment in 1965/72 Galaxie/LTD's, the 300 wasn't available.

This parts catalog is available on a CD from hipoparts.com as is the 1957/63 Ford Truck Parts Catalog.