I just picked up a 79 F350 and decoded the vin to find out it originally had a 400 and was a 2x4. As the truck sits now it has a 460 sitting in a 4x4 chassis. It has a Dana 44 up front not a 60. Just wondering if and how I can tell what the chassis is out of? It does have front leaf springs and I was wondering if it is a 250 chassis". Any help would be awesome!

 

My guess is you're looking at the warranty tag on the door. That means your door was from a 2X4. The rest of the truck could be something else. The vin is on the top of the frame rail on the passenger side in the engine compartment. They can be difficult to see. You'll probably have to do a little cleaning and brushing to see it. Someone on here has a good picture and will probably chime in later.

 

Ok thanks I'll check it out

 

Btw the tag is on the jamb on the cab not on the door itself if it matters.

 

That's the safety cert sticker (and a third location the vin is listed). So your cab was originally on a 2X4. It will be interesting to see what the frame vin is.

 

Radius arm and coil spring front end ='s F150, leaf springs up front ='s F250.

X2 and correct on the dvrs side door tag/plate is a warranty tag and the B pillar safety cert sticker is that. There is NO vi plate on the dash, so do not bother looking.

Does you paper title vi# match the door plate? VI# should be in line with the alt on the top of the frame rail and on top of the frame rail about where the passenger side seat rail mount bolt is in line with.

 

460 not available with 4WD or a M/T until 1983, F250/350 only.

1979 was the 1st year for F350's with factory installed 4WD, but the only V8's available were 351M & 400. 1979 F350 4WD's have Dana 60's front & rear.

1970/79: Safety Standard Certification Label glued to the B pillar below the striker plate. Has the VIN and misc GVWR codes printed on it.

1963/79: Warranty Plate riveted to the left door face below the latch, has the Warranty Number and various codes stamped on it.

FoMoCo said Warranty Number is not for title or registration purposes, as it's too EZ to change.

The usual reason: People replaced damaged left doors with used doors. 99.9% of the time, they failed to install the original Warranty Plates on the replaced doors.

Leaf spring front suspension: 5 or 6 leaf front spring pack: 1967/77 F250 4WD (High Boys) / 2 leaf front spring pack: 1978/79: F150 Super Cab 4WD & F250 4WD / 1979 F350 4WD

 

Thanks guys. The title does match the door tag. I will have to do some digging around for the # on the frame

 

I was under the truck for 15 min and couldn't find the number on the frame below the pass side of the cab. Also couldn't find anything under the alt. are there any tell tell signs of differences between 250 and 350 frames? Or is it all in suspension/axles? I need to do brake work along with some misc things to be safely road worthy and didn't know if the brakes were the same between 250 and 350s etc? Btw the spring pack in the rear has five original springs and an add a leaf also and the front has two with an add a leaf. Guess I need to get for sure axles sizes would be the best bet for the brakes I'm assuming?

 

Here are some pics






And the trip home

 

Normally Craigslist people talk it up in better shape than they actually are. In my case the pics the lady gave me I thought were pics of surface rust around the body trim moulding so etc. getting there in person it is actually mildew that wipes right off! No rust on the backs of all four wheel arches etc. the one cab corner is the only rust with minor surface rust under the insides of the doors. Originally assembled in San Jose then spent its life in Arizona then Missouri and sat the last few years here in Michigan. I was like shut up and take my money lol!

 

The one under the seat area is on the top of the frame rail and VERY hard to get to...

I'd say D44 front and D60 rear axle.

Same duel piston front caliper F250/F350, I think as far as the rear axle brake shoes you might have a bit wider ones on a F350????

 

Thanks I'll check again under the hood. It'll realistically be a few years before the chassis is free of the cab/bed lol

 

With a mirror and some patience you might find the one under the cab....

At least the door tag VI# matches the paper title VI#, that is what most DMV places or cops ck, at least around here.

 

Yes, I asked him over the phone if they matched and then double checked in person before signing papers and handing some cash

Here is what I'm looking at. The top of the frame is actually butter smooth..with no numbers. I checked under the alt and the whole top of the frame as far back as I could see. Just had to wire off some dirt