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1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Early Eighties Bullnose Ford Truck

Vin location

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Old Apr 25, 2003 | 03:13 PM
  #1  
KJKozak2's Avatar
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Vin location

Greetings all,

There's a Ford van in our parking lot that looks to be an early-to-mid 80s model, maybe even 70s. It has round headlights and dual tanks and that's about all I can tell without getting inside.

The owner said I can have it if I want it, but I'd like to know what year it is and what options it has.

Any idea where the VIN might be located so I can decode it? It's locked and the owner is gone for the weekend so I can't get inside.

Any help on identifying it would be greatly appreciated!

Kevin K.

Here's a photo of it.

 

Last edited by KJKozak2; Apr 25, 2003 at 03:33 PM.
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Old Apr 25, 2003 | 03:43 PM
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Vin location

Standard location for all VIN is on the dash, driver side, at the bottom of the windshield.

Try that. Bet you'll find it. It may be hard to read as the paint fades, etc. Should be about 5 to 6 inches from the 'A' pillar.
 
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Old Apr 25, 2003 | 04:01 PM
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Vin location

No luck. I looked there first and just went and checked again. The edge of the dash right along the windshield is rusted but only about 1/2". If the VIN was there, it's a pile of runt dust now.

There was no indication of the typical alum. plate anywhere along the entire dash either.

I may be mistaken on the year too. I thought they did away with the round headlights in the 70s, but I don't know for sure.

Thanks!

Kevin K.
 
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Old Apr 25, 2003 | 04:11 PM
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Vin location

Things that make you go HMMMM....

The only other place that I know of then will be the door jamb.

That looks pretty much like a '77 that we used to have. If the dash is rusty, they probably had a windshield leak(we did) and that probably rusted the VIN tag.

If you know any law enforcement, you can ask them to run the plates and that'll tell them what year it is and even maybe the VIN.
 
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Old Apr 25, 2003 | 04:36 PM
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Vin location

Thanks for the help. Guess I'll just have to wait until Monday and get the title from the owner.

Tha fact that you think it's a 77 is encouraging. If the van designs followed the f-series designs, that would make sense. It was right around that time that the trucks went to rectangular headlights.

I'm really hoping it has a 460 in it. I can see it's a C6 and a 9" rear. It also has a rear sump oil pan. So, if it's a 460, I'll be ecstatic! Especially for the price - FREE!

Kevin K.
 
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Old Apr 25, 2003 | 04:46 PM
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Vin location

Is it a 3/4 or 1 ton? Ours was a E250, extended and had a 351 in it with a c-6. Fairly trouble free, except that darn little ECM. ALways liked to short out.

Oh, and it had a fancy for lightening. We got struck in it driving on I-40 near Flagstaff AZ.
 
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Old Apr 25, 2003 | 04:54 PM
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Vin location

Funy thing is, I can't see ANY model emblems on the thing anywhere. No "Econoline" or anything. Just FORD.

I'll look again on my way out.

Thanks, and have a good weekend!

Kevin K.
 
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Old Apr 25, 2003 | 05:49 PM
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Vin location

Do you have any photos ? Grill, hubcaps,Drum or Disc brakes

The data plate was put on the door face where the striker is.

Round lights ended in early 78.
 
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Old Apr 28, 2003 | 08:49 AM
  #9  
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Vin location

There's a photo on my first post. I added it with the "edit message" a few minutes after I first posted.

The hubcaps are the smaller ones that cover just the center of the rim. It looks like they have FORD writter on them 3 times around in a circle. I'm looking at it from a 2nd floor window so I can't see that good.

It has front disk and rear drum brakes.

Thanks!

Kevin K.
 
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Old Apr 28, 2003 | 08:55 AM
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Vin location

I don't remember working on our van, I was too young when we sold it. It seemed to me that it had the same hubcaps you are describing. If it has the 16.5" tires, I recommend getting them changed to 16" pronto. Just my opinion, but I hate the 16.5" tires, and I know our 77 had them.
 
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