Hey guys, working on my first F TRUCK I imported from the US to Australia. 1979 F350 SuperCab XLT ranger but the VIN etc does seem to reflect that? Any assistance with understanding it would be awesome

IMG_0131 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

IMG_0133 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Cheers

Reason I need to do this is to confirm details for ordering parts

 

Decoding '73-'79 Ford Truck VIN Tags - FORDification.net

 

This does not appear to be the original Warranty Plate, looks like a Marti replacement.

VIN: X14HKEC0586 / W.B. 155 / COLOR: Y / TYPE/GVW: X143 / BODY: ATM / TRANS: K / AXLE: 16 / MAX GVWR LBS: 6400 / YEAR: blank / DSO: 73

X14 = F150 4WD Super Cab Pickup.

H = 351M 2V

K = Kansas City MO Assembly Plant.

EC0586 = 1979.

155" Wheelbase.

Y = Medium Golden Sand Metallic.

X143 = F150 4WD Super Cab Pickup, 6,400 lb. GVWR

ATM: AT = Sand all Vinyl, 81A Custom or Ranger Cab // M = Super Cab.

K = C6.

16 = Ford 9" Rear Axle / 3.50-1 / non Limited Slip / 3,750 lb. Rear Axle Capacity.

6,400 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.

YEAR = Not noted on Warranty Plate, but should be.

73 = Salt Lake City UT Ford District Sales Office, where the original selling dealer ordered the truck from.

If the truck has P/S, the 3rd digit of the axle code was eliminated.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Certification Label: Production Date: 1/1979 / VIN: X14HKEC0586 matches Warranty Plate VIN / Front/Rear GVWR's and original tire & wheel sizes.

Codes at far right are FoMoCo usage only, cannot be decoded.

Truck is a Frankenstein monster, began life as an F150 4WD (no F100 4WD's after 1976). Lawd only knows what parts have been swapped. Wheels in Flickr pic are 8 lug, 6.50" bolt circle, correct for an F250 or F350.

 

He imported the truck from the U.S. it has a U.S VIN.

 

X14 F100 Supercab 4X4
H 351M
K Kansas City

Josh

 

155" Wheelbase
Y Medium Gold Sand Metallic
X143 '78-'79 F100 2WD Super Cab Pickup
ATN ???
X C6 Fleet Automatic
16 3.50 gear ratio

 

DSO 73 Salt Lake City

Josh

 

now I am really confused. Yep it is a US VIN (I imported it) but was sold to me as a F350 XLT Ranger SuperCab (picture in my avatar) (badged completely that way) including in the glove box etc. it even has a 460 7.5 Litre big block in it.......

I going back to look for more identification on the truck to work it out.

 

Easy to change cabs... you'll need to find the real VIN on the passenger frame rail between the core support and firewall.

Josh

 

ok looking there now, cant see anything? Perhaps I am looking in the wrong place? Also where do you find the engine number on a 460? Anyone know the differences easy differences between a 150 super and 350?

 

Bill (Number Dummy)

thanks for the detail, yep has Power Steering and Factory Air Conditioning as well. Keen to chat to you further to understand more about this VIN. It has a 4 speed manual Transmission as well. I am assuming the VIN is incorrect on the TAG or it a truck made of many things

Cheers
Simon

 

Hey Guys

Really appreciate your help so far with decoding my VIN number. Here is a lot of pictures I am hoping that help me understand it further. This is my first F Truck as well.

So VIN from the above says it is a F150 Super Cab with 351 but looks like a 460 7.5 to me and badge a F350 throughout..........anyway I can confirm this with FORD AMERICA?

1979 Ford F Truck - a set on Flickr

 

Anybody can put on different badges. I once saw a '79 4X4 crew cab for sale with F350 badges, and the owner insisted that it really was an F350, because it said so on the side. The VIN started with "F26" which meant it was an F250. He didn't believe me when I pointed that out to him and told him that Ford never made an F350 Crew cab 4X4 in '79.
Regular cab '73-79 F150 4X4's have coil spring front suspension, but the '78-79 Supercab F150's 4x4's have leaf springs on the front. There's one sometimes parked near where I live, and I always check it out when I drive past it. It has 5 lug nuts on the wheels. I see your wheels have 8 lug nuts. My guess is that someone either swapped cabs or did an axle swap. The VIN on the frame is hard to find. Look on the top of the right frame rail aft of the shock mount. It took me a while to find mine. I got under the truck on a creeper and used a mirror and a flash light. If it starts with X36, it's an F350 frame. X26 would be an F250.

 

1979 4WD VIN series code, first 3 digits:

X36 = F350 4WD Super Cab Pickup.

X38 = F350 4WD Super Cab Chassis & Cab

X26 = F250 4WD Super Cab Pickup.

X28 = F250 4WD Super Cab Chassis & Cab.

X14 = F150 4WD Super Cab Pickup.

X16 = F150 4WD Super Cab Chassis & Cab.

If series code begins with an F, it's not a Super Cab / No F100 4WD's after 1976.

1979 was the first year FoMoCo offered F350's with 4WD.

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

FoMoCo has no records available any longer that pertain to 1967/79 vehicles: Passenger Car/Truck/Bronco/Econoline.

In the late 1980's, FoMoCo was planning to THROW AWAY all these records. Kevin Marti, a Mustang 'nut' in Phoenix AZ found out and got ALL OF IT.

At one time, FoMoCo offered free 'basic' build sheets (had to get the info from martiauto.com), but not anymore, is now charging a fee.

Since Marti has all the records, eliminate the 'middle-man' and order a Marti Report. There is a fee for Marti's services, which escalates, depending on how much info you want.

 

yep me, now I am still trying to get the bottom of the trucks. maniforld etc is a Edelbrock 460 performance so i assume (and I am learning) it is a 460 Big block. So where else can I look for numbers etc to proof it is a 150 or 350?

It is a 4 speed manual, power steering, air conditioning, anyway from the picks to proof which model it is?

Thanks so much to you guys who have helped, learner here on F TRUCKS!