OK, this is how I read it, tell me if I mis-read anything.

-chris

2FT E F26 Y X F C A91132

2FT = WORLD MFR. IDENTIFIER = Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd., Truck, Complete Vehicle
E = BRAKES/GVWR CODE = CLASS E = 6,001-7,000 LBS.
F26 = SERIES CODE = F250 4WD PICKUP
Y= ENGINE CODE = 4.9L/300 cid 6-CYL GASOLINE-POWERED, FEEDBACK CARB OR EFI
X = CHECK DIGIT (IGNORE, FOR FOMOCO USE ONLY)
F = MODEL YEAR CODE = 1985
C = ASSEMBLY PLANT CODE = ONTARIO TRUCK
A91132 = NUMERICAL SEQUENCE OF ASSEMBLY




EXTERIOR PAINT COLORS = 2E = LIGHT CANYON RED, USED 1984/87
DSO 12 = LOCATION OF ORIGINAL-PURCHASING DEALER = BUFFALO
F0393 = 393 lbs. of accessory equipment (e.g. plow) can be placed on the front axle without requiring recertification
T0656 = 656 lbs. total weight of accessory equipment (front + back) w/o requiring recertification
WB 133 = 133" WHEELBASE
TYPE-GVW F261 = GVWR... IN 1983/87 THIS IS: F250 4WD PICKUP, 6,600 LB. GVWR
BODY BB4 =TRANS K = C6 3-SPEED AUTOMATIC
AXLE 23 = IN 1983 THIS IS: 3.54:1; 5,300 LB. CAPACITY; NON-LOCKING
TAPE = OPTIONAL TAPE STRIPES TYPE
SPRING 5 6 =The parts book has no real information on springs other than replacement part numbers, you might Google the numbers for more info if you're interested

Source: FoMoCo 1980/89 Light Truck Master Parts Catalog (available on CD from hipoparts.com)

 

Wow I just learned a lot. Especially as the interior trim does not match up. I have the maroon red interior and its always been that way, not blue. I have a red full width bench seat and red everything else and I they are worn well enough to prove they are original. Why would they give me the wrong codes? I'm pretty sure it says BD4, but ill have to look outside. (Edit) I can confirm the code is BD4 if that changes anything.




Same deal with the rear axle, but I've been over that. Wrong code again, the rear axle is a Dana 60 limited slip with 3.73 gears. The front is a 3.73 geared Dana 44 TTB. Both original equipment.


Otherwise everything seems to match up. The 4.9 had a feedback carb, and i have pictures of it with the tape stripe. Surprised it don't list anything about the bed cap it came with or the running boards, or the grab handles outside the cab.

 

Cap, boards, etc would have been dealer or owner added equipment. Seems like an odd factory combo, 3.73 with a slushbox and 6 cylinder. ~Bill

 

I know that's why I made the thread about it the axles. As far as I know, 3.73 factory gears has never been documented as they were all 3.54s with that code but they are original 3.73s I can confirm that. My dad told me for a fact he never changed them and he's had it to the frame more than once.

It hasn't had the 6 cylinder in it for going on 20+ years now, its on its 2nd going on 3rd V8.

As far as the boards and cap etc it came that way when the original owner bought it. He bought brand new but saw very low mileage as he died about a year after he bought it. It was my grandpas boss's brother, so my dad bought it in '87. The cap was already sold at that point. I've got the original bill of sale laying around somewhere.

 

This is a perfect example of why I asked you for a head-on, clearer shot and why I asked you to please let me know if I'm reading something wrong.... did you not see the bold BB I posted next to the text?

BD is, in fact, a red all-vinyl full-width bench seat with red trim.

Since you seem to know everything already, then why do you ask me? It takes me a LOT of time to look this chit up and post it, don't expect anything more from me.

All I can tell you is what the book says...

 

Because there simply was a few things I wasn't 100% on.


I'm also trying to figure out how that got in there as factory equipment. I figured you guys would be all over that but I guess not.


Anyways, I appreciate what you've done, so thanks!!

 

Because someone bought a vehicle new from the dealer, doesn't necessarily mean that the equipment on the vehicle is from the factory. I worked at new car dealers in the 80s and 90s, all sorts of strange things can take place once it rolls off the staging lot at the plant and on to the carrier. ~Bill

 

Back in 1978 we ordered a brand new 79 F150. A lot of the parts on it were listed as 78. I don't remember what all changes were made between 78 and 79, maybe the grill was changed slightly? Most parts didn't matter between 78 and 79, but I remember looking up part numbers and a lot of them showed 1978.

 

Interesting. Explains a lot. I feel better now haha. Thanks again guys.

 

Aye... Ralph explained this to us in the past... customer goes to a dealer looking for a specific model with specific features... if they don't have exactly what is wanted, sometimes the dealer will search inventories of other dealers, sometimes options can be added at the dealer (A/C, sunroof, etc.) and sometimes parts can be swapped out, either from other vehicles or from the replacement-parts inventory.

Swapping truck axles isn't real hard for a shop with the right equipment. The label shows what it had when it left the factory, nothing more.

 

That's also true.



The thing with the axle situation is my father bought it just under 2 years old and he's never changed the axle or anything in it. I find it hard to believe an axle grenaded under 2 years old, especially a Dana at that, and needed to be replaced. There's simply no need. I understand axle swaps are easy, I've done a few myself. That's why I figured you would all be all over it since I believe it to be undocumented. The only other thing I can think of is the original owner which we knew wanted a posi type rear and changed it but then again it nothing else was changed. Even then I have my doubts.

I'm dropping the situation anyways. Thanks for the help though. Appreciate it.

 

No prob, and we're cool about the misunderstanding we had, don't worry about it.

The tag on the axle has the last word... well, it *should* have, but those get removed or changed by people pretty easily so are not entirely reliable, either.

For the tag to be wrong, that would imply that:

1) The price sticker would also probably have to have it wrong
2) The Build Sheet (probably between the foam & springs underneath the front seat, sometimes between the carpet & floor) would also likely be wrong

The Build Sheets followed the vehicles down the assembly lines as they were built, and screw-ups have been known to happen (one front drum brake, one disc brake on the other side, for example (not talking trucks here, some car another member told us about)). But there aren't many of 'em.

If you still have the axle's original tag, that might tell something; but, the most definitive way is to find out is to count the revolutions of the driveshaft as you turn the wheels around one full turn, and it seems you've done that.

 

The tag on the axle is unfortunately no longer there (if you're refering to the little metal thing that usually gets stuck on the differential housing somewhere, usually on the cover). I do however have the differential housing code. I have checked up and down for more numbers but there is nothing other than the casting number and the model number "60". The rust on it (there is still paint on it in fact) doesn't look so bad that numbers on the axle housing itself would be destroyed. The rust is merely surface rust. Where a stamped number would be is were a factory brake line hose connects to a brake line.

I don't know anything about a price sticker, though I think, and I really stress I think, I have the original bill of sale. I may be wrong however but I'm not sure that would have any say.

I've never seen the build sheet but I don't believe it's survived the way my cab looks. The floor is literally gone and the seat is in rough shape, so unless it's been moved to somewhere safe like in the glove box or in the little storage box between the steering wheel and radio, then it's probably gone.

A build sheet screw up would be interesting. I know there isn't many of them, but that would be kind of cool. Is there any way to request an official build sheet by email? I would probably be corrected but even still.

I have indeed turned the wheel, and I have had the cover off the back at one point. That's how I got the 3.73 gears, and my father also told me that it "came that way". He said the front had them too, but when questioned again he seemed to have forgotten and he said they were probably the same as the rear. He's like that sometimes. I would like to think he's correct simply for the fact of how many times he's rebuilt the front axle (yearly in fact) for plow season.

 

Yes, things sometimes happen on the assembly line. This is a true story, I swear. In '69 or '70 I was working with what I then thought was an older gentleman who was a GMC fanatic. He would regale us with how much better they were than Chevrolets. One day he ordered a new GMC and we kept telling him that he was paying more for the same truck since the only difference was the quad headlights and the badges. When the truck came in it said GMC on one side and Chevrolet on the other. Boy, was he mad!

 

I would've paid to see that!