I have just acquired a 1966 N600 grain truck. The truck runs and drives, the dump works and the body has very little rust and virtually no dents. It was originally red but is now a very tired black. I think it may be a custom cab but if it is the custom cab door script was removed when the truck was painted black. The floors are sound. The radiator leaks but otherwise the truck seems roadworthy. It is a 330 2V MD with New Process 4 speed w/2 sp axle. I plan to use it on our cattle farm. I have a set of shop manuals for 1966 and have been checking the vin plate. It is a model 602, made in Louisville in January 1966 (I think). The body number is KM81 with the KM being the trim (I think) but there is no KM in the manual trim listing. The truck is a J color (red) and a K interior is Blue and an M interior is beige. Anyone know what the KM really means? Also the DSO number is 551660. In the manual 55 is St. Louis but I am not sure what the rest of the numbers means. Since the exterior of the truck was red and the dash and other metal interior surfaces are red one would think the interior would be red. Any thoughts??

Just fyi....I also have a really nice, rust free 1966 custom cab F100 and a nice 1960 F350 that my father purchased new in 1959. We were a Ford truck family.

Thanks!

 

4th digit of VIN: C = 330 2V M/D / 5th digit: U = Louisville KY / Last 6 digits: 802,000-815,999 = January 1966.

If it's a Custom Cab, will have stainless steel windshield reveal mouldings. The windshield is the same with/without mouldings: 1961/66 F100/1100 - 1963/69 N/NT/T500/1100 - 1967/69 F800/1000.

With stainless steel reveal mouldings, the w/shield weatherstrip has a groove for these mouldings to fit into.

Depending on how it was ordered, a red standard cab truck could have an all black heavy duty vinyl seat, a red or beige seat with a mix of vinyl and woven plastic.

KM81 would be the body code, but there's no body code of KM81 for any 1964/69 truck.

Are you sure it's KM and not AM?

1966 N/NT500/1000 before serial number 746,001 (December 1965): AM81 & M81: AM & M = Medium Beige Crush Vinyl & Medium Beige Ladder Pattern Woven Plastic / 81 = 81A Standard Cab.

M81 from serial number 746,001: M = Medium Beige Crush Vinyl & Medium Beige Cody Pattern Woven Plastic / 81 = 81A Standard Cab.

DSO 551660:

55 = St. Louis MO Ford District Sales Office, where the original selling dealer ordered the truck from.

1660 = Domestic Special Order number, the truck was special ordered by the original purchaser, not "bought off the lot."

 

Thank you Bill for your informed reply! The N600 model number is 602 and the serial number is 810267 so does fall in the Jan 1966 build month. It is a 163 inch wheel base with the 164 hp engine. The axle is the F8C with 2 speeds. I hope this will allow the truck to run along at 55 or better mph! (Soon as I get the radiator repaired!). The truck has the Budd (??) spoke wheels.

I just went out to double check the body number and it is definitely KM81. The "KM" being a mystery to me. The seat has an after market saddle blanket cover on it. Under the seat cover is what appears to be the original heavy duty black seat cover which seems to be in pretty good condition. The truck does not have the stainless windshield trim so it is definitely not a custom cab. It does have the raised roof which I think was new in 1966?? The radio is missing but from looking at some photos of N600s it looks like the radio was the same as what is in my '66 F100. Thanks for explaining the DSO 1660 number. Now I am wondering what was special about the truck.....
The previous owner thinks the truck came here to Ky. from an Illinois farm.

Bill...is the term "New Process" for the transmission simply the name they gave the transmission? Do you know what, if anything, was new or special about the transmission?

Again thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Joe

 

New Process is the manufacturer of the trans.

MODEL: N602 = N600 (gas), 20,000 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.

AXLE: F8C:

F8 = Eaton model 13802 Two Speed Rear Axle / 6.33/8.81 / 15,000 lbs. rear axle capacity.

C = Ford-Rockwell (Timken) 6,000 lb. capacity front axle.

Coupla NP435 pics from the 1964/72 Ford Truck Parts Catalog (available on a C/D from hipoparts.com).

 

Thanks for the additional information Bill......you are a great resource....really appreciate it!!

JK

 

Been doing a little work on the '66 N600 I recently acquired. The radiator had a tank leak so I took it out and had it repaired. The hood "wings" and center section had to come off as well as the fan shroud. It makes sense to clean up the very greasy engine and replace the hoses, belts and filters while I can get to them. My NAPA store has been very helpful in trying to get the right parts for me but we are getting about 50% right on the first try. I have a full set of the 1966 truck shop manuals but part numbers are often not included in the diagrams. While I think the engine is the original 330 MD I am beginning to wonder since it does not look exactly like the image in the manual. The engine has blue valve covers that say "Powered by Ford". The thermostat housing is on the top left front (passenger side) with the heater hose entering on top of the housing and another hose (that is plugged off) right below the heater hose. A third hose connects to the water pump. The called for NAPA thermostat is too large and will not fit in the housing groove. There are 2 fan belts (side by side). The fuel filter is blue and hangs down beside the screw on oil filter. I am not sure if the fuel filter is a screw on or cartridge type. Does this sound right for the 330 MD engine??

 

Powered by Ford valve covers introduced in 1967 were used on both FE & FT engines.

You're describing an FT thermostat housing (FE is not the same). However there are several different types of FT housings.

2 1/2" diameter thermostat: 1964/70 361/391 / 1964/72 330 M/D & H/D

2 1/8" diameter thermostat: 1970/72 361/391.

As original, the fuel filter fits inside a canister that threads onto the fuel pump.

Left (upper) pic: 330 H/D/361/391 oil filter is the cartridge type that fits inside a canister (very messy to change).

Right (upper) pic: 330 M/D oil filter is the Spin-On type that threads onto an oil filter adapter.

 

Thanks once again for the help Bill. It sounds like this may not be the original engine. I assume there is an identifying number somewhere on the engine block. I cleaned off the front of the block but so far have not found a number. Do you happen to have an idea as to where I should be looking?

 

Vin number is 6K29C165292. What color was this Ranchero originally. Please help.