I seen a thread at one point that explained the differences between the trucks from 73 to 79 such as what years came with what bezzles and things like that but I cant find that thread anywhere! Does anyone have a link to it or can state the information? Wanting to know because my 78 has Ford stamped on the hood and in the grill so I don't feel like its correct for my model year.

 

Letters for a 78 are on the hood. If your grille has letters it is from 73-77. There are different grille inserts from 73-75 and from 76-77. Your grille was probably swapped out at one point.

 

D3TZ-8316-A Letter F / D3TZ-8316-B Letter O / D3TZ-8316-C Letter R / D3TZ-8316-D Letter D .. Grille Letters: 1973/77 F100/350.

D9TZ-16606-A Letter F / D9TZ-16606-B Letter O / D9TZ16606-C Letter R / D9TZ-16606-D Letter D .. Hood Letters: 1979 F100/350, Bronco & Econoline.

 

Or your hood was swapped? What year is your truck according to the title and the door tag or door striker warranty sticker? Can't find that thread but here you go. All this is thanks to ranger429......

Custom:
Pretty much your stripped down version although it could have been ordered with just about any individual option you wanted to put on it. A Custom model included: low back bucket seats, vinyl floor mat for the front only, 25 gallon gas tank, manual steering, 4 speed trans with the 351 motor and the 205 case.
Exterior features were:
hub caps, black painted bumpers and the stainless mirrors.
Ranger:
Not offered on the Bronco, only available in the F-series lineup. Those upgrades were:
The bench seat had a chain mail vinyl seat upholstery, it also included a color matching vinyl floormat, sunvisors, seat back covers in the regular cab model and white headliner with chrome trim.
Ranger XLT:
The front seat used a combination of cloth and vinyl, insulated woodgrain door panels, carpeted flooring, woodgrain around instrument cluster, passenger dash and the glove box, woodtone on the steering wheel horn button, chrome trim around taillights and halogen headlights. The XLT also got the body side trim.
Exterior:
Chrome bumpers, chrome molding around the windshield and side windows in the top, chrome molding around the drip rail by door, chrome wheel well lip molding, rear T-gate chrome pieces, and the body side trim.
Lariat:
Not offered on the Bronco, only available in the F-series lineup. Those upgrades were:
Full cloth seat trimmed in super soft vinyl, door trim panels that included padded inserts, map pockets on the lower door, button quilted padded headliner and extra insulation.
Options available:
These are the only options that I have prices on. Below are some additional options.
400 engine............................................ .....................$165.00
included 12 inch diameter clutch and 53 amp/hr battery
Traction lock front axle.............................................. ...$175.00
Traction lock rear axle.............................................. ....$175.00
Automatic trans............................................. .............$197.00
came with oil cooler and 53 amp/hr battery
Power steering.......................................... ..................$211.00
Heavy duty suspension........................................ .........$104.50
Forged aluminum wheels............................................ ... $218.30
Forged aluminum polished wheels....................................$304.30
When combined with the free wheeling package................$129.10
White painted styled steel wheels...................................$175.20
when combined with the free wheeling package.................$43.20
Rear seat.............................................. .....................$287.20
Quad front shocks............................................ ............$74.00
Swing away tire carrier Ranger XLT..................................$60.60
Swing away tire carrier Custom.......................................$81.6 0
Skid plates............................................ ......................$123.10
Rear stabilzer bar............................................... ...........$25.00
Tilt steering.......................................... ........................$72.00
Free Wheeling pacakge on a Custom................................$558.45
Free Wheeling Package XLT...........................................$385 .05
Ranger XLT package........................................... ...........$668.90

Additional options:
Appearance:
Chrome bumpers
Wheel well molding
Body side trim
GT bar with foam padding
Grilles. There were 3 different options for the front grille. Black, Silver or Argent with chrome accent. I have seen Black on an XLT and the Argent with chrome on an XLT. I am not sure how they decided what grille to put on what truck.
Audio:
AM radio
AM/FM mono radio (1 speaker in dash)
AM/FM stereo (speakers in door panels)
AM/digital clock radio
40 channel CB radio with antenna. This was available on all radio options. A simple way to tell if it had a CB originally if all wiring is gone look for an ash tray on the driver side cargo panel. If there is no ash tray it originally had a CB.
Comfort/convenience:
A/C
Comfort vent heater ( I think this was also the HI-LO option)
Insulation package
Rear floor mat (Custom only)
Front captain chairs (available in 79 only)
Front bench seat
Rear seat
Center console ( only available with buckets)
Convenience group ( intermittent wipers, map paockets and 12 inch day/night mirror)
Lighted visor mirror passenger side only
Privacy glass for top
sliding windows for top
tinted glass all
Western mirror, low mount(normal folding style mirror)
Recreation mirrors (towing mirrors)
GT sport steering wheel with simulated leather wrap ( not available with cruise)
Simulated leather wrapped steering wheel

Cruise control
Light group (ash tray, glovebox, underhood, instrument panel courtesy lights and dome light with map lights)
Swing away spare tire carrier ( stock when ordered with (5) 10x15 tires) with vinly tire cover
Performance:
Quad shocks (gas filled)
Handling package (rear sway bar, quad shocks up front and dual gas filled rear shocks)
Automatic trans
600 watt engine heater
Heavy duty suspension (HD front springs, HD rear springs and front sway bar)
Rear sway bar
Gauges (oil and amp)
32 gallon gas tank with skid plate
Skid plates for 25 gallon tank and T-case
Trailer towing package
Protection:
Tow hooks (front)
Locking hood release
Exterior protection group. Consists of door edge guards, front bumper guards and front bumper rubber strip.
Security lock group. Consisted of locking gas cap, locking hood release, spare tire lock and locking glove box.
Free Wheelin:
Standard features were:
Black bumpers front and rear, Dual black low mount western style mirrors, (5) 15x6 painted steel wheels in either white or chrome yellow with L78x15 raised white letter tires and of course the custom chromatic tape stripe found on the black Bronco. There were also 2 other stripe color combinations, Orange/Tan/Creme or Blue/White/Green.
Trailer Special:
Now according to my book the 1st year for the Trailer Special was 79. I have seen a few members here that have 78 Trailer Special's. There were 2 categories for the Trailer Special.
Light duty trailer towing package:
Good for towing up to 2,000lbs.
This package included a heavy duty radiator, external oil cooler, seven lead trailer harness, heavy duty turn signal flasher and the Trailer Special emblem on the T-gate.
Heavy duty trailer towing package:
Good for towing up to 6,000lbs.
This package included a heavy duty alternator,heavy duty battery, HD rear shocks, bigger radiator, rear sway bar, swing out recreational mirrors, amp meter, oil pressure gauge, HD front springs, external oil cooler and the Trailer Special emblem on the T-gate.
Transfer Cases
The T-case on an NP 203 (full time case) will have a shift pattern like this.
4 low lock
N
4 high lock
The NP 205 (part time case) will have this shift pattern
4 low
N
2 high
4 high

 

As far a bezels (dash?) 73 to 79 are the same as far as swap-ability, even a/c versus non a/c can be swapped around. Glove box trim ring (metal and plastic versions) can be swapped.

73-79 Door panels, head liner, dash pad, doors, 73-77 hood without FORD letters and 78/79 with FORD letters will swap. Glove box door, seats.

As far as fenders....73 to 75?? F100 fenders have the F100 badge on the fender. Then it moved to the cowl in 76?? I am guessing on that year ND.....

Tailgates older 73 and newer 79 will swap around, but I believe the older 73-76? have a little different body line on the top inline with the handle bump. And the tailgate opening handle action is different. Hinged on one side on the older ones and hinged on both sides on the newer.

 

Oops fat fingered it.

 

Hood & front fenders are the same 1973/79 F100/350 & 1978/79 Bronco. Only the emblems/mouldings are different.

Styleside tailgate same 1973/79 F100/350.

When replacement sheet metal was purchased from FoMoCo, it didn't come with any holes punched out to install emblems/mouldings/tailgate finish panels and etc.

Parking lamps: 1973 F100/350, 1974 F100/350 before serial number T80,001. The plastic lens threads into the metal body which has the socket with wires swaged into it.

1974 F100/350 from serial number T80,001, 1975/77 F100/350: The parking lamp is a one piece molded plastic assembly, individual plastic socket twists in.

Molded plastic parking lamp: 1974/75 and 1976 before serial number C50,001 lens is clear, uses an #1157NA amber bulb.

1976 from serial number C50,001 and 1977 has an amber lens, uses a #1157 clear bulb.

Styleside tail lamps: 1973 F100/350, 1974 F100/350 before serial number T80,001: Tail lamp lens threads into metal body that has the socket swaged into it.

1974 F100/350 from serial number T80,001, 1975/79 F100/350, 1975/91 Econoline, 1978/79 Bronco: One piece molded plastic assembly, individual plastic socket twists in.

 

Yes the hoods and fenders are the same sheet metal and interchangeable, I was trying to point out that if you get a used 73 fender to put it on a 79 the 73 one will have holes in it for the badges below the dent trim. Same for the hood....

I think the tailgate difference it the pre 73 will go on, but it has a slight body line diffidence in line with the high line on it.???

 

So wait..... There's a Ranger and a Ranger XLT? Mine just says Ranger but I have the glove box, chrome drip rail and all the other options that was listed for the XLT however no where on my tittle nor my truck does it say XLT so I'm a tad confused on this one.....