I was being kind of rough on Brad but it's an answer that's going to be impossible to answer. So many things change year to year and during the model year… I remember that we were notified of small changes made to existing model lines before new car introduction. Most were minor… stuff like trim changes, perhaps a gear ration change, stuff like that. most were minor and we didn't pay much attention to.

Some changes were made because of issues with suppliers. If a supplier went on strike and couldn't supply a part certain things may be deleted from a vehicle or the scheduled build date would be delayed until those parts were available.

We had problems getting Explorers with automatics when the Belgian transmission plant that built them had a labor dispute and no transmissions were shipped for several weeks. We could have re-ordered the truck with a 5 speed but most customers waited or walked.

 

I think this sort of thing is common, especially nowadays with global production and suppliers. When I ordered my car I waited about 3 months because of shortages of the engine. Also there were fewer paint options to choose from because of the tsunami in Japan. Apparently the mine a specific metal fleck over there that goes into certain paint colours.

As for your question Brad, it's sounds like no one on this forum has a clear answer. Are you trying to restore your vehicle to stock or just trying to expand your knowledge?

 

I already restored my truck(97 and it had the aluminum with the Oval) but I did away with it because I hate the aluminum

I just wanted to know when the oval was on the aluminum over the Ford letters

 

Friend ordered a new Mustang in 1987. It came without a radio due to factory issues and not having them to install at time of production. To this day, the car still has no radio even though they offered an aftermarket model to put in when he originally picked up the car.

When he test drove one, the salesman was touting how great the sound system was...but he said he didn't care, he had the window down and was listening to the good ol V8!

 

Back in the day you could get radio delete!!!

 

Can you imagine how big that delete plate would be nowadays? Lol

 

When my father bought his '79 F100, the radio was an option. In fact, it had a different IP bezel than the trucks with the factory radio - no hole for a radio, just FORD in raised letters where the radio would be. It wasn't fun installing a radio in that truck... IIRC, the metal plate behind the bezel was also not cutout for a radio. That truck also came without the (optional) rear bumper (as did my '94 apparently).

 

Hey i was wondering if you got your tailgate from LMC truck parts im looking for a smooth gate too for my 97 to get rid of that aluminum plate gate..

thanks

 

LOL, not a chance in hell. Their JUNK would bend just by standing on it. That tailgate is an OEM Ford

 

Of the trucks I have seen over the years, the *only* ones I ever saw that had the aluminum tailgate trim panel with a "Ford" oval (that was not a Bronco) were 1997 F250 XLT models. I always thought that it looked rather odd, as it looked like it belonged on a Bronco.

*1992 - 1996 Ford Bronco XLT got you an aluminum tailgate trim panel with a keyhole and a "Ford" oval.
*1992 - 1996 Ford F150 and F250 XLT got you an aluminum tailgate trim panel with no keyhole and "F O R D" letters on the right.


The F150 line was completely re-designed for 1997 and the aluminum tailgate trim panels were dropped. Meanwhile, the F250 continued with the old body style for a little bit longer and the F350 continued on with the old body style for one more model year.

*Early model 1997 Ford F250 XLT (old body style) got you an aluminum tailgate trim panel with no keyhole and a "Ford" oval. (Later model F250 matched the style of the redesigned 1997 F150.)
*Later model 1997 Ford F250 Heavy Duty (old body style) deleted the aluminum tailgate trim panel and used an "F250 Heavy Duty" emblem on the left side and a "Ford" oval on the right, like the F350 models.

This tailgate style more closely matched the style of the redesigned 1997 F150 and F250 models.

Capiche?

 

Not really since I have seen NEW 96s with the ford oval

 

I had a NEW 96 F150 XLT with the "F O R D" letters, so I don't know what you are talking about.

I have been a FTE member since 2005, and I have never seen anyone around here with a 1996 F150 XLT with a "Ford" oval on the aluminum tailgate panel in lieu of the "F O R D" letters.

 

My Father bought a brand new 1996 f250. it had the ford oval on the aluminum

 

If you go back and read what I wrote, I don't think it is too hard to figure out what Ford probably did in 1996 and 1997 with the aluminum trim panels on the F250 models.

 

And yet I have seen 95s with the oval as well