I decided to restore my truck's seat now rather than later. This turned out to be a good decision if only because it allowed us to discover the truck's build sheet tucked into the seat cushion's rusty springs. The build sheet is in rough condition but is mostly legible. A build sheet is sometimes referred to as an ROT sheet (for "ROTATION") or a broadcast sheet, but none of these names provided much help in de-coding my truck's sheet.

The build sheet itself is printed on thin, tracked paper, and is 8 1/2" wide by 3 5/8" high. Still barely attached to it before we removed the sheet from the seat was a blank sheet of the same form.

We've previously de-coded my truck's warranty plate -- thanks again, Bill, for your assistance -- so I'm primarily interested in any new information the build sheet provides beyond the warranty plate.

The most helpful site I've thus far discovered regarding applicable build sheet de-coding relates specifically to a 1962 T-bird's build sheet:

http://www.reocities.com/tpls63/technical/1962rot.html

The 1962 T-bird appears to use a form very very similar to my truck's build sheet and I note that the remaining left-hand tracks on my form say "PASS. TRUCK" continuously along their inner edge. Is that short for "passenger car and truck"? I don't know.

Anyway, here's my first shot at interpreting my truck's build sheet. I'm looking for assistance. I'm only noting the categories/boxes in which my truck's build sheet has entries:


ROT (Rotation) = 0060, indicating that my truck was the 60th vehicle on the assembly line the day it was built

SERIAL NUMBER = F35CE180244, consistent with my warranty tag, chassis stamp, etc., so I won't elaborate further

WHEELBASE = 132, yes, 132"

PAINT B = V, Academy Blue is the base color and no T (top) color is specified as my truck is not two-tone

BODY = 4

CAB TRIM(?) = 2, I suspect this refers to the Custom Cab trim

CAB. EQUIP.(?) = 0

TYPE ORDER = 1, which appears to be a regular dealer order

SCHED. DATE = 1F, which appears to represent a production date of 1 June (F = 6th month) 1961, consistent with the chassis number of 180244, but more precise than simply "June 1961"

REGION DISTRICT = 11, Boston

DSO/FSO/PAO = 8113, I suspect this District Special Order relates to a non-Ford-factory custom rear cap, that has been with the truck since new.

U/COAT = A

INST. BOARD = 2, I suspect this refers to the Custom Cab instrument bezel

SPRINGS REAR = 8, my truck has factory rear auxiliary springs and a GVWR of 9,800 lbs., so perhaps that is what code "8" represents

ENG. = C, which is the M/D 2bbl. 292

TRANS. = E, which is the Warner T-87E H/D 3-speed manual transmission

AXLE = 23, which is the Spicer/Dana 70 rear axle with 5.13:1 ratio

TIRES SIZE = 1, since my truck has a set of correctly-dated 19.5" x 5.25" rims (a factory option), I'm going to assume that "1" means 19.5" tires

TIRES TYPE = 8, 8-ply tires were originally specified for the optional 19.5" rims but I'm guessing here

ORN. PKG. = 1, could this be Custom Cab equipment?

WIPER WASH = 1, appears to indicate that the vehicle was equipped with a windshield washer system at the factory, which is consistent with my truck

BACKUP LITES = 2

OMIT SPARE = 1, since my truck has a factory frame-mounted spare tire cradle under the rear of the bed, and a fifth correctly-dated 19.5 x 5.25 rim, I suppose "1" means it had the (then-)optional spare tire

REMARKS = 3

FORM = 628

Unlabeled box across the form's bottom (a.k.a., "remarks space") shows "...AR SHOCKS" on my damaged form. Since rear shocks were optional on the F-350 in 1961, and my truck has rear shocks, I believe that to be a reference to rear shocks.

That's all I've got thus far. Any help is, as always, greatly appreciated!

Regards,

Steve

 

The build sheet in its original location, still attached, if barely, to a blank form. That's the passenger-side seat track running across the top of the photo.

Steve

 

Build sheets and or original dealer invoices are very uncommon to find with a vehicle over 50 years old. Original DSO equipment lists, left with every vehicle with a DSO number ( since January 1962-you just barely missed that one), are even harder to find. Your lucky still to have that piece. There great to have to provide detailed documentation on your vehicle and serious collectors love to see them. Vin codes do not provide all options installed at factory. Case in point : Wheels. Its usually a guessing came if you have a set of aftermarket wheels or non period wheels on your truck.

 

Thanks!

As far as I'm concerned:

Finding Build Sheet = Winning the Lottery

But I'm trying to find someone who can fully de-code it. There are T-Bird specialists, Lincoln specialists, early-Mustang specialists, but I have not yet found someone comfortable opining on the Ford truck codes!

(By the by, when I examine an old car or truck, my first stop is at the VIN plate and VIN stamps, my second stop is always to the dates on all five rims. Five rims with manufacturing dates close to but no later than the vehicle's manufacturing date tell me a LOT about the general originality of a vehicle!)

Best regards,

Steve