1978 or 1979
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Lexington. Mi.
1978 or 1979
Hi fellas, when I bought my truck I was told it was either a 78 or 1979 frame / chassis, is there any differences between the two years that would help me figure out what year chassis I have?
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Senior User
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From: Lexington. Mi.
Two winters ago i had the motor and font clip off, wire wheeled the firewall and every thing on it, and also did the frame rails from the firewall forward and there were no numbers in that area, I have also read that those numbers might be underneath the cab as well
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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
Yes on the passenger side frame rail, about in line with the alternator and about in line with the seat slider front mount bolts on the passenger side also.
Look at the B pillar for a Safety Certification sticker it will have a month and year the truck was manufactured top L/H corner.
Ck the dvrs side door edge for a WARRANTY TAG, it will have VI#, decode that to get a month and year.
At least that info will apply to that tag or that door, because a tag and a door can be changed.....
Look at the B pillar for a Safety Certification sticker it will have a month and year the truck was manufactured top L/H corner.
Ck the dvrs side door edge for a WARRANTY TAG, it will have VI#, decode that to get a month and year.
At least that info will apply to that tag or that door, because a tag and a door can be changed.....
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Stanley, VA
If you find the VIN stamped on the frame, look at the last six digits, AE0,001-CK9,999 is 1978, DC0,001-FK9,000 will be 1979.
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From: Lexington. Mi.
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Fleet Owner
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From: NorCal
I don't have a frame stamp on the front frame rail. I've looked and scraped to no avail. And I won't pull the cab look on top. The best I can figure is that it's a 73 2WD cab on a 74 4WD frame... A 73 wouldn't have a DS ignition plus a few other things I have found.
_________
Casting numbers on parts that would typically not be replaced. A D9xx casting should not appear on a 78.
Paper tags on wiring harnesses could also provide clues since they have PNs on them. Again, a D9xx should not be on a 78.
Sometimes the BOM number on a Dana axle.
But, you'll really have to evaluate whether the preponderance of the found evidence points to either a 78 or 79.
_________
Casting numbers on parts that would typically not be replaced. A D9xx casting should not appear on a 78.
Paper tags on wiring harnesses could also provide clues since they have PNs on them. Again, a D9xx should not be on a 78.
Sometimes the BOM number on a Dana axle.
But, you'll really have to evaluate whether the preponderance of the found evidence points to either a 78 or 79.
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,158
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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
The old myth for the body year of round headlights ='s 78 and rectangle ='s 79 is busted by this statement.
"Also just to clarify the square headlights did start on the 78 model trucks. The base and custom package trucks came with the round headlights in 78 and the Rangers, Ranger XLT, and Lariat trucks came with the square headlights".
"Also just to clarify the square headlights did start on the 78 model trucks. The base and custom package trucks came with the round headlights in 78 and the Rangers, Ranger XLT, and Lariat trucks came with the square headlights".
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
I don't have a frame stamp on the front frame rail. I've looked and scraped to no avail. And I won't pull the cab look on top. The best I can figure is that it's a 73 2WD cab on a 74 4WD frame... A 73 wouldn't have a DS ignition plus a few other things I have found.
Paper tags on wiring harnesses could also provide clues since they have PNs (not) on them. Again, a D9xx should not be on a 78.
.
But, you'll really have to evaluate whether the preponderance of the found evidence points to either a 78 or 79.
Paper tags on wiring harnesses could also provide clues since they have PNs (not) on them. Again, a D9xx should not be on a 78.
.
But, you'll really have to evaluate whether the preponderance of the found evidence points to either a 78 or 79.
No Ford part numbers marked on parts after 1956, just casting or ID engineering numbers, if applicable.
Numbers on wiring harness paper tags are ID engineering numbers which can be crossed over to Ford part numbers, but...
The thing is, you may very well find a 1979 casting or ID engineering number on a 1978 - 1977 - 1976 and etc., because...
The IDIOTS at FoMoCo are in-famous for replacing/updating 10's of 1000's of part numbers EVERY
YEAR! It was a PITA back then and it still is today.For example: 1973/79 F100/350 front fenders, hood & Styleside tailgate originally had 1973 part numbers, but the IDIOTS replaced these 1973 part numbers with 1979 part numbers!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: NorCal
Right, right. In my particular case, a DS ignition wasn't on a 73 and other indications on the truck point to a 74 like a paper tag on the tail light harness. Another harness has D3 printed on the wire behind the dash and appears as if never messed with.
That's why I said 'normally' not replaced.
And yeah, casting numbers aren't part numbers blah. Blah blah. The OP will be looking for numbers on parts - not standing in front of parts counter or with his nose buried in microfiche.
Considering the forest and not the trees, the point made is D9xx not being on a 78.
That's why I said 'normally' not replaced.
And yeah, casting numbers aren't part numbers blah. Blah blah. The OP will be looking for numbers on parts - not standing in front of parts counter or with his nose buried in microfiche.
Considering the forest and not the trees, the point made is D9xx not being on a 78.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
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From: Simi Valley, CA
These ID engineering numbers have to be crossed over to Ford part numbers.
But many of these numbers are not listed in car & truck parts catalogs, but are listed in O-S-I (Obsolete-Supercede-Interchange) catalogs, that are on microfiche slides.
Who on FTE besides JEFFFAFA and myself have microfiche slides and a microfiche viewer? AFAIK, no one else does.
'Course the OP could whiz over to two other Ford truck sites where "your pal" Dennis is holding court. One a these sites has been around since 2007, the other is brand new, founded 4/2015.
Dennis has the microfiche slides, as I gave him 127 extras that I had (came from Pasadena Ford that closed 8/2008), that cover 1973-2001 cars/trucks.