79 Custom Trim Level Questions
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79 Custom Trim Level Questions
Just brought the 79 SC F-250 Custom 4WD into my garage today to begin a correct, OE style restoration. Will start a thread detailing the work progress when I begin actual disassembly, but today I surveyed it and since it's my first Ford Truck resto, of course I've got more questions:
Glove Box Door. The truck has the wood grain on the glovebox, but not on the dash bezel. Should the Custom trim level just have the painted door?
Tail Lamp Bezel. This truck has no trims around the bezel. Should Customs not have these?
Tailgate. Is the tailgate handle supposed to be painted body color? Also, should the raised "FORD" on the tailgate have the letters painted in a contrasting color? (It's single tone Dark Blue Metallic)
Grille/Headlamp Doors - Should the grille be the solid argent or the silver and black version? Also should the headlamp doors be black on the inner surfaces?
Lastly, does anyone make a OE style floor mat for Super Cabs? Is there supposed to be some kind of floor covering behind the bench seat?
Glove Box Door. The truck has the wood grain on the glovebox, but not on the dash bezel. Should the Custom trim level just have the painted door?
Tail Lamp Bezel. This truck has no trims around the bezel. Should Customs not have these?
Tailgate. Is the tailgate handle supposed to be painted body color? Also, should the raised "FORD" on the tailgate have the letters painted in a contrasting color? (It's single tone Dark Blue Metallic)
Grille/Headlamp Doors - Should the grille be the solid argent or the silver and black version? Also should the headlamp doors be black on the inner surfaces?
Lastly, does anyone make a OE style floor mat for Super Cabs? Is there supposed to be some kind of floor covering behind the bench seat?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,506
Likes: 339
From: Wildwood Pa
I can relay how my 79 F150 Custom was equipped when I bought it off of the original owner in 1987. It was completely untouched & original. Dark blue metallic, not two tone.
Glovebox door had woodgrain with Custom emblem. No woodgrain on drivers side.
No trim around tail lights. No trim on tail gate.
Gate handle was plated, not sure with what. Probably zinc. Not painted. Letters on gate were white. Truck was dark blue metallic.
Grill was solid argent, no black. Headlight doors black on inner part.
Glovebox door had woodgrain with Custom emblem. No woodgrain on drivers side.
No trim around tail lights. No trim on tail gate.
Gate handle was plated, not sure with what. Probably zinc. Not painted. Letters on gate were white. Truck was dark blue metallic.
Grill was solid argent, no black. Headlight doors black on inner part.
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I can relay how my 79 F150 Custom was equipped when I bought it off of the original owner in 1987. It was completely untouched & original. Dark blue metallic, not two tone.
Glovebox door had woodgrain with Custom emblem. No woodgrain on drivers side.
No trim around tail lights. No trim on tail gate.
Gate handle was plated, not sure with what. Probably zinc. Not painted. Letters on gate were white. Truck was dark blue metallic.
Grill was solid argent, no black. Headlight doors black on inner part.
Glovebox door had woodgrain with Custom emblem. No woodgrain on drivers side.
No trim around tail lights. No trim on tail gate.
Gate handle was plated, not sure with what. Probably zinc. Not painted. Letters on gate were white. Truck was dark blue metallic.
Grill was solid argent, no black. Headlight doors black on inner part.
Spent a little more time assessing the truck this morning while trying to free the LH rear wheel. It has the argent gauge cluster - think I can save it since it still marks the 73K original miles. It has a gauge for the temp, but the oil and ammeter are idiot lights.
One more - it does not have cigarette lighter, but a chrome convex cover over the hole in the dash. If the vehicle did not have a lighter, did it have an ashtray? It is missing, but maybe it just has a cover over the hole as well?
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 350
Likes: 44
From: North central TX
I've got a 1978 custom, complete base model truck as well.
I can confirm every Scott says is the same on mine, except my truck is tan.
My truck also has the cigarette lighter delete, but does have an ashtray.
I can confirm every Scott says is the same on mine, except my truck is tan.
My truck also has the cigarette lighter delete, but does have an ashtray.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,506
Likes: 339
From: Wildwood Pa
Superblue, Yes, I still have this truck.
The first picture is from March or April 1987, soon after I bought it. I wanted to two tone it, so the mirrors, side markers, & Ford letters are all missing in preparation for paint.
Second pic is from fall 2015. I gave it another repaint 13 or 14 years ago, & added all the external Ranger Lariat goodies at that time. The interior took a lot longer to upgrade to Ranger Lariat status, I mostly finished that last fall. Just a couple of very small items left to add.
When I got it, it had an aftermarket cigarette lighter, I'm sure it did not have one when new. It has the correct one now. It did have an ash tray.
The first picture is from March or April 1987, soon after I bought it. I wanted to two tone it, so the mirrors, side markers, & Ford letters are all missing in preparation for paint.
Second pic is from fall 2015. I gave it another repaint 13 or 14 years ago, & added all the external Ranger Lariat goodies at that time. The interior took a lot longer to upgrade to Ranger Lariat status, I mostly finished that last fall. Just a couple of very small items left to add.
When I got it, it had an aftermarket cigarette lighter, I'm sure it did not have one when new. It has the correct one now. It did have an ash tray.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 396
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From: Twin Cities
I will also agree with everything ScottScott said.
My '79 F250 is still wearing its original paint and shows just over 35,000 miles. I bought from original owner even wearing the original tires (which I still have, but not likely correct for a 4x4 like yours).
I have added a few pieces to mine that were not original to the "Custom" trim level, but can take pictures of anything you'd like as it is very well preserved.
I did not realize that some did not come with a cigarette lighter. Would it have had a block-off plate over the spot for it on the dash when new? I always wondered why mine did not appear to be factory wiring on that as everything else was so nice. May have been aftermarket like ScottScott's.
My '79 F250 is still wearing its original paint and shows just over 35,000 miles. I bought from original owner even wearing the original tires (which I still have, but not likely correct for a 4x4 like yours).
I have added a few pieces to mine that were not original to the "Custom" trim level, but can take pictures of anything you'd like as it is very well preserved.
I did not realize that some did not come with a cigarette lighter. Would it have had a block-off plate over the spot for it on the dash when new? I always wondered why mine did not appear to be factory wiring on that as everything else was so nice. May have been aftermarket like ScottScott's.
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,354
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From: Great American SouthWest
Both of my F-350s (riding on Dana 70s) had left-hand threads on that wheel.. No idea why Ford did that...
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Thanks to all for the responses. I love that pic in 87 - gives me something to envision what the finished truck will look like.
Have already secured an excellent used rust free OE tailgate, and have a line on a good 78 bed with a factory tool box. This might be the only deviation from stock - was the tool box option available on a Custom?
Have already secured an excellent used rust free OE tailgate, and have a line on a good 78 bed with a factory tool box. This might be the only deviation from stock - was the tool box option available on a Custom?
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Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Twin Cities
I'm not sure if it was a standalone option or part of a camper special package, but my '79 F250 Custom did come with the bed-side toolbox. It also had front and rear sway bars, and cab clearance lights for what it's worth.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,626
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From: NE Texas
My understanding on the Custom is that essentially all the options were separate so essentially you could configure them as you wanted? I would think things like ashtrays would be too major to delete, but lighters etc - that would be an easy add/delete. Mine has the lighter and the two-gauge panel, with factory economy air and 300cid/C6, little outside trim.
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Thank you again. What color was the interior originally? My truck has the blue vinyl, but the headliner and sun visors are white. Do you know if this is correct?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,626
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From: NE Texas
well, my Custom was originally a medium blue metallic, and while driving in to work today I reconfirmed - white visors and headliner, blue seats (mine have been re-covered in cloth) all painted interior original body color.
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