I purchased a copy of the Ford parts catalog on CD for 1973/79 pickups.
I read up on deciphering the part numbers, and figured I would lookup a part to test that I understood it.
On page 3017 of 3100 of the PDF is the tailgate and assembly.
The tailgate is listed part number 40700, with a description of "1973/ F100/500" (or something similar) at the bottom, which I interpret to mean these are the same parts for all 1973 through 1979 pickups. So if I had a 1978 F series pickup... would the part number be something like D8TB-40700-A ????

I looked quickly at a few sites for a tailgate, and only found one ( https://www.npdlink.com/store/produc...256-50930.html )
which appears to be some sort of aftermarket replacement. Their description of the part is "Ford Truck TAIL GATE, REPRO, DOES NOT HAVE *FORD* EMBOSSMENT ON TAIL GATE. D7TZ-9940700-A"

If the same tailgate fits all pickups in the 1973 to 1979, is the second digit (the year) even relevant?
Why is their office code Z instead of B ?
Does the 99 refer to the body type?

 

First, when referring to the Ford parts catalog page numbers, it's better to use the actual page number, not the .pdf number. In this case the page you noted as 3017, on my computer is page 869. The actual page is sheetmetal section 400 page 4. These are the numbers at the top of the illustrated page.
As you probably know, the "part number" shown in the illustration isn't the complete number but the basic number. For example ALL Ford distributors in the illustrations are listed as 12127. This is the basic number. To get the correct part number you need to look up your specific application in the text section of the catalog and that will get you the full part number with the correct suffix and prefix.
As a "general" rule the prefix can be broken down into the first digit denotes decade (A=40's, B=50's, C=60's etc.) the second digit denotes year, the third digit denotes car line (A=passenger car, T=truck, S=Thunderbird, U=Econoline, etc.) The fourth digit is an engineering number. Then you have the basic part number. Last is the suffix this finalizes, so to speak, the complete part number for the particular part.
Ford is notorious for changing part numbers (mainly the suffix) when the most minor change takes place, usually involving how the part is packaged! This drives the guys behind the parts counter nuts.
Using your tailgate example. The tailgate basic number is 40700, however, there are two different tailgates, one for the styleside bed (body 99) and one for the flareside (body 83). When you go to the 40700 section of the text catalog (sheetmetal section 400, page 2) you'll see there are two part numbers, D8TZ-8340700-A. This is the flareside tailgate. It's noted in the description: 73/ (The "/" basically means up. Read that as 1973 and up). F100/350 (83). The second part number is the correct one for your truck D7TZ-9940700-A The description reads 73/ F100-/350 (99).

 

mikeo0o0o0, thank you for your help.

I have another of the same type of question.
I see on Body Illustration Section 400 page 6, the illustration is for
"BACK WINDOW PARTS - w/o SLIDING WINDOW
1973/77 F100/500 and 1978/ F100/350"
The base part number for the glass is 42006.

The closest part I can find is on Body Section 400 page 3.
It is either the row for "78/ F100/350(81) - - w/fixed back window"
or "73/ F100/350(99) - - fixed window on pickup box cover".

If the back window in the illustration is for the cab, why would the parts table list a body type if the body refers to the truck bed?
So is there no fixed back window for the cab for a body type 99?

 

Even though Ford refers to the designation as "body" type, the designations 99 & 83 actually refers to the pickup bed (or as Ford calls it "back of cab" equipment). 83 is a Flareside, 99 is the Styleside. The 81 designation is for the cab. If you look in the text section of the catalog, the first category "general information" go to page 54, that illustrates what the different body designations are.
As for the rear window the actual description reads:

73-77 F100-500 (81) w fixed back window clear D3TZ-1042006-F tinted D3TZ-1042006-G Nags 1115T
78/ F100-350 (81) w fixed back window

This rear window fits all 73-79 F100-350's except the ones with a sliding rear window or the ones that had the heated rear window.
You'll notice the parts break after 77 is because 73-77 also fits the F500, in 78 they made some changes to the F500 and it no longer fit the F500.
The second description you have :73/ F100-350 (99) fixed window on pickup box cover. This is for the window on the factory camper shell (pickup box cover) The camper shell was only available on the styleside bed hence the (99) designation.

 

Thanks again.

On page 52 "BODY TYPE CODES F100/350", it says above the table "FIRST DIGIT indicates Standard, Custom, Ranger, or Ranger XLT and color of interior trim.", though in the table I don't see a Standard designation, only a Ranger cab / Ranger XLT cab / Custom cab.

On the following page, row two Description cell says "Conventional Closed Cab - Standard (Custom for F100/350)".
Does this mean that for the F-100 through F-350 series there is only Custom / Ranger / Ranger XLT interior trims???

 

Mike, the F500 was cancelled after 1977.

I have to hand it to you, you have the patience of a saint typing these posts. Trying to explain the parts catalog to a novice can be a study in futility.

OP's question in post #5 (I fear he may have more ):

Page 52 BODY code jazz: Standard Cab would be an F500 because this designation for F100/350's was replaced by Custom in 1970.

Body type codes is missing the M for Super Cab. There no 1978/79 Lariat listed.

 

Thanks for the correction and clarification Bill.