So the truck is all original except maybe the engine? Is that where you are at now?

 

Bed and most of the body parts are replacements. Some parts, like the hood had a tag welded on with what looked like mm/yy and a ck in a diamond I believe.

 

Huh? How did you get that? I don't think a 2.0L engine for trucks existed back then.

Bullnose VIN Decoder - Gary's Garagemahal (the Bullnose bible)

 

Everything I said is in the picture, just the words is rearranged some.

 

Your Engine Code (8th digit of the VIN) is E, not C.

The identifier on the frame is incomplete as compared to the final VIN.

 

Found these numbers on the frame as well, internet didnt much like them though. Best guess looking at it up close in person, DIEIBFE 1OJ1H4

Best pic I have of this


No other numbers on the frame that I can find. There was a paint stamp near one of the rear tires, that was almost legible. Looked like it said CAULTSRY but first letter is mostly gone, and there could be one before it.

 

I may have you beat on the "love" part as I am still working on a cab off frame rebuild and there is no better way to know the truck inside & out than what I have done

I know mine had at least 2 owners before me and 1 of them went crazy with black spray paint inside on everything and black primer type paint on the outside again over everything.
When I first started this project I asked what factory colors were for parts (frame & suspension to name 2) and really did not get a answer so I went with colors I liked (black on the 2 listed)

This I think also brought up the color of the front park/turn signal lights. Some years had yellow lenses and clear bulbs and other years clear lenses and yellow bulbs.
Project truck had clear lenses but may of had the front replaced because of a crash from what "it told me". Parts truck had yellow lenses and I may use them if in good shape as I think they look better.

Also when rebuilding anything if you want to change / add something on the truck I say do it, build the truck the way you want as it is yours and so what, what anyone else has to say,
IT'S YOUR TRUCK!
Dave ----

 

That's what we may have been arguing about, whether or not the frame vin was condensed. It does read pretty good like an '80/earlier maybe? except the impossible engine code, but it does match mine pretty good if you drop some digits

 

Engine casting numbers

 

Your VIN engine code cannot be C, because this 2.0L 4 cylinder was only installed in 1983/88 Rangers.

How many F100/350's of any year came with a 4 banger? N-O-N-E = NONE!

 

So have we made it to the point where we all agree they used shortened versions of the vin on the frame? Also, did you look at the engine castings?

 

1992 truck block casting number with a August 9, 1996 casting date.

I cannot agree the VIN was shortened, because I've only seen one or two 1980's and later frame VIN's.

I'm more knowledgeable with 1948/79's, than I am with these "newer" trucks.

 

I saw online that '96 was the last production year on the 300 6, that means mine is one of that last ones produced? And would that also indicate the truck was dealer serviced and got a replacement, or someone ordered a new engine, or was it pulled off a newer vehicle?

 

Just found this little guy hiding on the transmission, buried under a mountain of grease.


CUA16951

They got me again. Looks like the pattern is, main parts have a factory stamp of the parts of the vin that are specific to them. So the full vin covers the entire truck, the frame has the truck series the plant and sequence but leaves off the motor and the brakes and the country code, the trans doesnt have any of that. Anyone else know of anymore parts that could have been stamped as they went down the line? I think I heard the lower front of the head has one as well, and I will see if mine has anything there at all, I assume it won't match since the engine has been swapped.

 

Where is the series? No see um.

CUA16951:

C = 1982 / U = Louisville KY plant / A16951 = The trucks specific serial number.