I'm coming over from the BMW world where we have a website - RealOEM.com. You identify your specific configuration - year, model, engine, etc.- and there are blowup diagrams with part numbers for everything in the vehicle. Then, you plug any BMW part number into a supplier's site - FCPEuro or something - and can buy the exact part you need.

How does this work in the Ford world? I can't seem to find part numbers for anything. And where do you end up buying parts?

 

If the truck is a 1999 or older, most of the parts are obsolete, so you either have to look for NOS or punt. Some "trim" parts are reproduced, some are not.

Most of the mechanical parts are available from auto parts stores back to 1965 or so. Any earlier, it's catch-as-catch-can.

There are no Ford parts catalogs available to the general public after 1989. Previous years back to 1928, parts catalogs are available on C/D's from several 'aftermarket' vendors.

As far as FoMoCo is concerned, vehicles prior to 2000 don't exist. Most dealers have thrown away their paper parts catalogs and microfiche slides, lotsa luck finding a microfiche viewer.

On newer piles, all that's necessary to get part numbers is the VIN. Parts guys type it into FoMoCo's computer system, all the part numbers appear on the screen.

But when you go to a dealer looking for parts for an older vehicle and mention the year, the parts clucks say obsolete! whether the part is or not.

The sad fact is, most of these clucks don't know diddly squat about older vehicles, so they don't want to bother and just "shine you on."

 

Welcome to FTE, so here in the FTE parts world.... in a new thread we just say what we need or what we think we need to fix the old truck (calling it by the best name we can come up with) and a good description, and a picture, and state any #'s you find stamped on said part.

Worse case it is an engineer # and you get a demon out of our resident parts GURU "Number Dummy". Say that like it echos down a long long dark hallway. He is a living breathing parts # and actual part locating hound dog that types pretty good on the ol keys. Also has a parts Ford Truck Master Parts File on papyrus paper and has a actual microfiche of the same and knows how to use it. Henry Ford taught him how to use it by the way.

For yourself get the Master Parts file on CD, figure our the Mayan like calendar way to use it and then you can type the proper part # into.......well something parts locator. com ect.... I can not remember exactily, but ND will and he will tell you. And you can locate dealerships that have it.


https://www.fordmanuals.com/estore/s...?idproduct=387

Get this too. https://www.vintageautogarage.com/19...p/dcdf-113.htm

The way to use the parts catalog is explained below.
Some part # understanding help if you bought the CD:
Question from milkweedgarnder
Help comprehending part number(s)
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?

Answer from mikeo0o0o0
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).

 

Welcome to FTE KrazyJ.
Yeah, things are a little different than with your BMW. Getting Ford part numbers can be "challenging" at times. I would recommend that you get a set of parts catalogs (available on CD from Ebay or hipoparts.com) and study them. Fords numbering system is a little confusing if you're unfamiliar with it (AKA "bat***** crazy").
Until you become familiar with it feel free to post any questions you have here and one of us (usually Bill, AKA Numberdummy) will have an answer. One thing to avoid, any numbers you see on a part is not a part number! That is an engineering number. It can be crossed over to a part number but it's not the P/N. Ford hasn't put an actual part number on a part since 1956.
Locating NOS parts can be a challenge too. The newest truck is now 40 years old so parts can be difficult to locate. There are dealers that specialize in NOS parts (Green Sales is one example) but you need the part number to search their databases and when you do search their databases, you need to drop the hyphens in the part number or it'll come back as no parts found (ie. D3TZ-12127-E gets entered as D3TZ12127E).
Another thing, you didn't say what you have, but I would also recommend get a set of FACTORY shop manuals for it. Chilton, Haynes and Motor are okay but you can't beat factory manuals The set for my truck ('73 F100) is six volumes long, including the emissions manual that was a separate manual.
Again, welcome to FTE. Enjoy your truck and have fun with it.

 

Wow what a helpful thread and warm welcome. This is a great intro and everything I was hoping to learn about. Thanks alot for the information, everyone!!

 

Also make sure and sign up for your FTE state chapter...your profile says Country Of Residence... US and you have -- (for outside USA).

So you get the expanded version to pick from. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum13/

 

If you need to check if a part number is still available from FORD, shoot us an a pm and we will check it for you!