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I was hoping that you could help me with a VIN decode as well. It is from a 1979 F600 I believe. Also, I just found out about Ford Truck Enthusiasts today and I was reading through a closed thread named 'Old Decodes' where I saw that people would ask for advice and help with part numbers. Since that thread is closed, where would you recommend I post if I have more questions about the F600? Thank you!
C = 370 2V "Lima" gas V8. This code also works for the 429 4V--if you have a 4bbl carb, you could be in luck!
V = Kentucky Truck Plant
EG0828 = 1979 numerical series, probably close to the end of '78 or early '79 production
158 = 158 inch wheelbase
G = Chrome yellow (school bus color which you can see peeking out from under your warranty plate)
F608 = F600 gas, 4x2, 20,500 lbs GVWR
AA8 AA = Black Vinyl
8 = 81A Standard Cab
3A
3 = Dana (Spicer) model 7231-D Auxiliary Transmission with PTO. This is unusual in an F600. Does your truck actually have an auxiliary transmission? A 2nd 3 speed shifter?
EDIT: see pics in post 3. No aux. transmission. This code must have simply indicated a PTO as OEM.
A = New Process model 435 four speed main transmission
544
54 = Rockwell (Timken) model H-172 single speed rear axle, 17,500 lbs capacity, 6.83 ratio
4 = Ford 7,000 lb capacity front axle without power steering
20500 = 20,500 lbs GVWR
258368
25 = Richmond District Sales Office
8368 = Special Order Number.
Maybe the special order was to get that aux. trans instead of what everyone does, get a 5 speed and a two speed axle. But I can see that being handy.....
You can keep posting on this thread for more questions, post pictures, brag about split shifting those two transmissions etc.
Last edited by 85e150; Jan 17, 2023 at 06:04 PM.
Reason: Correction
Thank you so much for the decode! I posted some pictures of what the truck has. It has a PTO shaft that comes out of the side of the transmission to power a fuel pump. The **** in the cab has 5 speeds and a reverse so maybe it controls the speed of the PTO?
OK there is clearly no auxiliary transmission. So the PTO was probably an OEM item. Your floor shifter with the 4 speeds shown is the main transmission, which matches the description and other pictures of an NP435. The "3" code is in a postion that usually indicates an auxiliary transmission. Some of these indicate other things including fan clutch, sound packages, California emissions, French labels.... I don't know why they would use the same code for two different things on the same line. Usually the different engines or transmissions on are separate lines in the MPC.
The 5 speed **** is simply screwed on to the PTO control because that was what was in hand. The speed of the PTO is controlled by engine speed. The PTO is in or out, no "speeds" like a transmission. Once it's in, if you rev the engine, you'll get a faster PTO speed.
Ok thank you! It has a smog pump. Do you know if they all came with this in 1979 or if it was only a California emission?
In regard to future plans, I would like to fix it up to make it a useful fuel truck, but I am running into a few obstacles. The inside of the tank is all rusted out, so I am going to see how much it would cost to have the rust removed. The more present issue that I found when I took off the valve covers today is that there is a buildup of metal shavings around one of the push rods on the passenger side. There was also a quarter size ball of metal shavings there that I removed. The two blue pieces in the picture fell in as I was removing the covers. Do you have any idea where this could be coming from?
As to the smog issue--this was sold out of the Richmond District Sales Office--so it was probably not a CA truck. The smog pump could have just as easily been to meet Federal requirements.
Your rusted fuel tank is probably a deal killer for making it haul fuel again. Hauling fuel is subject to all kinds of regulation, including a 119 gallon limit for gasoline, and 500 for diesel before you need a CDL, if I'm reading the info correctly.
I do not believe you should attempt a repair on a rusted from the inside fuel tank.
As to your engine, metallic debris points to some misalignment, bent push rod, lack of oiling or some other calamity that must be searched out.
1979 F600 decode
There was also a quarter size ball of metal shavings there that I removed. The two blue pieces in the picture fell in as I was removing the covers. Do you have any idea where this could be coming from?
