As the title states, I would like to figure out the year of my accidental auction win (cheap enough that I bid 2 weeks ago and forgot to look at the website until I got an invoice)

attached are multiple photos, one of which includes all vin info.

I have yet to see the truck in person, I have a good feeling it will run. I believe it’s a 361, I know it’s a 5 speed with 2 speed rear and I know it’s 24k gvw. I’m attempting to get the title from the previous, previous owner. The “current” owner doesn’t know the year. My goal is to license it in California for low mileage yearly and use it to haul crap around my property, occasionally to and from town. If it’s a pain I just won’t even bother licensing it.

 

Welcome to FTE!

N70 = LN700 gas

E = 361 2V FT gas V8

V = Kentucky Truck Plant

L52507 = 1971 numerical series, April 1971 production

202 = 202 inch wheelbase

3 = Medium Bright Aqua

N703 = LN700 gas, 24,000 lbs GVWR

4A8
4A = Black Vinyl
8 = Standard Cab without butterfly hood, cab and chassis vehicle,

M = Clark model 285V five speed direct transmission

E24
E2 = Eaton model 16244 two speed rear axle, 17,500 lbs capacity, 6.17 / 8.58 ratios
4 = Ford 7,000 lb capacity front axle without power steering

24000 = 24,000 lbs GVWR

182 3800 = 182 certified net hp @ 3800 RPM

74 = Seattle District Sales Office
No special order number. Truck bought out of dealer inventory or "off the lot".

A good stout hauler if in good condition. 361 won't win any races but with a 5 & 2 it should do most jobs without complaint. Tires will be a pain but at least you don't have to deal with widowmakers or an obsolete lug pattern.

Is there a hoist under that bed?

Also note the door tag is originally attached with rivets--if you've looked at other decode threads here you've probably seen them. So perhaps that door was replaced and they swapped the OEM tag to the new door. That would be ok. The VIN should be stamped on the frame, somewhere possibly on the passenger side even with the front of the engine, sometimes as far back as under the cab.

 

I can’t decode the vin but production for the L model began in 71 and the FT engine was last used in 77 or 78
The short hood on that one makes it a LN model
It has the better 10 stud wheels and hubs making parts more available than on the old 5 or 6 stud design. 22.5 stud pilot wheels are a direct fit allowing you to easily switch to safer wheels and tubless tires

 

Thank you, this is very much appreciated. Unfortunately it’s not a dump bed, I wish it was. I found a 24 foot dovetail flatbed that looks like it would mount up to this, and that would be super useful.