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I recently bought a 1976 F500, and it seems info is not as abundant as the F600's. I've been doing a lot of internet research and was able to decode the VIN, however I think I found a discrepancy between the VIN and the rear axle tag. Can someone confirm this?
DOOR VIN
F50CVA00541
158 M F501 AA8 A 41
16000 47
41 = Rockwell D-130 (D-140) 5.83 13,000 lb
AXLE TAG MODEL F 106BNX 1 CUSTOMER C8TA-4005-FJ/R-4A-N SERIAL# 187985 MY RATIO 0620 DATE 810 731
This tag says its a Rockwell F106 with a different ratio.
A00541 = 1976 numerical series, August 1975 production
158 = 158 inch wheelbase
M = Wimbledon White
F501 = F500, chassis and cab, 16,000 lbs GVWR
AA8
AA = Black Leather Grain HD Vinyl (as indicated in shop manual)
8 = Possibly Custom Cab--MPC doesn't show the "AA" with the body codes.
A = New Process Model 435 four speed transmission
41 = Rockwell (Timken) model D-140 single speed rear axle, 13,000 lbs capacity, 5.83 ratio
No front axle listed. Probably a standard Ford axle at about 4,500 lbs capacity and no power steering
16000 = 16,000 lbs GVWR
47 = Cincinnati District Sales Office
No special order. "Plain Jane" F500 probably bought from dealer inventory.
The axle was probably changed by someone along the way. The F-106, with 15,000 lbs capacity and the 6.20 ratio, would have been axle code 62 on the warranty plate. It probably would have been a regular production option in the F500.
1977 was the last F500. The Master Parts Catalog for '73-'79 puts the F500 in with the light trucks (100-500) instead of the previous grouping with mediums (500-900) This is odd, as the F500 could be ordered up with a higher GVWR than some F600s, used the same medium only FT engines and probably the same frame and brakes as the F600.
Unless you can find witness marks on fasteners, or some service record, there's no way to tell who or when the axle was changed, or if it was a factory error.
Thanks for the information and relocating my thread. I've sourced a set of axles from an '04 Kodiak, front and rear discs and the hydraboost to go with it. I'll keep y'all updated on my progress as I go. It's one of my side projects so it won't be anytime soon.
