Quick Questions
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Quick Questions
I recently started looking around for an older Ford an found a F350 4x4 with a 400 and a 4 speed in an add. The guy says it's a 78 but I'm not sure because the pic. of the truck shows rectangle headlights like my 79 Bronco and I thought that the 78's had round headlight. But either way I am probably going to go take a look at it this evening or tommorow. I just wanted to find out from you guys what I really need to look form and check out when I go down to look at it. Thanks
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: SD
Actually the date doesn't matter. The base model is a Custom - Customs had round lights. The higher models - Ranger, XLT, Lariat - all had rectangle lights.
They are good trucks, make sure it runs/drives good. They get rust in the usual places - floor boards and over rear wheels - depending on how it was cared for. A F350 4x4 is a tough solid truck, it will take a lot of abuse.
Marty
They are good trucks, make sure it runs/drives good. They get rust in the usual places - floor boards and over rear wheels - depending on how it was cared for. A F350 4x4 is a tough solid truck, it will take a lot of abuse.
Marty
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No Trucks had SQUARE headlights.
Please.... they are Not square, they are rectangular.
1978 Trim lines above Custom got Rectangular hedlights
That means 1978 Ranger Explorer, Ranger XLT, Ranger Lariat have Rectangular headlights.
In 1979, all trim lines received Rectangular headlights
Engine code = 4th digit of Vin#
Engine Code H for F series is for 351M
Code S for F series is for 400.
Code H in E series is for 351W.
Please.... they are Not square, they are rectangular.
1978 Trim lines above Custom got Rectangular hedlights
That means 1978 Ranger Explorer, Ranger XLT, Ranger Lariat have Rectangular headlights.
In 1979, all trim lines received Rectangular headlights
Engine code = 4th digit of Vin#
Engine Code H for F series is for 351M
Code S for F series is for 400.
Code H in E series is for 351W.
Last edited by Mil1ion; May 15, 2006 at 01:32 PM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Northeast Nebraska
Theres no such thing as a 78 F-350 4x4. 79 was the first year for those. Also a rectangle is a square but a square is not a rectangle. Basic geometry.
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They Better change the OVAL office to the ROUND office in the white house.
That way they can finally ask that question:
Q: How do you drive the president of the USA crazy ?
A: Put him in a round room and tell him to pee in the corner
That way they can finally ask that question:
Q: How do you drive the president of the USA crazy ?
A: Put him in a round room and tell him to pee in the corner
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From: Tyrone GA
Oh yeah, well my 78 F-150 Ranger XLT came with round lights, not rectangle ones ! so theres your cog in the machine. It really depends on when it was ordered/built. Because mine was built in 7/77 before the rectangle lights were available, so they slapped round ones on instead. I then put rectangle ones on later. I think the 78 models that were built in 78 all had the rectangle lights on the Ranger/Ranger XLT etc etc etc
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Quote:
Oh yeah, well my 78 F-150 Ranger XLT came with round lights, not rectangle ones ! so theres your cog in the machine. It really depends on when it was ordered/built. Because mine was built in 7/77 before the rectangle lights were available, so they slapped round ones on instead. I then put rectangle ones on later. I think the 78 models that were built in 78 all had the rectangle lights on the Ranger/Ranger XLT etc etc etc
Then that truck is a 1977.
The starting production month for 1978's was August 1977
Oh yeah, well my 78 F-150 Ranger XLT came with round lights, not rectangle ones ! so theres your cog in the machine. It really depends on when it was ordered/built. Because mine was built in 7/77 before the rectangle lights were available, so they slapped round ones on instead. I then put rectangle ones on later. I think the 78 models that were built in 78 all had the rectangle lights on the Ranger/Ranger XLT etc etc etc
Then that truck is a 1977.
The starting production month for 1978's was August 1977
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I didn't realize headlights were such a hot topic. I still haven't gone down to look at the truck. But since it is obvious that I can't use them to tell what year the truck is and someone said there was no 4x4 F350 until 79, how can I tell if it is a 79 and the guy got the year wrong or ifit is a F350 clone?
Posting Legend
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To determine what the truck is check the VIN on the door AND the frame.
In model years 77.5 thru 1978 an F series with custom trim came with round headlights. Some of them may have even been fitted with "rectangular" headlights towards the end of the 78 model year due to parts availability. Model year 77.5+'s were considered to be ~78's and were called a mid year introduction. This still happens today when design and production schedules slip. Unfortunately due to production schedules and parts availability some early production "78" Ranger & R-XLT's etc were made with earlier model parts which in some cases included round lights. There were major changes in midyear 1977 in body styles, suspension, and powertrain. Many replacement parts are called out by sequential VIN numbers in 7 and 78 because of running changes. Sometimes the sequential numbers are not even right due to special orders and fleet vehicles. We should have a 73-77.5 and a 77.5-79 forum but there are also many similarities and the line is blurred so 73-79's get lumped together.
In model years 77.5 thru 1978 an F series with custom trim came with round headlights. Some of them may have even been fitted with "rectangular" headlights towards the end of the 78 model year due to parts availability. Model year 77.5+'s were considered to be ~78's and were called a mid year introduction. This still happens today when design and production schedules slip. Unfortunately due to production schedules and parts availability some early production "78" Ranger & R-XLT's etc were made with earlier model parts which in some cases included round lights. There were major changes in midyear 1977 in body styles, suspension, and powertrain. Many replacement parts are called out by sequential VIN numbers in 7 and 78 because of running changes. Sometimes the sequential numbers are not even right due to special orders and fleet vehicles. We should have a 73-77.5 and a 77.5-79 forum but there are also many similarities and the line is blurred so 73-79's get lumped together.