How did Ford issue the serial numbers for these 73-79 trucks...did they go through each letter of the alphabet to 99,000 trucks, and then start with the next letter? Also always wondered the rhyme or reason to the part #'s.

 

Fords part number system uses the same basic number for the group number as it does for the part number. This system, in place since 1906, is unique, as GM and everyone else uses two numbers, one for the group, a different one for the part number.


Example: 1967 F100 352 right front motor mount = arrow in illustration points to mount which has a group number of > 6038. Go to text...part number is C7TZ-6038-H. In other words every front motor mount whether for a 1940 Ford, or a 2006 Super Duty uses 6038 as the basic number for the front motor mount. The difference is the prefix and suffix.


C7TZ: C = decade = 1960's / 7 = year = 1967 / T = truck / Z = means nothing, it was added to the prefix in 1957 for phonetical reasons only.


The suffix can mean right or left. Example: H = right / J = left. It also may denote a design change, or...the list of what the suffix refers to is endless.


First digit in part number-decade: A = 1940's / B = 1950's / C = 1960's / D = 1970's / E = 1980's / F = 1990's.


Third digit in part number-model (a few [of many] samples): A = Big Ford passenger car = Galaxie, LTD, Crown Vic / D = Falcon; Maverick; Granada; Taurus / E = Edsel / F = Escort / H = Heavy Truck / N = Tractor / O = Fairlane, Torino, LTD II / S = T-Bird / T = Truck / U = Econoline / Z = Mustang.


Parts Catalog symbols for each model may or most likely not match the third digit above.

 

1975 - 1976 was the most confusing.





IMO, The system was the best starting with 1978.

 

Thanks...just something I was curious about...that's good info.