New here, i reconize a couple of you from slick 60's. I got a 100% rust free 66' f100 352 4 speed short box. I pulled it out of a feild about a year ago where it had been sitting since about 1976. Dropped a 352 from another truck in it amd she purrs like a kitten. mostly stock for now but i am thinking about a mustang tank swap and mamby power disk brakes latter on.

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Sounds like a cool truck, get some pics posted!

 

sounds like great project. i am putting disc brakes on my 66 custom cab

 

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between a 65 f100 and a 66 f100. The vin number for the 66 i am looking at says it was built in sept 1965. Does it mean that its a late built 65 or one of the first built 66. It has a FE motor in it and I thought 65 didn't come with one. I maybe wrong though.

 

Hello,
I just bought a '66 F100 Custom Cab about 2 months ago also!!

~Bob

 

65 was the first year for FE engine and Twin I Beam. Not much difference between 65 and 66. The grille probably the biggest difference. Other minor differences like suspended gas pedal 66, gas pedal bolted to floor 65. I'm sure there's others here who know more.

 

how can i find out the body and engine id numbers are matching. Is there any where on the web that has this info. I am looking at a 1966 f100. I looked up the vin number and it shows that it is supposed to have a 352, the guy I am buying it from says the engine is a 390. Other then checking the stroke how can you tell the difference. I can tell the difference on GM motors but Fords in this year range trow me for a loop.

 

You really can't tell the difference externally between a 352/360/390/428 etc. The only real way is to check the stroke or the casting #'s on the crank. There is no engine I.D. on a Ford that ties the motor to the body. Thus no such thing as #'s matching on a Ford truck. Now they will have date codes and casting #'s, but no VIN stamped on the motor. For instance, if the casting number on the block is DT3E, that would tell you that this particular block was first used in 1973 (D=70's decade, 3=73). There will also be the date this particular block was cast stamped down near the oil pan also. The VIN on the door tag should match the VIN on top of the right side frame rail between the core support and spring tower. That's if the truck still has the original drivers door. If the truck has the original engine it will be a 352. It was very common for people to swap 390's into these trucks. Good luck.

 

These trucks did come with an engine tag...no VIN related numbers on it, but it does tell the CID of the engine, its build date and build revision level...the tag would be bolted to the dipstick tube retaining bolt as original, but have also seen them attached to the coil bracket on the intake...the tags are about 2 inches long by 1/2 inch wide with one rounded end with bolt hole and other end squared off...mine was used originally as a wire retainer for my oil sending unit and gauge wires...
Other differences between 65 and 6 trucks are that the cowl plugs on 65 and older trucks were screwed in, whereas 66 up had a rubber plug that simply popped in. And if it has windshield washers, the switch on 65 is above the ignition switch and you pull the wiper switch to activate it...this is for the factory electric washer mind you....the gas pedal has been mentioned already....August was the transition month from making one year truck to another.
other subtle differences between the 2 years...fender badging...65 had the FORD 100 or 250 all above the red insert whereas 66 had FORD on top and the model below the insert.
If you do find a tag, or the casting numbers off of the intake(my intake btw is a C5AE...and is original to the truck too) Theres tags on the carb if its original and never been rebuilt or rebuilt and tag reattached...the autolite 2100 2 bbl carb also has a 4 character code stamped in the driver side front ear of the carb...would be something like C5TB OR C6TT or similar...

If you find any of the tags and also want the door tag decoded, post the info and I and others can decode it all for you.

Matt...Im in Wa too...western side of state...which side are you on ?? If you ever wanna talk truck, dont hesitate to ask...btw...email and pvt msg priveleges kick in after 25 posts...post count is in top right of each post of each person...

Welcome to FTE



- cs65

 

Casting numbers cannot be cross referenced to part numbers, and a block with a casting number of D3TE only means that was the year the block was cast, not when the block was first used.

In fact the FE bare (C8AZ-6010-C) and short blocks (C8AZ-6009-G~360 / C8AZ-6009-H~390) are the same from 1968 thru 1976, the heads are the same 1968/72, only changing slightly in 1973 due to emissions standards.

The suspended gas pedal wasn't exclusive to 1966's, 1965's have it after serial number 696,001. The last 1965 was serial number 732,000.

Since new vehicle introduction begins in September, production begins in late July or August. A truck built in September 1965 will be a 1966 model.

Ford doesn't have numbers matching, that's a GM thing.

1966 only: Only the two speed wipers with w/s washers have a combo w/s wiper/washer switch (C6TZ-17A553-B). This occured at serial number 760,001, so not all 1966's with 2 speed wipers have this feature.

1966's with 2 speed wipers assembled before #760,001 and single speed wipers with washers have the button on the dash above the ignition switch (2C-11500-A).