I noticed there are a few 78's with the round headlights. Did the early models have the round and then they switched to the square ones? When did they switch?

 

thats a good Q ive never figured out the fords regarding this.

we have a '77 4x4 with square lights and yet everyone who seems or pretends to know about these trucks has said that it isnt supposed to have them.

but the grille does seem to be a new/replacement one.

so maybe someone updated it with a new square light grille..

who knows.

its confusing..

my guess is that it depended on the model package/exterior appearance equipment options ordered.

GM was the same way in 1980 only though. the only one single year that both round and square headlight fronts were sold.

because on the chevy gmc truck in 1980 there was the round light models as base models

but if you ordered the V22 chrome front package or silverado package then you got the same square headlights with the same '73-80 fenders but special unique one year only headlight bezels and rad support fillers to make the lights work with the old style fenders.

so hmm...

very few 1980 square headlight gm truck example survive now, i know of only 2 or 3 left around here. and our 1980 K-20 is not a silverado or chrome front package so it is round headlight.

i have a pair of the square 1980 light bezels in the attic still from a square light 80 K10 we junked years ago that someone stuck an oldsmobile 455 into because it was a factory olds. 350 diesel truck.

 

All 77's had round headlights and a different grill. 78's came with both round and rectangular headlight. I believe early base models had the round. All 79's had rectangular headlights. If your 77 has rectangular, it was switched out for a 78/79 grill.

 

73-77 all trucks came with round lights, 78 was option of round or square, package may have played a part in this, but ALL 79 trucks came with square lights. I remember because I worked at a Ford garage at the time. I was one of those young bucks, that couldn't afford one, so I worked there and drove them all!!

Just think of it, a lot full of fresh new dentsides setting there waiting to go to a new home!!

 

1978

Rangers, Ranger XLT's and Lariats all had rectangular headlamps.

Only Customs had round headlamps.

There was no option package that included rectangular headlamps for Customs.

When rectangular headlamps are present, the radiator (core) support is different, as are the headlamp buckets, retaining rings, and headlamp doors.

With rectangular headlamps, the core support behind the buckets is dished inwards to allow the lamps to fit.

1973/78 F100/350: D3TZ16138A .. Core Support / Use with Round Headlamps.

1978/79 F100/350: D8TZ16138A .. Core Support / Use with Rectangular Headlamps.

I bought a 1979 F150 Super Cab Lariat brand new. There are two other FTE members (that I know of) that also bought new 1979 F150's.

 

Correct. From the beginning of 1978 model year to the spring of 1978, Customs came with round headlights. Ford issued an order to stop using the round headlamps and switch over to rectangular headlights.

So late 1978 Customs have rectangular headlights.