Guys I have a 78 F150 ford ranger. Reg cob short box. It was made 10/77. It has round head lights but it has a fuel tank behind the seat, as well as one in the rear. I thought the tank behind the seat stopped in 77.
I have decoded the vin but I will include it if it helps.

F14HLBA2089
Is this something that someone might have added or is this correct??

 

The last year for the in-cab tank was 77.5 so i'd suspect someone installed that or your cab has been replaced in the past.

 

thanks that what i was thinking. another twist is that all the numbers match. cab, frame,engine everything same vin

 

F14 = F150 4WD / H = 351M 2V / L = Michigan Truck Assembly Plant / BA2089 = 1978.

Where did you get this VIN from, off the registration, or off the Warranty Plate?

If off the Warranty Plate, the left door where the plate is located has been changed.

Peeps swapped left doors due to damage with used doors. 99% of the time, they forgot to install the correct Warranty Plate on the replaced door.

The doors are the same: 1973/79.

As previously stated, the in-cab fuel tank was discontinued midyear 1977.

ROUND headlamps were only used on 1978 Customs.

1978 Rangers, Ranger XLT's and Lariats have rectangular headlamps.

 

I got the vin from the frame and the door. Its the same every were I look. Im restoring this truck and trying to figgure weather to get rid of the tank or keep it. I would never put fuel in it but have it there cause that the way I got it.
Just trying to figgure what the heck i got here.
How do I get a pic to show up on here?

 

Something isn't correct, because if you have a 1978 RANGER, it did not come with ROUND headlamps.

Only 1978 Customs have round headlamps.

ALL 1978 Rangers, Ranger XLT's and Lariats have rectangular headlamps.

IMO, with an in-cab fuel tank, round headlamps and a frame VIN that matches a 1978, someone swapped the cab from an earlier model. Installed a grille from a 1978 Custom, or...

Where are the parking lamps, above the headlamps, or below the headlamps?

 

I thought the in cab tank was just a highboy and 1 ton thing because of the narrower frame?

 

The narrow (33 1/2" between the rear rails) frame has nothing to do with it.

Not all F350's have the narrow frame, it depends on the wheelbase.

In-Cab fuel tanks were installed in many 1973/77 F100/350's, except 1974/77 Super Cabs.

The US Gov't (NHTSA) was responsible for the cancellation of the In-Cab fuel tank midyear 1977.

 

Thats good to know numberdummy. I sure learn a lot on this site!