my latest beast of burden is a 65 F500.vin tag as follows F5OJE614979, WB156", model F502. body 481, trans 4, axel 44, GVW 15,500, HP 129@3000, code in lower right of tag 83001. don't know if this is a DSO code or production code. this area on my 2 '55's is either blank or has 2 asterics. it has the following accessories. tow hooks,frame mounted 25 gal gas tank, tool carrier in place of tank behind the seat,filler neck block-off, vacume gauge,twist lock throttle, cigar lighter, seat belts,65 amp alternator with double pullies, power assist steering, hazard warning lights (4 ways)switch monted in the dash insert, body light interupter switch (in dash insert) 8x22.5 5 lug stud piloted budd wheels.under the hood marked in an oil based crayon is written NAVY. fire wall under the dash is machine gray.there is no data tag on dash as in most civillian/military MV's.any help is appreciated..on another note,saw a posting that '64 was the first alternator in fords.my '53 C600 w/8BA flatty has a 7 volt leece-neville alt from the factory.also "P" code galaxies in '61/'63 also had alternators.thanks for any help....

 

Your VIN and warranty plate breaks down as follows...

F50= F500 series conventional cab truck
J= 240 6 cylinder engine
E= Mahwah, N.J. assembly
614979= Nov. 1964 build date


----------------------------------


Warranty Plate breakdown is as follows:

WB = 156: wheelbase in inches
Model = 502: 16,000 pound GVW rating
Body = 481: 4 = Lt Beige crush vinyl & lt Beige wicker pattern vinyl
81 = conventional series truck, base model
Trans = 4 : 5 speed direct drive Dana model 6354
Axle = 44: Single speed 6.80 ratio (13M) Timken D100
GVW = 15500 = trucks GVW rating as equipped
DSO = 83...this is a Government ordered truck...001 is its unique order number.


Hope this helps, cs65

 

First Ford passenger car to have a Ford (Auto-Lite) alternator as standard equipment = 1963 Thunderbird.

No such thing as a P VIN engine code used in any 1961/62 Ford. P = 390 4V 330 HP Police Cruiser engine: 1963/65.

The same alternator used on 1963 Birds is listed for 1963 Galaxies, Customs & Mercury 390/406's, but was it standard equipment or not?

The 1960/64 Ford passenger car parts catalogs also lists generators for these cars/engines, so my educated * guess is, alternators were an option.

1959/63: Leece Neville alternators (40, 50, 50 H/D, 60 amp) were an option on Galaxies, Customs, Mercury's.

1964 390/427 Galaxies, Customs & Mercury's also offered alternators (Auto-Lite only).

Here again, the 1960/64 Ford car parts catalog also lists generators for these cars/engines, so my guess is, alternators were an option.

1965: All cars/trucks now have an alternator as standard equipment.

Ford also offered alternators as an option prior to 1965 on trucks. Leece-Neville was one of the makers.

* I've owned over 30 1962/64 Galaxies (own two 1963 500XL's now) with 352's/390's and 406's (1962/63).

Not one has/had an alternator.

 

thanks for the help with the vin decode.don't know if this is going to be a keeper. and as far as the alternator thing goes,1000 pardons as to option vs. standard eqipment. as for as the "p" code galaxies go.the following car is owned by a close friend and is garaged 2 miles from my house, '63 1/2 gal XL500 ,bench seat, 4 sp, 390 PI,solid cam, 330HP, "P" code,and has a leese-neville alt from the factory. the car is 100% correct, un molested. a very strong 9.5 to 9.8 condition. it was ordered through a prominent dealership on the east coast who was very strong in ford racing. all i know is what i see. it was my understanding that it was part of the police package.guess i stand corrcted.thanks again..

 

Would that be Tasca Ford in Rhode Island? They are well known nationwide.

Dearborn Classics (dearbornclassics.com), who specializes in Galaxie parts, sells a reproduction of the original nameplate that Tasca Ford installed on the decklids of 1960's (prolly later) cars.

 

the car came from a private collection about 8 years ago. the trunk emblem appears correct.screws and all

 

1965 F 500
F50AE581954

156 wb
481 body
N trans
42 axle
15000 gvw
160 net HP
3800 rpm
230009 DSO

Thanks for your help!

 

F50 = F500.

A = 330 2V Medium Duty FT engine.

E = Mahwah NJ Assembly Plant.

581954 = 1965, assembled August 1964.

156" Wheelbase.

COLOR code omitted.

MODEL code omitted / With a GVW of 15,000 lbs. it's F500.

481: 4 = Light Beige Crush Vinyl & Light Beige Wicker Pattern Vinyl // 81 = 81A Standard Cab.

N = New Process 435 4 Speed Manual Transmission.

42 = Timken Model D100 Single Speed Rear Axle / 6.80-1 / 13,000 lb. Rear Axle Capacity.

15,000 lbs, Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.

160 net HP @ 3,800 RPM

230009:

23 = Philadelphia PA Ford District Sales Office, where the original selling dealer ordered the truck from.

0009 = Domestic Special Order number. The truck was special ordered by the original purchaser, not "bought off the lot."

If there is no COLOR code, the truck was painted a non standard color, making it a Domestic Special Order.

 

Wow thanks!
can I make a 390 out of the 330? and would I want to?

6.80 - how can I get down to something in the 4's
overdrive unit?
Want to make a car hauler out of this truck.
Power steering upgrade?

 

From what I've read, you could, but the only thing you could use from the 330 would be the block! The guys I've talked to all say if your going to work the truck it's better to find a 361 or 391 (both are FT engines) out of a later HD truck. The 390 FE is a great motor, but it's not quite as beefy as it's FT brothers.

Sam

 

FT engines (330 2V M/D, 330 2V H/D, 361 2V, 391 4V) will be found in 1964/78 500 series and larger trucks. 1973/78 F350's made exclusively for U-Haul have 330 2V M/D's.

FE engines were not installed in anything larger than an F350. 352 = 1965/67 / 360/390: 1968/76.

Note: The VIN engine codes used for 1964 & 1965 FT engines are not the same as used 1966 and later.