73 and 77
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 741
Likes: 8
From: Western N.C.
Originally Posted by bowtie_schmowtie
long bed, straight, rust free...if the tailgate is also straight and rust free, please don't say so. I might hurl.
Great find, man...really...$100 might buy you a ticket to look at a rust-free truck around here.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 785
From: Simi Valley, CA
what about the grill difference from the 73-77 and the 78-79? I have a 76 350 with the round headlights, but I'm thinking about doing a 78-79 grill with the square headlights. If the sheet metal is all the same I would imagine the shape of the grill shell is the same also. Any one ever do this or have experience with it? And a $100 for a no rust truck! You better go buy a lotto ticket right away!
1978/79's with rectangular headlamps use a different radiator support (D8TZ16138A) than a 1973/79 with round headlamps.
The area behind the headlamp buckets is dished inwards to allow the rectangular headlamps to fit flush with the grille.
Good luck finding a 1978/79 grille shell new or in decent used condition.
The grille shell (D8TZ8200A) is the same for round or rectangular headlamps. The difference is in the headlamp doors, buckets, attaching parts, and of course...the seal beams.
Tuned
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 435
Likes: 1
The exterior sheet metal is all the same.
1978/79's with rectangular headlamps use a different radiator support (D8TZ16138A) than a 1973/79 with round headlamps.
The area behind the headlamp buckets is dished inwards to allow the rectangular headlamps to fit flush with the grille.
Good luck finding a 1978/79 grille shell new or in decent used condition.
The grille shell (D8TZ8200A) is the same for round or rectangular headlamps. The difference is in the headlamp doors, buckets, attaching parts, and of course...the seal beams.
1978/79's with rectangular headlamps use a different radiator support (D8TZ16138A) than a 1973/79 with round headlamps.
The area behind the headlamp buckets is dished inwards to allow the rectangular headlamps to fit flush with the grille.
Good luck finding a 1978/79 grille shell new or in decent used condition.
The grille shell (D8TZ8200A) is the same for round or rectangular headlamps. The difference is in the headlamp doors, buckets, attaching parts, and of course...the seal beams.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 785
From: Simi Valley, CA
You can use your present core support, but you will have to use a tool of some sort to dish inwards the support behind the rectangular headlamp buckets so they will mount correctly.
This is really the only difference between the two core supports.
You will also need the two mounting brackets to attach the '78/79 grille shell to your core support.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 0
From: Riverview, FL
Mostly what I need is a ne bed but that is going to be pricey right now. I have to finish my floorboards right now so I can start working on rebuilding my Cleveland. Let me know if you ever need help working on your truck. It is hard to find people that have dentsides around here.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: butlerville,arkansas
yea.i have a rust free bed.im sure we could work something out on it so you can get it.let me know.i will be out of state saturday and next week.if interested let me know and i will give you my number.
Tuned
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 435
Likes: 1
73fourxfour; Amazing, I have a 76 and want it to look like a 79, and you made a 79 look like a 73! I guess thats the beauty of the trucks, you can do whatever you want with them. How did it go for you and what did you have to do/change to make the old style grill work on yours?
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,697
Likes: 3
From: Marengo, Iowa
I checked out my 77, 78, and 79 and the core support looks to be the same, no depressions at all. Only difference for the most part is the upper grille shell mount, the 78/9 is kind of rectangular, while the 77 is sloped. There is all kinds of clearance behind the rectangular lights, so I don't se an issue there. Buckets of course are different between them all. The 78 has round headlights, while the 79 of course has the rectangular.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 785
From: Simi Valley, CA
I checked out my 77, 78, and 79 and the core support looks to be the same, no depressions at all. Only difference for the most part is the upper grille shell mount, the 78/9 is kind of rectangular, while the 77 is sloped. There is all kinds of clearance behind the rectangular lights, so I don't se an issue there.
Buckets of course are different between them all. The 78 has round headlights, while the 79 of course has the rectangular.
inre to 1979: Not necessarily according to the parts catalog. This may have to do with XL's sold as fleet vehicles.
Buckets of course are different between them all. The 78 has round headlights, while the 79 of course has the rectangular.
inre to 1979: Not necessarily according to the parts catalog. This may have to do with XL's sold as fleet vehicles.
The two supports used with round headlamps: D3TZ16138B (w/S/C radiator) and D3TZ16138D (w/o S/C radiator) are listed for 1973/79.
D8TZ16138A was modified to allow the rectangular buckets to fit correctly.
This has been discussed here before by several members who had to make this alteration, specifically by one 'hard nosed' former member that knew these trucks (IMO) better than anyone.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,697
Likes: 3
From: Marengo, Iowa
I used a 78 support and added a few holes that were missing and put a 75 headlight bucket on it. The only change I had to do was add the holes that were not needed for the 78 since the headlights mount higher, and I just reused the 75 buckets. Everything else was simple bolt up operation. I'm sure you know as well as I do that part numbers can be changed for such simple things as that... Visually, the 78 round headlight support and the 79 rectangle support that are sitting in my yard look exactly the same behind the buckets. I can't say what the part numbers are, but I can see what is right in front of me.
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 269
Likes: 1
From: Paradise, CA
benmoderow: Most swaps are easy on these trucks if you have a donor truck, as was this one. Because I was bolting on older stuff to a newer truck it was already marked where I needed to drill. So four holes, and the parts off the 73 and my 79 had a new front end. If you have a donor truck, and depending upon how **** you are, it's a great time to take the radiator support from the donor and get it bead blasted and painted. It really cleans up the front of the truck, especially when you pop the hood. Too bad shipping is so expensive because the 79 radiator support minus the a/c parts is for sale along with the grill, shell, and everything else for the conversion. I prefer the front of the 73 because that is what my father had when I was a kid. Here is the only pic I think I have online showing any of the front end on the 79. It's grill came off the 73 shown in the photo.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
