I am looking at a 1978 U-Haul F600 and I need some help decoding the data plate.
VIN: F61KVCC1877
WB: 212
Type: F61
GVW: 8
Body: AA8
Trans: 3A
Axle:

There is nothing under Axle on the data plate. Maybe the Trans code is 3 and the Axle code is A? It has a 4 speed trans and a single speed rear axle. Any idea what the rear axle ratio may be?
The engine has a sticker on each valve cover that says 359HD. I have found that this is a 361FT engine with a cast iron crankshaft built especially for U-Haul.

 

NumberDummy- can you help me decode this data plate? Thanks.

 

VINA 359 is nothing more than a detuned for emission purposes 361 and will be found in B/C/F/L/LN Series trucks. It was not used only for U-Haul F600's.

There is no VIN engine codes for a 359 or the 389, which was a detuned 391. These are FT engines and Ford only has VIN engines codes for FT: 330 M/D; 330 XD; 361; 391.

F61 = F600 2WD

K = 477 4V Something is amiss with this VIN engine code if you say it's a 359. It's either the 477 4V engine or one of three diesels or the engine has been swapped.

Ford used the VIN same engine codes for 500 series and larger trucks for different engines. K also applies to one Cummins, two Detroit diesels.

V = Kentucky Truck Assembly Plant.

CC1877 = 1978.

You have mixed up the Warranty Plate codes. Several are in-correct, several are out of sequence, several are missing. I can only decode two of them.

W.B. 212 = 212" Wheelbase.

COLOR = Missing.

MODEL F61 = No such thing. The MODEL code is 4 digits.

BODY AA8: AA = Black Viny / 8 = 81 Conventional Cab.

TRANS 3A = No such thing. 3 by itself is a 6 speed Clark Direct, I doubt this truck has this transmission.

AXLE = Missing.

YEAR = Missing

GVW = Missing.

DSO = Missing.

I've decoded over 700 VIN's & Warranty Plate codes for FTE members, but this one is an impossibility, as too much is missing, too much is scrambled up.

 

Thanks for your help. I am looking at the plate riveted to the driver's door.

The VIN is F61KVCC1877.
WB: 212
Color: Blank
Type/GVW: F618
Body: AA8
Trans: 3A
Axle: Blank
Max GVWR LBS: 17900
DSO: 758015

I crawled underneath and the transmission is a New Process 4 speed.
The rear axle is a Rockwell single speed.
The cab is definitely painted U-Haul orange and white. The cargo box says U-Haul in big letters.
The instrument panel has a large vacuum gauge on the left side and it responds to throttle movement so I doubt it ever had a diesel engine. There is a small red light in the bottom of the vacuum gauge and there is a sticker on the gauge that says if the red light comes on pull off the road and expect reduced braking effectiveness.
There is an orange light next to the Choke **** that says "For best fuel economy reduce throttle pressure when light comes on". The pressure switches for the red light and orange light are both located in the vacuum hoses.
There is nothing that indicates it ever had any engine other than the 359HD that is in it now. It sure looks to me like it is an all original U-Haul truck.
I am primarily interested in determining the rear axle ratio. There is no tag on it and unlike the Eaton 2 speed in my 58 F600 the gear ratio is not stamped into the "pumpkin".

 

F61 = F600 2WD (gas).

K = 477 4V

V = Kentucky Truck Assembly Plant.

CC1877 = 1978.

212" Wheelbase.

COLOR code blank.

MODEL F618 = F600 2WD (gas) / 17,900 lbs. GVWR

BODY AA8: AA = Black Vinyl / 8 = 81A Custom~Conventional Cab

TRANS N = New Process 435 4 Speed Manual Transmission.

AXLE 3A = Rockwell Model R170 / 5.29-1 / non Limited Slip / 23,000 lb. Rear Axle Capacity.

17,900 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.

DSO 758015:

75 = Phoenix AZ Ford District Sales Office, where the original selling dealer ordered the truck from.

8015 = Domestic Special Order number.

According to the 1973/79 Ford HEAVY Truck Parts Catalog, the Rockwell rear axle ID tag is riveted to the right outer axle tube, just to the right of the center section.

You can verify the VIN and Warranty Plate codes by calling FoMoCo's 800 number, then request a copy of the original build sheet. It will take 3/4 weeks, because...FoMoCo has to get the info from martiauto.com.

In the late 1980's, Ford was going to dispose of (throw away!) all the data that covered 1967/79 FoMoCo vehicles.

Kevin Marti, a Mustang 'nut' in Phoenix AZ found out about Ford's plans, and got ALL of it.

In the hobby, this is what's known as a Marti Report. There is a charge for this service, which escalates depending on how much info you want.

The build sheet info that Ford provides is limited, but free. If you want additional info, you have to get it from Marti.

You can get a CD copy of the HEAVY truck parts catalog from hipoparts.com. Make sure it's the HEAVY parts catalog, the Light truck catalog only covers F100/500's.

You can get CD's of all Ford Car/Truck parts catalogs that cover 1948/89 trucks, 1949/89 cars from hipoparts.com. 1958's will be covered in the 1957/63 truck catalog.

 

The Phoenix DSO makes sense because U-Haul's headquarters is there. I checked the rear axle and there are 2 rivets still in the tube to the right of the center section but the plate has been pulled off.
Thanks for your help.

 

I have the exact same truck at home and I can check to see if the rear axle still has the tag on it.I am away and wont be able to check it for about a week.Mine is all original and has all the service records from new and shows to just have over 100k original miles.I will bet if the tag was there when it was new it should still be there.

 

old uhaul,
I'd appreciate it if you can see what your rear axle tag says. Mine has definitely been pulled or torn off- there are still little pieces of the metal tag under each of the rivet heads.
I jacked up the right rear, marked the tire and driveshaft and it takes almost 6 turns of the driveshaft to make the tire turn once. It must have 5.80 or 5.90 gears in it.

 

Just remind me next week in case I forget.Do you have any pics of your truck?

 

Not right now but I can take some tomorrow.

 

Here's my '78 F600 U-Haul and I did not pay the posted price for it. I removed the front bumper to attach my tow bar to haul it home and I have already removed the lower skirt around the box. I am going to remove the box and use it as a storage shed.