VIN ID Help

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Feb 1, 2016 | 08:24 PM

MtnBikinPilot

Thread Starter

Freshman User

Joined: Jan 2016

Posts: 29

Likes: 0

From: SoCal(OC)

VIN ID Help

Hey all I'm new here and to owning a classic Ford truck.
Just bought a 66 Ford F100 390 w/ auto on the floor
I'm trying to decode my VIN (used a decoded I found online) but when it came to the motor or OG color I'm lost. I really doesn't matter what OG came in truck other then just curiosity. I was told by a Ford guy(not seller) that based on the angle of the intake bolts to the head and 5 bolt valve covers it was a 390.

F10 YR 8XXXXX

Thx in advance for any input you have for decoding

Feb 2, 2016 | 04:15 PM

SuperSabre

Laughing Gas

Joined: Dec 2010

Posts: 1,091

Likes: 14

From: Tucson, Arizona

Welcome to FTE. F10 = F100 2 wheel drive truck. Y = 352 cubic inch FE V8 with two barrel carb and single exhaust. 390s didn't come in '66 or '67 F100s from the factory. They were first available in '68. There is no external way to tell exactly if your engine is a 352 or a 390 (or a 360, 406, 410, 427, or 428 for that matter) without checking bore and stroke. R = assembled at San Jose, CA plant. If you include the first three numbers of your VIN, we can tell you what month it was built. If you include the information from your (driver's door) warranty plate, we can give you more information about how it left the factory 50 years ago. Of course there is no guarantee that some of that hasn't been altered in the intervening 50 years. If it originally came with an automatic transmission, it was shifted from the column, not the floor. Good luck with your new truck.

Feb 2, 2016 | 08:27 PM

MtnBikinPilot

Thread Starter

Freshman User

Joined: Jan 2016

Posts: 29

Likes: 0

From: SoCal(OC)

Thx
The plate reads like this
129(WB) F100 581 C 17
5000(max GVW)172 4000 712508

Feb 3, 2016 | 12:15 AM

SuperSabre

Laughing Gas

Joined: Dec 2010

Posts: 1,091

Likes: 14

From: Tucson, Arizona

Here's some more of your warranty plate decode: 129 = your wheelbase in inches (as you know). The vacant position for exterior color is a hint that your truck had a non-standard exterior paint color and would be reflected in the DSO code if only there was information still available to decode it. There isn't. F100 = 5000 pound Gross Vehicle Weight rating in a half ton truck. 581 = red vinyl interior upholstery. C = 3 speed manual transmission, column shifted. 17 = 3.25 axle ratio in a Ford 9 inch non-limited slip differential. 5000 = GVW rating (as you know). 172 @ 4000 is the 352's NET horsepower rating and the rpms where achieved. The GROSS hp rating which appeared on the air cleaner decal is 208. 712508 = a Domestic Special Order placed for the vehicle by the Los Angeles (71) district sales office. The last four digits would have explained what the special order was, as I said earlier, probably to do with exterior paint, but that information was thrown out years ago. Hope this helps.

Feb 3, 2016 | 09:37 PM

MtnBikinPilot

Thread Starter

Freshman User

Joined: Jan 2016

Posts: 29

Likes: 0

From: SoCal(OC)

Kewl thx...
It seems like the base color is orange or at least it was orange at some time b/c I have a lot of that color showing thru in door jams and rear window beneath the rubber and in and under bed. Kinda like U-Haul orange.

Feb 4, 2016 | 04:35 PM

pbsdaddy

Hotshot

Joined: Feb 2015

Posts: 17,559

Likes: 1,081

From: Central Delaware

Fleet order highway safety/DMV vehicle maybe. Most of them are and have been orange for many years.

Feb 5, 2016 | 12:08 PM

TA455HO

Lead Gopher

Joined: Aug 2012

Posts: 10,060

Likes: 1,613

From: Seattle

Could be a Cal-Trans truck possibly. It's got the DSO 71 so it doesn't rule it out. Read this post from ND.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post15460517

.