I have aquired a 1972 f100 Ranger and I want to make it awsome, however I have just started at an Oreilly's and the extent of my vehicle knowledge is extremly limited. For instance I just had to look up what a cowl was. I guess first things first, I can not find the truck idintification plate, in 1985, a 65-84 ford puck up truck book was bought, which i still have, it says that for its year it is on the right, top cowl, under the hood, 45 minutes later I still dont have a clue where it is, I have figured out that the cowl is the thing directly underneath the bottom of the windsheild... I think, anyway the wall behind the engine, but no where can i find the stupid thing.. and futhermore I dont know what engine is in it... Im fairly sure that it is a 302, or a 360, I could ask my uncle that handed it down to me.. but I dont want to sound completly inept, and I need to figure out how to do it on my own anyhow.. but supposidly finding that plate is the key, however I can not locate it. I have however found a number on what I call the block... I dont know its real name, but its the main part of the enginge, what the carburator, and headers sit on. anyway that number is csae 9425-8 and after all my searching on the internet i found this place and it looks really awsome, and i am hoping to use all of you guys vast knowledges to my benifit if you are willing. any info would be greatly apreciated

 

I thought the *Rating plate* that has all the codes(VIN#, etc) on it ,is located on the metal panel where the driver door hinges.
The cowl is between the windshield and the back of the hood line.
The FIREWALL is directly below the cowl.
The Master cylinder & Booster (if equipped) bolts to the firewall.
All the in Cab wiring runs through the Firewall.
How many Valve cover bolts on each valve cover?


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thats where I first looked, was in the door, didnt find it so i consulted the chiltons 65-84 book i referred to earlier and thats where it says it is.. please excuse my ignorance but valve covers... where exactly is such a critter located.. I know what the carb is, the distributor cap, and the headers sort of

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 08-Oct-02 AT 02:53 AM (EST)]Keep in mind alot of these older trucks are on their second or third engine. I mean, the 428 in my '72 is out of some old galaxie or something. It's most likely the 360 that you said, because the FE's are what came in this truck and a 360 was pretty comman. (probobly what my truck had to begine with too!)

 

well this is the story of the truck built in 72 bought by a poor farmer, used as a work truck untill 74, then sold, out of need of money, to a friend of the family, she gave it to her oldest son, who later sold it to his brother, who in 83 had the engine totally overhauled. Then sold to my uncle who used it as a farm truck yet once again for 3 years, then it sat, from 87 or so to 95, when it was made to run sittin still, and then left to sit again. then in good ol 2002 I finally get up the nerve, and need for something constructive to do, to work on it. I had the carb kitted and gave the gas tank an acid bath. but did not change the fuel pump or lines... big mistake I think, because it still dies when I try to put it in gear and move it. A friend told me to tear down the fuel pump, being very careful not to lose pieces, and seeing if I could clean it.. and replacing hoses. and I think its wonderful you guys are up this late thanks for the previous info

 

I know its kinda ridiculous how little I know especially to be emplyed by oreilly's, but there, they tell me the name, I look it up, and if they ask me something I dont know, I get one of my co workers to help me.. slowly but surely im learning things. all help is greatly appreciated

 

>I guess
>first things first, I can not find the truck idintification
>plate, in 1985, a 65-84 ford puck up truck book was bought,
>which i still have, it says that for its year it is on the
>right, top cowl, under the hood, [SNIP]

It is not under the hood or on the cowl. It is located on the driver's door. Open the door and look at the area near the latch mechanism. There should be a small metal plate riveted to the door. It is about 1 inch high by 2 or 3 wide, or something close. It may have been painted over and so could be hard to read. There are numbers stamped into it, including the VIN and info that will tell you about the engine, tranny, rear axle, original paint, etc. If the plate is missing, it's probably because someone replaced the door on your truck at some time and removed the plate from the replacement door so as not to have the wrong VIN on the truck.

If the data plate is missing, the next thing to look for is the VIN on the frame. It is stamped into the top of the right (passenger) side frame rail, just forward of where the right front spring bracket is. You will need a good flashlight, a hose, a wire brush and some elbow grease to find it, as it is likely buried under years of grime.

>I have however found a number on what I call the block... I
>dont know its real name, but its the main part of the
>enginge, what the carburator, and headers sit on. anyway
>that number is csae 9425-8 [SNIP]

That number is not on the block -- it is the intake manifold. 9425 is the generic Ford code for an intake manifold. The "csae" is probably C5AE or C8AE, as the second character is always a number. It designates an automotive engine part released for production in 1965 (C5) or 1968 (C8). The last character is a letter, not a number. It is the engineering revision code. My guess is that it is an "A."

The block number will be on the passenger side near the bottom. You either have to get under the truck or remove the engine to read it. Don't bother, though, as you can find out everything you need to know without it.

If the spark plugs are all angled in the same direction like this:

////

then you likely have a 302. If they are angled toward each other like this:

//\\

then you have a FE series big block (likely a 360, possibly a 390).

 

The valve covers are on either side of the carburetor, run the length of the engine, and most likely have "Power by Ford" stamped in them.

 

Not to muddy the waters, but my "new" 1972 F100 still has a stamped metal tag (about 1.5" x 2") attached to the fire wall. The tag is stamped w/ the vin and most of the info from the door tag (DSO, axle, etc.). I was surprised to see it still there. I just didn't want anyone to feel foolish b/c they searched for it.
With that said, it's possible that the engine was swapped for something else. Always better to ID the actual engine rather than assume that the tag is correct.

I'm pleased to see John Strauss still among the FTE "living." I was digging thru a folder of Ford Truck stuff and came across your write-up of a conversion to power steering you had done. I'm still relying on my "armstrong" steering in my 72, but if I ever upgrade to power steering I'll be thankful for your writeup from the old days of the FTE mail list.

Ohio Bill

 

Thank you so very much it is on the stikin door after all... my 97 f150 has a sticker on the side where the door connects to the cab. but thank you for diverting my attention towards the actual inside of the door.. near the locking mechanism.. as for chilton they said that it was on the upper plate of the cowl, which is either no longer there.. or more likely i just cant find it.
Thanks for help.. any recomendations about fuel pumps? new one or try to tear down and clean old one?

 

I have just looked its engine code up and it is a 360

 

If you want to learn something, stick around here. There are lots of helpful people willing to help. I would recomend also buying a book called something like "Ford Truck Owners Bible". There is all sorts of interesting information on these old rigs.
I would also look at other peoples old fords, for ideas on what to do with yours. I have yet to find an old ford pickup owner who wasn't willing to let me look at their rig. It seems that all of us old ford owners are sentimental about our pickups.


Have fun with yours.

Tony Warren
Nebraska

 

Don't bother to try to tear down the fuel pump, just get a new one. Given the amount of time that your truck has been sitting, I imagine you do need one. They are under $20 at Autozone.