Anyone here who can help me interpret a 1979 F350 VIN number?
Literally every web site I've dug up about reading VINs refers to 1981 and later only. Typing a 1979 VIN in gets an error message of `incorrect format'.
A URL with info about pre 1981 ford VINs would be greatly appreciated.
the first three postions ( numbers/letters ) = manufacture make and type
4th pos. = brake system/GVWR
5th , 6th , 7th pos. =model or line , series , chassis , cab type
8th pos = engine type
9th pos. = check digit
10th = model year
11th pos. = assembly plant
12th is a letter and indicates sequence number along with postions 13 -17 (numbers) 12 th is A till 13 - 17 run through 00001 - 99999 then 12th pos goes to B ect..... I know this leaves you with questions - but what are you trying to get out of interpurting the vin? Try this wiki link
You can look at the early Kelley Blue Book to figure out the meaning of VINs on older cars.
When I was a kid in the '60s, I could read a VIN on most American cars and trucks because my Dad was a car dealer, and I had limitless hours to read KBBs.
and it mostly works but fails to ID the model... telling me to `check the VIN'
For any other posters info... I don't just want the VIN decoded. What I'd really like is info about how to decode that vintage VIN myself.
VIN: F37HNFA0340
One fellow answered by pointing out that one can figure it out from early Kelly Blue book.... Maybe I can find one online.
One other question is where to look for a VIN on a 1979 Ford F350? I find what is probably it on the door frame but it does not match the vin on the title. Not the VIN and not the date of manufacture, so might be a replacement door.
I think the VIN should be in more than none place... possible on Engine and transmission?
Good info at that wiki thanks... Unfortunately it appears, judging from comments in the first few paragraphs that the info mostly concerns the post 1980 Standard with 17 characters.
I wasn't sure what all info is encoded in it and thought I might get such things as the rear-end gear ratio, engine model etc. I see from your rundown that the rear-end info is not included. Do you now what the various characters actually mean?
F37HNFA0340
Using your chart I know what the various chars are supposed to tell me but still not what they actually tell me.
A url from a private poster:
formatting link
Tells the engine (351m) but was not able to ID the Model of truck (F350) and gave no info about how to interpret on your own.
I'm particularly interested in the rear-end gear ratio... anyone know where it might be stamped. tagged or etc?
sorry to throw you off on the > 81 info - There used to be a little metal tag attached to the diff. cover with one of its fasteners but these either rust/bust off or are not replaced after the cover was off. You can calculate the ratio of your diff by turning the drive shaft and counting the number of turns of the wheel/tire. a google search of: Calculating Ring & Pinion Gear ratio There are lots of sites this one has a nice little chart
VIN is going to be on the dash left side viewable through the windshiled, been that way since 1970. secondary location tag on door, with tire info. Engine and trannys changed to often, so never there. sometimes there might be a tag on the frame rail. early ford cars had them stamped into the inner fender on unibody cars on the left side, as well as in the unibody "frame rail" on the left side rear. Build sheet may contain info if its still in the truck, reach up under the dash and check on top the glove box. And sometimes the VIn is full of s***. Ask me sometime about a 64 Falcon Futura I had.
Yeah, kind of like the Ford chassised bread van we had at the last place I worked. VIN said it was a 460 with an automatic.. Funny, it looks more like a 3.5L Cummins diesel with a stick shift.
You'll find it stamped in the top of the right frame rail, just behind the radiator core support. Get in there with a scraper wire brush, sand paper what ever it takes, and you'll find it.
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