Help decoding my '78 F100

[fedsled95]

Just bought a '78 F100 and am anxious to get rolling on fixing her up, but I've hit a snag on decoding her info that I hope someone can help me with.

First off, on the driver's door plate, the paint code is completely blank - not rubbed or worn away, there was never anything there. Seen some places tha that could mean it was a custom color order but not sure; if it was custom ordered is there a way to determine the original paint color?

Secondly, I can't find any info to help decode the data plate on the passenger side of the bed (or even any site that references the existence of a data plate on the bed?) which is laid out like this:

GG D A5432
AC
APN M I(or 1?)R7
BR14 117 OPT-1
9061 423

Some of the above numbers/letters could be "off" since it's kind of in an odd position and has been painted over at least once.


Thank you in advance for any help/info/websites that might give me a starting point on her original appearance.

 

[fatherdoug]

That looks more like a Buck tag, than a vin tag. Buck tags were used for line employees to determine what was put on the truck when it was built. My Buck Tag is listed below.


F14SPBE8145 14-279

SX 133 BDY 4 BAR D

1C MLD LAR RCE TD

A XCJ P 6 93 BOTH

 

[Mil1ion]

Photos inside and out would help .

Is there 6 digit number under DSO stamp ?

There are only a couple of us on the internet that can decode buck tags,

Is there a buck tag still riveted to the firewall ..top - middle ?

see mine behind the air cleaner ?

 

[Alvin in AZ]

see mine behind the air cleaner ?

noo i kant sea anytthing i waz blindeded by lime greene, ore sumthingg

Balven en aZ

 

[fedsled95]

Thanks for the replies - I'll go out and take pics tomorrow when it's daylight then post them. I don't remember seeing a tag like the one in the pic; I could've missed it, or it could be one more thing taken off of the truck before it got to me.

 

[Mil1ion]

noo i kant sea anytthing i waz blindeded by lime greene, ore sumthingg

Balven en aZ

Emerald green,same as the OEM pin-striping

 

[fedsled95]

Data plate with missing paint code:

Other plate with info:

Link to album with rest of pics:
http://s1015.photobucket.com/albums/af276/jenn4sale/78 Ford/

There was no buck plate in engine compartment that we could find.

Thanks again for any help.

 

[fatherdoug]

There is a vin decoder in the Gen 6 subforum specifically for the 1978 model year.

F10 - F 100 2WD
G- Engine code 302 2 bbl
U- Manufactured in Louisville, KY
CA5432 - Manufactured April, 1978
G - Automatic transmission(Guessing a C4 since is an F100)
13J - 3750 lb axle - 2.75 ratio with power steering
21 - DSO for Atlanta GA
0010 - No idea, but guessing a special order number, since it is listed after the DSO code
4900 - GVW rating of truck

Dennis(Mil1ion) is the expert on buck tags. Maybe he can help with that.

 

[Alvin in AZ]

G- Engine code 302 2 bbl = 5.0 = Good engine for a Mustang! ?

21 - DSO for Atlanta GA
0010 - No idea, but guessing a special order number,
since it is listed after the DSO code

It'll be cool to find out what all was done special to it,
...if that really is what you're guessing it is, FD.
Sure enough looks like it to me too.
Where's Bill when we actually need 'im for something?

Alvin in AZ (can see again, whew)
ps-
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/F100tag.jpg (parts truck)
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/F150tag.jpg (bought new)
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/Ftags.jpg (axle and T18 tags)
pps- Used brake fluid = "hick paint remover"...
http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af276/jenn4sale/78 Ford/buckplate.jpg

 

[Mil1ion]

This truck was special ordered 210010 means the 10th truck to be ordered in that DSO 21 region

I'll answer the codes info in pieces

 

[Mil1ion]

The D before A5432 is the truck paint color = RED


SD 4
S = Seat type= Broadcloth and vinyl bench
D - Red In colour
4= Styleside box


117 = wheelbase 117"

 

[Alvin in AZ]

This truck was special ordered 210010 means the
10th truck to be ordered in that DSO 21 region

Hmmm... that's not what I remember Bill saying.

Not saying I -know- anything about it tho!

But why doesn't my special ordered pickup have
anything other than the 75 (Phoenix) for a DSO... ?

Bill said-
"that's because it wasn't sent to anyone else to
have modifications done to it, it went straight to
the dealer"

{edit}
Just remembered something else the 210010 in the DSO means
to find out what modifications were done to it you have to look
that up in the records because that number by itself means
nothing. But we know what Bill's "nothing" means. Means "almost
nothing" LOL Because the 21 does mean DSO "21" ...right?

It's like you say and what Bill means by "nothing" is that it's just
#10 that was shipped to another manufacturer for some sort of
work. The example on FTE was a 4wd F350 modified by Gordan
Moody. {it can prob'ly still be "searched up" on FTE}

Alvin in AZ
ps- In mine's case it was shipped to Phoenix on
the Santa Fe RR then trucked to Safford AZ. It
also got damaged in the process! No kidding.

 

[Mil1ion]

Trucks that were made for dealership lots didn't have a 6 digit DSO special order number.

Trucks that were specially ordered by a customer that the dealership couldn't piece together received a Ford Factory Purchase order number (they aren't usually more than 6 digits long) to keep track of the truck from start to finish in the assembly line.

There is a difference between dealership inventory order and a customer order.

Think about it, How many actually truck in the Atlanta district would be specially ordered with so many options available compared to a dealership adding or subtracting items to please the customer.


The highest special order number I have seen anywhere was about # xx1850

 

[Alvin in AZ]

Trucks that were made for dealership lots didn't have
a 6 digit DSO special order number.

Trucks that were specially ordered by a customer that
the dealership couldn't piece together received a Ford
Factory Purchase order number...

Yeah.

So what'd they do special to the OP's?
How does a guy go about looking that up?
Gotta go to the dealership, or what?

Alvin in AZ

 

[Mil1ion]

Well if you go into a dealership with a list all your requirements and they can't supply you with a vehicle with all of most of them, they will have no other choice but to specially order it.

One thing back in the 70's was that some paint colors was only available for cars.
This was the major factor in special orders.

 

[BKW]

Data plate with missing paint code:

The COLOR code is blank because the vehicle was painted a non standard color per the original purchasers request.

When this occurs, this makes the truck a Domestic Special Order.

DSO: 210010:

21 = Atlanta GA Ford District Sales Office, where the original selling dealer ordered the truck from.

0010 = Domestic Special Order Number. The truck was ordered special, not "bought off the lot."

For further info, contact martiauto.com. Marti has ALL the original records for 1967/79 FoMoCo vehicles.

Alvin: A vehicle that is ordered with all RPO's (Regular Production Orders) is not a Domestic Special Order.

In 1979, I had to order a new F150 Lariat S/Cab, because I wanted it tu-toned Red/White with A/C (and a lotta other jazz). The dealer I worked for was unalble to locate one, that could have been "dealer traded" for.

btw: After 1972, F10 decodes to F100 2WD Pickup.

 

[Alvin in AZ]

In 1979, I had to order a new F150 Lariat S/Cab, because I wanted it tu-toned
Red/White with A/C (and a lotta other jazz). The dealer I worked for was unable
to locate one, that could have been "dealer traded" for.

So Bill, did that '79 F150 have the special DSO numbering or not?

Alvin in AZ

 

[BKW]

So Bill, did that '79 F150 have the special DSO numbering or not?

Alvin in AZ

No, because like your truck, everything was a Regular Production Order. I had to order it because I wanted tu-tone red/white paint, AM/FM multiplex stereo, factory A/C, and other options.

Since the dealer didn't have one, and none could be found within 100 miles that could be "dealer traded" for, I had to order it.

Only if something is ordered that is not an RPO, is the vehicle as Domestic Special Order.

Special non standard paint, back of cab equipment like a utility body, flat or stake bed.

The DSO is necessary if the paint formula is required, or parts are required for the back of cab equipment. None will be listed in the parts catalog, so the dealer contacts FoMoCo, passes along the 6 digit DSO.

FoMoCo looks up the order number, then tells the dealer what the paint formula is, or where to get the parts for the back of cab equipment.

This same system has been used for decades.

 

[Alvin in AZ]

No, because like your truck, everything was a Regular Production Order.

I had to order it because I wanted tu-tone red/white paint, AM/FM multiplex
stereo, factory A/C, and other options.

Since the dealer didn't have one, and none could be found within 100 miles
that could be "dealer traded" for, I had to order it.

Only if something is ordered that is not an RPO, is the vehicle
as Domestic Special Order.

Special non standard paint, back of cab equipment like a utility body, flat or
stake bed.

The DSO is necessary if the paint formula is required, or parts are required
for the back of cab equipment. None will be listed in the parts catalog, so
the dealer contacts FoMoCo, passes along the 6 digit DSO.

FoMoCo looks up the order number, then tells the dealer what the paint
formula is, or where to get the parts for the back of cab equipment.

This same system has been used for decades.

Ahhh... ok that's exactly the way I remember it from FTE.

Mine is so weird there wasn't any close, like it either.
All sorts of expensive-useful-stuff but only -1- "package deal" = A/C.

Plain-Jane looking but has two tanks under the bed, tool box, A/C,
Traction Lok, PS, 4 speed manual, but no carpet or steenkeen radio
and for-sure-no-dangged-chrome to get ripped off by creosote bush!

And plain white because it doesn't show scratches really.

Later could look close and see layers on layers of scratches running
down it from mesquite and creosote brush and how they'd converge
around the mirror frames, gas caps and side maker lights and F150
emblems etc. Some of them are still on it, cool huh?

(YMMV on the need for "tunes"

Alvin in AZ
ps- My pickup ain't a sissy and never was.