Ford Truck Identification
Post-1980 Ford trucks can be identified by the Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN, that consists of a 17-letter/number sequence. Ford trucks produced from 1973-1980 can be identified with an 11-letter/number VIN. Ford truck service manuals carry a VIN key that allows the owner to determine where the truck was manufactured, its body style and engine type.
Other People Are Reading
-
Locating the VIN
-
The post-1980 Ford truck VIN can be found on the top of the driver's side dashboard and on the driver's side door jamb. The 1973-1980 11-letter/number VIN can be found on the driver's side door jamb, according to fordf150.net. It's not advisable to rely on a visual inspection of the engine and body style to solely determine an older truck's identity since it could have been altered over the years.
Decoding the VIN
-
The first three digits identify the manufacturer; the second single letter the gross vehicle weight; the third set of three characters denote the body style; the eighth the engine type; the ninth a random digit; the 10th the model year; the 11th the assembly plant; and final six are the production sequence letters/numbers.
-
Earlier Models
-
Pre-1981 models' 11-letter/number sequence consists of the first three characters identifying the truck series; the fourth the engine; the fifth the assembly plant; and the remaining six the build sequence.
Vital Identifiers
-
The most important VIN digits that identify a Ford truck are the gross vehicle weight, body style, model year and engine type letters/numbers, according to fordf150.net. Older trucks often are modified or have had engines or cargo boxes swapped or customized making accurate identification difficult.
GVW and Model Year
-
The post-1980 second set of the single letter "A" through "D" identify a truck's gross vehicle weight under 6,001 lbs. Letters "E" through "J" identify trucks between 6,001 and 9,999 lbs. Letters K through M include trucks between 10,000 and 19,500 lbs. The sixth section consisting of a single letter/number uses a "V", for example, to identify a 1997 truck or a "2" for 2002 model.
Body Type Key
-
The post-1980 third set of three letters/numbers identifies the model and body of the Ford. "E11", for example, identifies an Econoline Club Wagon, while the "S31" identifies the Econoline Super Club Wagon. An "F" or "X" followed by two numbers identifies standard F-150s, F-250s and Super Cab models. A "U" followed by two numbers denotes the Explorer. The "R" followed by two numbers denotes the compact Ranger pickup.
Engine Type Key
-
According to fordf150.net, 15 engine types are identified by the post-1980 VIN's fourth section of a single letter or number. A "W", for example, identifies a 4.6-liter V-8 on the F-150s and F-250s, while an "E" denotes a 4-liter 6-cylinder found on the Explorer and Ranger. The letter "U" identifies the 3-liter V-6 in a Ford Ranger.
-
