Hey out there Ford gurus

I am new to this whole forum thing, to Ford trucks, but am a pretty knowledgeable car guy in general. Well I came across a beautiful 1978 Ford F-150, and am having trouble with the VIN number. according to the number this truck has a 390 CID engine in it but I fear this is wrong. This truck belongs to my grandfather who bought it new in 1978 and swears that the engine in it is what he bought it with and it's a 460 CID!!! Well I looked under the hood at the Ford catalyst sticker and sure enough it read 460 CID(7.5L). some of the VIN decoders, well most of them, that I have found online are garbage. Can anyone out there help to lift the fog?!?? I have 20+ years car experience on MOPAR and while they are two different companies, there are a lot of similarities in the car world between them. This VIN issue is a killer, most decoders say the number doesn't exist, and one said the engine was a 390, while the other said 351 Modified. While these are both great power plants, I know this truck has the 460 in it. Any ideas y'all??

The VIN number came off the driver's door and contains 11 digits
thanx

 

Welcome to the site, and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays !

Whats the VIN?

 

Only kidding, but did he swear that the driver's door was never changed?
MERRY CHRISTMAS !

 

Hmm.

I don't think that the door has ever been changed LMAO!! But I will give you some of the VIN to see if it helps. Just promise not to steal the truck through the inter-webs! LOL! only kidding he we go!

F15HNCC0000

the last four digits are the production run number and this is what I have found through LMC truck's catalog...

F15- F-150 Pickup
H- 390 CID Engine (460 under hood)
N- built in Norfolk, VA (before it was closed down)
CC-1978 production sequence identifier

the other data on the plate, I wish I could figure out as well, and here it is
Color code-S8 (the truck is two tone blue)
Body code-E84 (I assume that means style-side body, other body was step- side)
Axle code-13J (Dana series 3.73 gears?) I HOPE! Good axle good gears
Trans code-G (hopefully the C-6!)

My dad gave me all the data right off the tag on the truck and is looking to see if the engine was ever changed by a family friend. If it WAS a swap, the mechanic was thorough because they put the Ford catalyst sticker under the hood! But we are all positive that the truck came the way it is.

THANX guys for the advice and humor and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

 

That VIN position 4 indicates a 351M (H) for 1978 and 460 should be a 'J' code Whats the VIN # visable through the L/windshield dash area read?

 

the door is the only place that lists the VIN... nothing on dash

 

Don't know if this will be possible with all the time that has passed, can you see any sign of a vin # stamped on the L/F frame rail in the engine compartment? Am not sure when this step was incorporated , but has solved many questions in the past. You may have to clean the frame rail pretty clean to see it , but if it's there you will be able to see it. This is one of a few places the VIN was stamped and assisted in identifying stolen vehicles. Not sure what time may have done to it , but even when ground off the indentations were still readable to investigators. You're going to have to play detective on this one. And as always, Ford may have changed something halfway through the production run, you never know.

 

Try this site. http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/ke...202256_VIN.pdf I agree with the others, the VIN does not match the 460 motor.