Hello from Phenix City, AL

[Geographer]

Hello everyone. I'm picking up this little gem, but research has left me a little confused.

Pretty much everything makes it look as if this is a 1970 F100 Explorer Special, except that the steering wheel looks like a '71/'72 steering wheel. I know that it might've been replaced. Also, even though Ford didn't use 351 Windsors in it's trucks, this engine looks very much like a 351 Windsor(extra set of intake bolts up front, and the "351 2V" sticker on the air cleaner...

The VIN is straight-up 1970, but I can't figure out how a "J" color-coded truck(Heavy Truck Red) could appear to be original light blue. Also, the interior code of "1 4" doesn't even exist on the interior code tables I've seen.

I'm wondering if sometime in it's past this truck had it's VIN plate replaced, and that's starting to worry me. I'm wondering if anyone could help me figure this out. I've included pictures!

[71PA_Highboy]

Welcome.

Check the frame VIN against the door VIN against the title VIN... the frame matters most.

As for the 351, an easy swap if it had a 302 originally.

Best of luck to you!

[popeyes71]

from California! that's what I would do. Yeah it if your truck originally had a small block, it would have been very simple to swap in a 351W at some point. The steering wheel is from a newer model Ford truck; possibly 80's.

[the elder rocker]

Hey! Fairly new here. Great info on this site. These guys are the Gurus! I was raised in Columbus, right across the river!

[lennyp]

from Massachusetts.

[hdman90]

It looks to me like you have a 1970 Explorer package in "Grabber Blue". I believe sometimes the Explorer colors were specific to light trucks only and used the same color codes as some of the heavy truck colors; so it depends on what chart you are looking at.

Here is a color chart with the color you have:
https://www.google.com/search?q=1970+fo ... xI3PFyKzUM:

We ran into the same issue with my dad's '70 explorer green.

It looks to me like your truck came stock with Explorer option "C" or "D" depending on if it has power steering/brakes.

See more on the Explorer packages here:
http://fordification.com/tech/explorer.htm

As far as the steering wheel and engine goes, who knows, those were very commonly switched and swapped out.

Best of luck and keep us updated with what happens with your truck!

[hdman90]

Oh, and also, your interior has definitely been redone. The dash pad and seat have been recovered.

But I do believe those floor mats were either some sort of factory/dealer option, or a very cool aftermarket buy! There's a local junk yard with a truck that has the same floor mat, but its all deteriorated to pieces, or I would grab it!

Very cool to see another explorer still alive!

[Geographer]

Thank you each for replying. I'll try to find the other two VINs!

Here are some more views.

[DuckRyder]

“J” is also the color code for Grabber Blue, which would have been one of the special Explorer Special colors would it not?

Truck looks like it could have been grabber blue.

OOPS, sorry looks like hdman covered it.

[hdman90]

Actually, now that you posted another view, it looks like that steering column is a 78-79 column. Maybe someone added a 78-79 tilt column? That is a common swap for people to do...

[Mancar1]

Welcome aboard from Tehama County, ca.

[Geographer]

Welcome aboard from Tehama County, ca.

Mancar1, heave off and clear the fo'csle!

Rick

LHA-3
LPH-3
LPH-10

Huey Crew

HC-1

SeaKing and SuperStallion crew

VP-31
VP-40
CPWP
VP-47
VP-1
NWTS/VX-30
VP-9

per diem rat

[Mancar1]

Rick
I hear ya loud and clear.
Fair winds and following seas.
John