help identifying year: 70, 71 or 72?

[redstone65]

Hello guys. First post.

I've had a '65 slick for a while, but I just bought a 70-something. The guy I bought it from said it was a '71. The VIN seems to indicate it's a '70 (key ring had a tag that said '70 also). But the grill is a '72 grill.

The warranty code is F10YLG99976. According to the VIN decoder, the G99976 unit would have been in November 1969 for the 70 model year, but it does say on that page there is some discrepancies with the numbering.

I'm thinking someone just changed the grill. What say you?

Here is a pic:

IMG_1102.jpg

Warranty Plate:

IMG_1090.jpg

[DuckRyder]

What does the steering wheel look like (2 spoke or 3)?

Speedo have a red line on it?

See also:

http://www.fordification.com/tech/67-72ID_01.htm

And:

[redstone65]

Thanks for the welcome and the link.

It's a 3 spoke wheel with a horn ring. Wheel color matches the interior so very likely the original wheel. Pretty much confirms that it's a '70.

It's got a 360 that was left for a few years with the spark plugs out and the cylinders are pretty bad rusted. We filled up the intake and cylinders with diesel fuel and gonna let it sit for a few weeks to see if it'll budge. If not, I guess we'll look for another engine to swap in.

[sargentrs]

Couple of other things you might check out. There is a VIN stamped on top of the frame just in front of the passenger side shock tower. If you can get to it and read it, that would confirm whether or not the cab matches the frame, unless they swapped the whole cab.

Also, I put some '72 grill inserts in my '70. While the will bolt in, the bottom of the insert sticks out a little from the grill instead of sitting flush like the original '70 inserts. If yours sits flush at the bottom, then they may have swapped the whole grill. If they stick out a little, they put '72 inserts in a '70 grill.

[redstone65]

There is a VIN stamped on top of the frame just in front of the passenger side shock tower.

Should that VIN match what's on the warranty plate?

If they stick out a little, they put '72 inserts in a '70 grill.

The inserts don't stick out. The fenders and hood all match the rest of the body and they are accurate to what the warranty plate says they should be trim and color wise. So, I'm guessing they only put on a new grill and not the whole front clip.

[sargentrs]

Yes, then VIN on the frame should match the data tag.