Strange vin number

[Attac]

Hey all. Long time since I’ve been on but a lot of life happened. Still working on broncos and my son found a couple in the woods in GA so we went and got them. Got bills of sale but one of the vins is strange and when I sent it to Marti to get a report they said it was invalid vin.
the problem is the 6th position should be a letter. On this one it is a 7. Same on front and rear spots on frame. I had heard that sometimes a number that corresponds to the letter were used but wanted to see if any one else had ran across this. U15FL791391 is vin.
thanks all

 

[Scoop]

What year do you think the Bronco is? If it's a '66 it would fit a December '65 build.

 

[okie4570]

66' model year is the only 66-77 bronco year with six digits rather than a letter then five digits. Like scoop said, it's a 66

 

[Scoop]

66' model year is the only 66-77 bronco year with six digits rather than a letter then five digits. Like scoop said, it's a 66

And Marti Reports do not go back to '66 as I recall.

 

[Attac]

And Marti Reports do not go back to '66 as I recall.

From the piece of body that was on it it fit to be a 70 but I will look at the frame better tomorrow and see if I can find some clues. The body wasn’t bolted to frame and it had no running gear in it.
Thanks guys and it’s good to be back.

 

[Attac]

I didn’t even look at the 66 vin decoder as I thought this was a later bronco. Looking at it now it fits with being a 66 frame. The frame itself is in excellent condition. I also picked up a 68 with a bronco designs body half cab on it that was never used. Didn’t have any holes drilled for anything except what they come with. Guess I’m building a half cab now.
Once again thanks guys. This is the best forum and group of people out there

 

[ared77]

You are correct that Marti Reports only cover 1967 and newer Fords. So it makes sense that when they were asked to do a report on a '70 but with that unique '66 VIN they would have come back with "that's an invalid VIN"

 

[Broncobowsher]

Rear shock mounts will tell if it is a '66 frame real quick

 

[Attac]

Rear shock mounts will tell if it is a '66 frame real quick

Yes sir
I went and looked this morning and it has the forward shock mounts that use a pin mount on frame.
Definitely a 66.
Thanks again all.
Chuck

 

[okie4570]

Rear shock mounts will tell if it is a '66 frame real quick

Unless it was made in March 66 or later

 

[Broncobowsher]

Unless it was made in March 66 or later

OK, early '66 frame.

 

[jamesroney]

Unless it was made in March 66 or later

Wait? What? Huh?
Are you thinking that the upper shock mounting changed mid-year?

If so, are you saying the pin mount changed, or the direction (forward vs rear) changed?

This is news to me. Thanks.

 

[okie4570]

Wait? What? Huh?
Are you thinking that the upper shock mounting changed mid-year?

If so, are you saying the pin mount changed, or the direction (forward vs rear) changed?

This is news to me. Thanks.

Yes, about the same time the 289 vins appear, the rear shock mounts change also.

 

[toddz69]

Wait? What? Huh?
Are you thinking that the upper shock mounting changed mid-year?

If so, are you saying the pin mount changed, or the direction (forward vs rear) changed?

This is news to me. Thanks.

And the transfer case shifter changed at the same time to the locking T-handle.

Todd Z.

 

[jamesroney]

Yes, about the same time the 289 vins appear, the rear shock mounts change also.

Understood. Please clarify "change." Are you saying it went to the rear, like the 67-77...or did it stay in the front with a different mounting configuration.

Because if they moved to the rear in March of 66, then the rear axle housing would have had to change. And it would have still run the C4AW case, with the fill plug in the rear. (Since the C7AW-E case wasn't invented yet...)

 

[okie4570]

Understood. Please clarify "change." Are you saying it went to the rear, like the 67-77...or did it stay in the front with a different mounting configuration. Because if they moved to the rear in March of 66, then the rear axle housing would have had to change. And it would have still run the C4AW case, with the fill plug in the rear. (Since the C7AW-E case wasn't invented yet...)

Yes like the 67-77