Frankenford

[hillbilly67]

I just been readin about the differences in these trucks according to years. A couple months ago I landed me a 67 Ranger LWB 2WD F100 300 4 spd built in April 67 in Ont Canada. It has 58,000 orig miles. I got it from the original owners nephew, who I knew both for a number of years. This thing has me puzzled. I do know that the drivers door has been changed (I remember when the old guy crunched it with the combine) The front fenders are rusted at the bottom and just before I bought it, his nephew put on the big argent filler panel on the tailgate.

The hood, I know for a fact is original, yet it has the newer emblem/reflector on the side (this was never changed), under the hood it has the hole in the middle of the supports (68 and up) but no stiffener ribs along each side (67 only) There is no trim on the bump, but it does have the narrow ribbed trim on the bottom(70-72 only). The only Ranger insignia is on the glovebox (correct for 67) but there never was anything on the outside.

It also has an aluminum grill with painted bumpers and with what the old guy personally told me he ordered from the factory, a grilleguard! When I asked if it was dealer installed, he said he was there when the truck and grillguard already installed, came in on the train.

I have since put on 16" wheels (put me 10 mph out on the speedo, but makes 1st gear useful and nicer highway cruisin. I also get about 27 miles per Canadian gallon/ 24 US) I'm not out to make this original or a show truck, just a decent lookin daily driver. I'm just in the process of a do-it-myself paintjob (roller, brush, spraycans, sandpaper etc) with green on top and tan on the cab and bottom. Pics will be up in a couple weeks. I was just wondering if anyone else had run across any similarities/differences in their trucks.

[Big D's 69]

My 69 Ranger has the Ranger emblem on the dash. I would get with Keith on this one.

[FORDification]

I just been readin about the differences in these trucks according to years. A couple months ago I landed me a 67 Ranger LWB 2WD F100 300 4 spd built in April 67 in Ont Canada. It has 58,000 orig miles. I got it from the original owners nephew, who I knew both for a number of years. This thing has me puzzled. I do know that the drivers door has been changed (I remember when the old guy crunched it with the combine) The front fenders are rusted at the bottom and just before I bought it, his nephew put on the big argent filler panel on the tailgate.

The hood, I know for a fact is original, yet it has the newer emblem/reflector on the side (this was never changed), under the hood it has the hole in the middle of the supports (68 and up) but no stiffener ribs along each side (67 only) There is no trim on the bump, but it does have the narrow ribbed trim on the bottom(70-72 only). The only Ranger insignia is on the glovebox (correct for 67) but there never was anything on the outside.

It also has an aluminum grill with painted bumpers and with what the old guy personally told me he ordered from the factory, a grilleguard! When I asked if it was dealer installed, he said he was there when the truck and grillguard already installed, came in on the train....

Well, all I can say is you really can't be 100% certain what a previous owner did with a truck. The hood emblems with reflectors weren't used on '67s, but the mounting stud location is identical with the '68-up, so it's entirely possible that they were simply exchanged at some point. While I highly doubt your '67 came from the factory with '68-up hood emblems, especially since that was barely mid-way through the production year, I've heard of some trucks which were towards the end of a model year getting some parts destined for the new upcoming model year models, but I don't think that's what happened in this case due to it's relatively early production date.

I'm also questioning the painted bumper and aluminum grille. The Ranger package would have come with a chrome front bumper as standard equipment. The question is...is the grille guard painted or chrome? If it's painted, then I suppose it's entirely possible that the painted bumper was special-ordered with the painted grille guard in order to maintain some kind of match. It's an interesting idea, I'll have to see what I can find out about that possibility, 'cause it would definitely make sense.

As for the side trim, you stated it had "narrow ribbed trim on the bottom (70-72 only)". Here's a picture of the two styles of lower trim available for bumpside trucks:

http://www.fordification.com/images/FAQ ... y-trim.jpg

In this picture, the trim shown on top is the '70-'72 trim. Is this what you're saying your truck has? This is definitely not possible to have come from the factory on a '67, as this style wouldn't have even been produced for several years. Your truck should have the style in the bottom part of the above picture.

Here's a question for you: does your box have the '70-'72 rear marker lights along the bump? The reason I'm asking is it sounds like the previous owner did more than just install the tailgate panel....I'm wondering if the entire box from a '70-'72 Ranger was installed. Since it would have had the narrower lower trim, the previous owner might have decided to just install the matching trim on the cab as well, to make things match. It would be very easy to do, since your truck would have already been outfitted with the wider trim, so the trim clip's mounting holes would have been in place. He'd simply have to change to the narrow clips mounted in the existing holes.

I'm really going to have to see some pictures to get an idea of what's going on with your truck.

[hillbilly67]

Hi Keith. Thanks for replying. I talked to the previous owners today, who I've known all my life, and they both said the only things changed were the door and endgate panel. These guys are neighbours that farm a few miles away from our farm I grew up on, and I have seen/drove and helped em fix this thing for over 30 years.

The trim on the lower body is 2" wide and looks like the newer style (either way it doesnt add up) The grilleguard and front bumper were factory ordered and are both painted white, no chrome underneath. When I asked about the hood and emblems, they both claim its original. My Dad had a 67 and says he had the same emblem, we looked at some old photos, and sure enough, he was right. He bought the truck in June of 67. I looked at 2 other local 67's and same reflector emblem on them.

Is it possible that Canadian made trucks were made with some different stuff on em? Mine has no reflectors nor holes covered up on the box. So I take it that it is a 67 box. All paint was original (except drivers door) Lunar Green, no two tone. Strange truck! I guess it doesnt really matter in a way, as I'm not trying to make it "year correct" But a few of these things got me wondering.

As soon as I get this goofy thing painted, I'll be postin some pics.

BTW, Thank you for runnin THE BEST SITE ON THE WEB!!! You should be very proud. You and your members are the most helpful and informative bunch I've had the pleasure in dealing with. I hope this continues to grow and keep with the unlimited wealth of information.

Future Lifelong member and supporter, Darin Tessier

[Big D's 69]

I would like to see some pics of this truck.

[TOFIC]

Keith
Is this truck a rebadged Mercury??
I have seen this happen to some trucks, and the Canadian truck plant made both Mercury and Ford pickups. I wonder if he got a true "FrankenFord"
TOFIC

[foghorn]

sounds like a good possiability

foggy