cturboaddict

I'm sure this is a silly question... But can someone specifically lay out what Generation is related to what year in the F150s?
Thanks, feel free to troll the noob question if need be. LOL

2008__XL

fordguy2100

*Disclaimer* cause everyone is crying...this is a list for F1 series trucks. Includes f100 and f150.
1st Gen = 48-52
2nd Gen = 53-56
3rd Gen = 57-60
4th Gen = 61-66
5th Gen = 67-72
6th Gen = 73-79 (F150 introduced)
7th Gen = 80-86 (no f100s made anymore)
8th Gen = 87-91
9th Gen = 92-96
10th Gen = 97-03 (+04 Heritage)
11th Gen = 04-08
12th Gen = 09-14
13th Gen = 15-present

Also here's a pic that shows some grills up to the 90s

Steve83

I've never understood the utility of creating "generations" or in trying to define them. An '83 is an '83. It's slightly different from an '82 and an '84. Some '85s are like some '87s in some ways, but '87s are very different from most others in several ways. Which one goes in what generation? What happens if I say it's one generation, and you say it's another? What if we're both wrong? What does it matter?

I group '80-96 because many of their parts (though NOT identical) are interchangeable (with varying degrees of effort). What number should that generation be? Does it matter?

I don't think so.

fordguy2100

Generations are grouped because there's a big change in the next year trucks. It's when the brand "reintroduces" a vehicle. Usually this is accompanied by body changes as well. The 73/79 trucks all look alike with the exception of some minor cosmetics. They are called dentsides. 67-72 look like each other as well... they don't look like dentsides. They are more rounded and called bumpsides.

97/03 don't look anything like the 04-08. Also most parts do not swap. They bundle because those trucks have a lot in common with each other.

Think it's dumb? Who cares don't use the term, no one is forcing you.

fordguy2100

Also cturboaddict, if you ever forget.... when looking at the forums on here, they are divided by the generations.

cturboaddict

Thanks.

SCORGE

11th gen, or 04-08, because those are the only ones that matter

gDMJoe

For your listening pleasure and reading enjoyment ... Ford F-Series - History ««« -click-
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Steve83

So then you have to define "big change". Was the blue oval on the grill a "big change"? Then '80-82 are in a different generation from '83-up. Was EFI a "big change"? Then late-'84-86 5.0Ls are in a different generation from all other '84-86 F-series/Broncos. Was it a big change when the headlights got flat, square, & plastic? But everything underneath stayed pretty much the same - was that a different generation? And very little changed from '91-92, when the headlights changed to rounded plastic, and the grill got its curve back. Big change, or not? There were some significant changes in '93, even more in '94, and a REALLY-BIG change in '96 when they all switched to OBD-II. What generation is '96?Now you have to define "a lot". Is the engine a lot? Then every F150 that was available with the 4.6L should be in the same generation, right?

Until you can define them in a way that matches your arbitrary year groups, your generations are just arbitrary, too. And your arbitrary choices are no more-valid than mine or anyone else's, which makes them all meaningless. So if your generations have no meaning, what good are they? Just say what YEAR the truck is, and list all its options. Anything less is more-vague.Actually, they're JUST divided into forums - not "generations". Take a look. The BBS owner divided up the years so each forum's topics would be related to each other, but there will still be oddball topics (like an OBD-II thread in the '87-96 forum) because Ford didn't quit building trucks one way, and then start over from scratch, like a new generation. They're blended. What generation is an '04? It's both because Ford made 2 "generations" of F150 that year. Were they distinct & unrelated? No - there were many carryover parts & systems, just like every other year.