Hmmm!!!!!

So, Chuck, what you are saying is that Ford would provide replacement parts that were initially stamped out of a similar year (after production for the correct year had ended) and then finished it as close to the appropriate year as they could??????

That would really explain ALOT of the conversations we have had about one part not being quite "kosher" on some of the truck pictures folks have posted!

 

Bob,
The ribs were added to the back of the cabs some time at the very end of the 1948 production year. Obviously done to stiffen the back of the cab.
There were many features like this on 1948's that were phased out by '49.
Julie,
Like I said, to Ford, parts is parts. They couldn't care less about what's "correct", back then, or today. The replacement part just has to make sense. They wouldn't have expected the customer to use 1951 or 1952 hood moldings on their 1948-50, because that would drastically change the look of the truck. But a missing body line would almost go unnoticed, so they went with it.
Chuck

 

But why wouldnt it have been a lot easier to just reuse the old dies instead of making new ones?

 

They didn't make new ones. It's a multi-hit process to form something like a hood. The basic form die has got to be huge. Just the labor savings of changing dies in the press would be enough to warrant this short cut. If they already had the 51-52 die in the press, it made sense to keep stamping parts until they had enough to fill all orders, and enough extras for stock.
Also, they made so many more 1948-50's than 51-52's that it's possible that the 48-50 die was worn out or broken.
The more I look at this, it looks like the "hit" that made that line and raised area was likely a separate process. The basic form die was the same for 48-52. They just skipped a step in the sequence of finishing it as a 48-50. Again, could have been because of broken or worn out tooling, or could have just been to save some labor. It could have even been a lazy employee who took this liberty on his own, and just sent out a batch like this!
Chuck

 

Ford also shipped dies out of the country after their run of a model was completed - Brazil and Argentina was famose for making vehicles (All brands) 2/3 years or more after U.S. production had stopped.
I was in Argentina in the mid-70's and the were still producing 4Door 57 Chevys

 

Thanks for taking time to share your insight Chuck. I have seen pictures of hoods like that before but it didn't catch my attention until pointed out in this thread.

It would be interesting to know the serial number, but especially the cowl stampings in order to locate the plant and approx period the truck was built. Ken?

Tim

 

But I think Chuck is saying this was a replacement hood, not from the factory? (Unless your interest is general curiosity)

 

I accept Chuck's analysis, but out of general curiosity I'd like to know the details.

IF we should find that several trucks produced at about the same time from the same general area around a particular plant have the same hood, then we'd have to re-consider the conclusions we've drawn. I'm just keeping the door open...........

 

I'd never heard of this before (that's not saying much though)

Chuck's explanation makes sense to me. This is pretty interesting

Bobby

 

Maybe it's a canadian thing. There is no line on my 48 hood and 6 pics of local trucks show no line. Can someone post a picture of one with the line.
Brian

 

Here's a shot showing mine. Don't let the pig throw you off, it's a little on the aftermarket side.

 

Love the PIG!

 

Close up.

 

Curiosity got me and I went and looked, my Canadian 49 (f-47) same as American f-1 has the raised body line. If I'm lucky, I'll get a pic on here.

 

The canvas water bag too!