Good afternoon - I'm an old Model T guy so never really worried much about VIN Plates (LOL) I'm new to post and new to Ford F1's - have a ''48 F1 'Project' Pickup.

Bought a Glove Box on E-Bay. Has the plate attached info on plate:
Engine No: 98RC-194655 Series F1 Model 9RC
And so . .. is there a chart one of you guys might have or can someone interpret what it is I bought?

Another question - I understand there is a second plate on the firewall - which mine is also missing - what info does that have and where might I find 'something' to put in it's place -
Thanks for your help -

Don / Orlando

 

Hi Don,
Welcome! Your glovebox door is from a 1949 F1, 239 flathead V8 (8RT/8BA series).

Here's how your serial number on that rating plate breaks down:
9 - 1949/50 ['48 would have been 88RC]
8R - V8
C - halfton, gvrw 4700
194655 would be a mid year '49

The firewall/data plate would only have the serial number in '48.

There may also be some characters stamped into the firewall, below the cowl and usually just right of center, but have been found all over the place. Those include color, assembly plant, build date, etc. Post them if you find them and I'll decode them for you.

Your truck should have a serial number stamped into the top of the frame rail in the engine compartment. Usually passenger side up by the motor mount x-member. It will have a star followed by the serial number and then another star. Ford was still using the letter I in place of 1's.

 

Welcome to the forum! The Monkey Face is my favorite Bonus Built trucks..

 

C - halfton, gvrw 4700
194655 would be a mid year '49

The firewall/data plate would only have the serial number in '48.

There may also be some characters stamped into the firewall, below the cowl and usually just right of center, but have been found all over the place. Those include color, assembly plant, build date, etc. Post them if you find them and I'll decode them for you.

Your truck should have a serial number stamped into the top of the frame rail in the engine compartment. Usually passenger side up by the motor mount x-member. It will have a star followed by the serial number and then another star. Ford was still using the letter I in place of 1's.[/quote]

 

[quote=mtflat;10682662]Hi Don,
Welcome! Your glovebox door is from a 1949 F1, 239 flathead V8 (8RT/8BA series).

Here's how your serial number on that rating plate breaks down:
9 - 1949/50 ['48 would have been 88RC]
8R - V8

Dear 'Flat": WHat help that was - so, NOW . . How about THIS one - may work better, cause I 'think' (by the Post It note) this might be from a '48:

Engine No: 87HC 97169
Series F1
Model: 6 H C

So? Was the 'engine number' REALLY the ingine No., or the production number - 'where am I in line' (aka: Model T stuff!)

Is this the only plate I'll need when the DOT/CDL check-U-out people show up in the garage??

Was there some other plate on the firewall (looks like a bit of a 'void' on mine!!) I should be concerned with?

We're in Orlando / THanks so much . . where ya' be from??

Don . . aka: 'Crazy Grandpa'

 

The plate on the firewall is available new from several vendors. You can stamp your numbers on it.

 

Don't forget the vin# on the top of the frame near the right front tire!

 

The 87HC 97169 is a vehicle serial number. The glove box door tag says engine number, but I've never known that number to be stamped on an engine of this era. That one decodes as a 1948, 226 flathead 6 cylinder engine, F-1, and then the consecutive unit number.

 

If I were you, I'd find the serial number, as described by mtflat, on the frame and show that to the inspector. This is the real serial number that belongs to your truck. Sounds like you don't have any paperwork with the truck???? Let's hope that everything checks out. After the serial number has been verified, register your truck and have Tags Backeast, Trim Tags Backeast, Data Plates, A.G.Backeast. We make tags for AMC, Buick, Cadillac, Camaro, Chevelle, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Corvette, Dodge, DeSoto, Edsel, Ford, Frazer, La Salle, Henry J, Kaiser, Lincoln, Mercury, Mustang, Oldsmobile stamp new firewall and glovebox door tags for you with the correct serial number to your truck. He'll need proof of ownership, like a title or registration in your name, before he will stamp the tags.

 

What a great bunch! Thanks so much! I'll look for the number on the frame today . . good place to start -

I DO have one other glovebox door that I believe IS a 1948:

87HC 97169

There is also a 'MODEL' with 8HC on the bottom right of the plate . .

I'm 'thinking' someone said that may be for a '48 - any idea? THanks guys - My last project eas a 1917 Model T Pickup so, we're really getting up in the world!!

 

Yes...

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post10683431

Welcome to the "modern era" .

 

Thanks! I even think this new 'modern' truck has 'roll-up' windows . . or 'any' side windows for that matter!

 

Don,

One of the differences from the model Ts had to do with engine/serial numbers.

Ford came to realize that engines wore out faster than their trucks so they stopped stamping the engines with the serial number as registration of the vehicle became standardized. Especially became an issue with Ford's replacement program for rebuilt blocks.

Early V8's had the serial number stamped on the rear half of the bellhousing because the trans was more likely to remain with the vehicle it came in.

There's always an exception: from what I've heard some truck engines did have the serial number stamped on the engine because a couple of states required it for registration purposes - probably done by the dealer.

These days, most states want to see the frame number as the official registration number. They're not very deep stampings and you may need to scrub off the frame rails and then hold a light at a shallow angle to find the number. This is the only number I'd take to the dmv for your title. The glovebox tag and firewall tags are too easily replaced.

 

1948 and later trucks (1949 and later cars) are registered by their specific VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) which registers the entire vehicle.

VIN's were not stamped on engine blocks until the mid 1980's (mandated by the NHTSA to cut down on vehicle thefts).

1947 and older trucks (1948 and older cars) were registered by their specific engine number, but if the engine was changed, the number 'usually' no longer matched (the number was also stamped on the "hogshead").

FoMoCo Dealers, when they installed replacement engines, were supposed to stamp the original engine number on the new block, but some did not.

Les Kelley, the largest used car dealer in the world (and a Ford Dealer-Kelley Kar Co.) located on downtown LA's auto row (Figueroa St), came up with VIN system...and was also the founder of Kelley Blue Books.

By 1955, all the automakers were using VIN's.

 

My glove box plate reads: 98RY501434
aNyone have any info?