Also try fixing the rust off him.

 

ya, that's what I started thinking about the bed. I looked at a couple 52 beds online and they all look more like what I have.

There is a guy locally that has a 49 bed for a reasonable price. It's not gorgeous, but it's the proper bed... Thinking about taking a little trip.

 

There's another thread, "1949-1950 VIN # Cut-off" that Texan2004 maintains that will answer most VIN number questions. Both 1949 and 1950 VIN's start with 9. 7H is engine code, 226 C.I. Six. C is a 1/2 ton pickup.

The change in the bed sides happened in mid 1950. The data base Texan2004 has lists the following two trucks assembled in Dallas:
97HC217436 1949 Raised Panel Bed
98RC261916 1949 Raised Panel Bed
Your truck falls between these two so it's reasonable to assume that the original bed had raised panels and that it's been replaced like dmack91 said.

My truck, VIN 97HC312907, was assembled in Dallas in August 1950 based on the code on the firewall - DAH837. It does not have the raised panels on the bed sides.

 

Ct50f1, thanks for that run down. it's much easier to get focused info rather than drudging through that giant thread about vin numbers. I thought there was a diagram or spreadsheet that broke down the codes... Where can I find that?

Also, any idea where the vin numbers are on the frame? I took a peek yesterday, but didn't locate them...

 

On my 50, the frame VIN is on the top passenger frame rail 27" back from the front of the frame, or 4" forward of the motor mount front rivet.

It isn't stamped very deep and I didn't find it until I had the front sheetmetal off of the truck.

 

I don't know where there's a diagram on the website but, if you have the LMC Truck catalog, there's a pretty good summary on pages 8 & 9 (2012 Summer Edition).

The number is stamped on the top of the left (passenger) side frame rail near where the engine mount attaches.



You may also be able to find the assembly information on the firewall just above the seam

 

Correction - should say right (passenger) frame rail. Still have trouble telling my left from my right.

 

ha, thanks guys. I found the VIN on the frame, exactly where you said. It was hard to locate due to a thick layer of surface rust, but nothing a cleaning pad and some break fluid couldn't knock out.

It matches the VIN on the tag, so that's a step in the right direction. (I'll take a peak above the seam next)

Are the rear fenders the same for 49-52?

 

Alright, here is what I found on the cab, above the seam:
It looks like 2OL 18H 1002 What does all that mean?

 

I'm not really that knowledgeable about this but I'll take a guess. Don't know why there's a 2 at the beginning (maybe 2nd shift?) but if you think it was built in Dallas it would make sense that the letters would be DL, not OL. H probably represents the month so it may have been assembled on August 18th although the day usually follows the month instead of coming before it. From what I've read there's no documentation regarding the meaning of the last four numbers but most people speculate that it's the production sequence for that day, i.e., the 1002nd truck down the line. Seems like that would be a lot of trucks to put together in one day. Anyway, maybe Texan2004 will come along and give you his reading. If you post it on the other thread I mentioned he usually responds fairly quickly.

The rear fenders for '48 to mid '50 are notched to the conform to the raised panel on the bed side. Later fenders are flat all along the inner surface where they attach to the bed side.