Okay, that fits with it being a 1951 production truck (even though titled as a 52). I've archived a couple dozen R32-4s and yours has the lowest axle number suggesting it's an early truck. Do you have any info on badges to show whether it was converted to AWD by the Canadian Traction Limited, or perhaps done by M-H in Indianapolis?

Ross - the 17s on F-3 M-Hs, and now on M-3s too, are side ring/lock ring style. Just like the one I had go bang this week. Most likely either Budd #59340 with the split Goodyear ring or Budd #44820 with the continuous ring Firestone rims. They are dangerous too as I documented in that thread a couple days ago. Stu

 

what badges would I look at

 

If your MH is like Stu's and mine there will be 2 badges above the windshield and another on the dash. There will be another on the drivers door which should be the lube plate. The one on the dash should say positive/compensating. The 2 above the windshield are data plates. One should say "converted to all wheel drive by marmon herrington"

 

The most important badge is the big one that would be to the right sde. It will have the vehicle number and I'm pretty sure would tell whether converted in Canada or the US. The below picture is of the badge of the 1951 F-3 that has axle #159. Stu

 

the lube plate it above the windshield and the conversion plate Indianapolis chassie number U2437 motor# Pt 81AH51-17070

 

the big bage is on driver side and the lube plat is on passenger t case and transmission plate and on dash above radio and pto plate is by the wiper switch

 

So it appears it was converted in Indianapolis. I wonder if the VIN decodes to show it was built at the Windsor plant, bet so. All the US versions I've archived were built at either Highland Park, Chicago, or Louisville. Shorter transport to Indy. Stu

 

yah be interesting to find out

 

PF81AH51-17070

PF - Mercury M-3
81 - Chassis & Closed Cab Conventional
A - Standard cab
H - Built in Ontario
51 - 1951
17070 - Consecutive job number

 

that's cool to know thanks

 

Thanks Nathan. Wasn't Windsor the truck plant in Ontario at the time? Stu

 

anyone know how many M-H where made

 

Yes it was Windsor Ontario. What I find interesting is the vin says its a chassis cab but it clearly has a matching box and running boards.

 

box and running bords might have been after the rear running bord hangers on the truck are not stock some one has welded them on and running bords are scabbed together

 

No official records exist. All were burned in an "office fire". Maybe in the trash bin. Chuck says about 200 half tons were converted each year. I have archived the R32-4 axles used on the 3/4 tons (F-2/F-3/and F-250 at the start of '53. And now your M-3. Interesting that your truck was termed a one ton in Canada while US F-3s, same truck, were termed heavy 3/4s). Anyway, your '51 with axle #150 is the earliest, and our friend Dave Stewart has axle #572 in his early '53 F-250. Later in '53 M-H went with a different 6 lug axle on F-250s. Don't know whether M-H began at number R32-1, but assuming they did, you're looking at 200-300 a year for the three model years '51-'53. My gut impression is that M-H didn't begin the R32-4 model at the start of the '51 model year. The truck with #159 is a late year build based on its VIN. Plus, I know that M-H continued production of the older single speed transfer case model R3-4 well into the '51 model year. I have one of these '51s that has the later parking brake on the transmission and 12" rear drums that were introduced mid year '51. No way to know how many '51 R3-4s were built because I have the only one I've found. So long answer, I think 300 per year of these models is a ballpark number. Stu