I don't know what to say about the frame, but I saw nothing that looks modified, cut or otherwise. All the brackets (spring, running board supports and cross members) are riveted to the frame.

Passenger side, rear two board brakets:


Passenger side front board bracket, trans crossmember:


Passenger side, rear spring, front bracket:


Passenger side, rear spring, rear bracket:


These are some panoramic pics that didn't really work.....

 

I didn't think to take a picture, but both the front and rear u-bolts for the springs have larger nuts on the to take up space. I assume this was because they ran out of threads.

Springs removed? Maybe both front and rears were changed to 1/2 ton at some point? Are 1/2 and 1 the same width springs?

I'm rather confused

 

Is there anything irregular looking around the VIN stamping? It's not unheard of to have a frame restamped. Nothing anybody would admit to doing of course. Stu

 

The frame looks fine in the general area. The only thing I noticed was some weld on the part to make the frame boxed to hold the steering box. Looks like that area had a rough go.

My shop is about a hundred yards from the house. I have worn a path in the snow almost to the ground from going out there looking at things! Haha.

 

I doubt if this solves anything but Ford used to have a stamping kit available to dealers with the correct font and the star. I doubt if the half ton and one ton used the same springs. It is nice to see they kept the springs greased, most didn't. The front fenders are definitely one ton.

 

The front axles are actually the same between the ½ and 1 ton. Both are 21Y part numbers, so the front axle is not a good way to id between the 2.

Also, the truck has rear Houdaille shocks. Tonners did not have rear shocks at all.

It is entirely possible that the number was stamped wrong. Remember, these were hand built, and the numbers were hand stamped. It happens, and unless you know the numbers one would never know they might be mis-stamped. The number says Tonner, but everything else is ½ ton. I think it's safe to say that this is just a Ford oddity, something that does happen now and then.

 

Thanks for the info. Maybe the more I mess with it the more it will make sense. Hopefully some of my brake and rear axle parts will trickle in so I can work on it this wkend.

I have been giving a lot of thought to the tires for this thing. Do any of you guys run a 215/85r16? That seems to be the popular radial substitute for the bias ply tires that came on it. My thought was to get Wheel Vintiques rims and some cheapo 215's for it. Also, the rear tires seem to be way inside the wells. Maybe this is because of the 48-51 rear axle? Thought maybe I could offset the rear rim out a little to compensate for that.

Any pics of the trucks with a 215/85r16 would be great! Give me an idea of what it'll look like. It also seems popular to pull a few leafs for ride. But I don't know if I'll do that yet or not.
Vic

 

Garage update:

I looked at the trans number and it matches the rest of my numbers. So that's pretty cool. I also was digging around in the truck and found some sort of registration from Mexico. So now I know it was south of the border in the 80's. Wish I knew the rest!

 

Pretty sure the front fenders are not half ton

 

Correct, like I said in post #8, the front fenders have the larger wheel opening of the 1 ton and larger fenders.
For sure this truck is an interesting one since it has a Tonner serial number and the front fenders of a Tonner, but all else is ½ ton. That's part of what makes old Fords so fun

 

It was probably built while the boss was on break.

 

Or a lunch box special, built 'one piece at a time' by Jose Cash.

 

^^^^^^^^........more coffee on the keyboard!

 

was he related to johnny!

 

His Hispanic second cousin. Worked on the line, whereas Johnny walked it...