The pics are Jafo's truck, not the OP. Good eye, though.

 

I find this calculator much easier to use.
MOTOR - A Rear Axle Calculator

 

My truck has those widow maker wheels on them there 18s I have a set of Budd 19.5 ready to go on, I just started tearing it down for a resto I will then put the 19.5 on it! And send the 18s were they belong! (Satans living room)

 

Looking for some help with identifying my differential. From other's posts I'm pretty certain I have an Eaton 2 speed rear end, But I'm unsure of possible gear ratios, was there a common ratio?

 

That would be an Eaton 1350, and if I remember from the book there was only two ratios used, and my book is miles away right now.

 

The ratios for the 1350 are 5.83/8.11 or 6.33/8.81

 

So, in 4th gear and 4000 rpm I can get up to 75 mph in my F250. Nope, not gonna happen with me behind the wheel. Holy smokes! I'm not on the road yet, but I would think everything would rattle off at that speed.
I'm not sure I would be comfortable with the 57 mph at 3000 rpm.

Hmmm, makes me think of Dale (ArrowheadFred) God rest his soul.

 

I was able to get my 2 speed rear end, 4 speed, 226 I6 '48 to ~50 miles per hour.


I'm still not clear on what makes a F5 different than an F6. There is so much misleading information on the VIN structure. I found:


My VIN is 87HT29396
so:
8 = 1948
7H = 6 Cylinder
T = 1 Ton Pickup

This resource shows the format:
Identify Your Truck
1948 - 1951 Truck Vehicle Identification
•Where to find your VIN •For 1948-51 Fords the VIN plate is located on the glove box door and on the left side of the frame near the steering gear mounting bracket. The information on the rating plate is the VIN number. The first four digits of the VIN number indicate year, series and number of cylinders. The last six digits indicate the production sequence.
•Series Prefix: •F-1 = 1/2 Ton
•F-2 = 3/4 Ton
•F-3 = 3/4 Ton Heavy Duty
•F-4 = 1Ton
•Vehicle Identification Number -87HC 139260
•Model Year •8 = 1948
•9 = 1949, 1950 & 1951 continue the 1949 number
•Engine Code •7H = 6 Cylinder
•8R = 8 Cylinder
•1BC Carburetor
•2BC Carburetor
•Models Line •C = 1/2 Ton Pickup
•Y = 3/4 Ton Pickup
•T = 1 Ton Pickup
The this link says (which mine is HT):
The 1948-1952 truck parts catalog shows that the H after the T is for a F6 conventional chassis. The copy that I have does not break down the 1949-50 rating plate.
The model symbols are:
F1 C
F2 D
F3 Y CONVENTIONAL CHASSIS
F3 J PARCEL DELIVERY CASSIS
F4 TL
F5 T CONVENTIONAL
F5 JH PARCEL
F5 W CAB OVER
F6 T SCHOOL BUS
F6 TH CONVENTIONAL
F6 WH CAB OVER
F7 Q CONVENTIONAL
F8 QH CONVENTIONAL


So I must have a F5 and not an F6?

 

The H engine code designates the 226 six cylinder engine. If it had an M instead of a H it would designate the 254 six cylinder engine, which was available as an option. Have no idea what the 7 prefix means. Here is my COE with the 254 engine. The LB stands for the Long Beach, CA assembly plant.

 

That website only covers up to F-4 trucks. We are in heavy duty.

 

well it appears the VIN structure changed, maybe around approx. '50ish.
Yes, the 7H was for 6 cylinder - 226, from what I've read for the '48 structure (listed above).
Another site (included in that post) was saying the 'T' in my VIN is a F-5. And is correct with Mixer mans COE, the chart does show yours as a COE (F6 WH CAB OVER ). The WH.


I also see the T in my VIN is a 1 ton, where the F6 is 2 ton (I believe)?
Also decode the same here for VIN positions.
Need Help...Figuring out year from Serial number (48-50 F1) - Ford and Mercury - 1932 to 1953 - Antique Automobile Club of America - Discussion Forums
And yes I see more info on the smaller trucks but the letter for type should be the same I would think....


Is there a difference in frame length between the F5 and F6? any other differences to validate.
I show the fenders are the same, etc.
http://www.fatfenderedtrucks.com/partsinterchange.html
I was hoping that the F6 since it's 2 ton would have a different spring or suspension set-up, there should be differences for that.



To be an F-6 my VIN would require:
87HTH29396 to make the 'TH'.


Thanx for all your help.
So confusing....

 

I have read your question 20 times, I know my ole brain gettin dimmer by
the day. So the "taking in a freeway" 4th or high rarely used" I don't get it.
First off the F5 & F6 are basically the same, just different springs, they both
have double frames & I remember, 2sp axle optional on F5 & standard F6.
So: with the axle in high, Its probably 6 to something. With 8-25-20 tires
thats will be just nicking 60mph at 3 or 3100 rpms. which wont hurt a
thing whether a V8 or a 6. Back when new my uncle bought four 1950
F6 / V8 box trucks for mail route to Boston when a new interstate was
built. All had factory governors that kicked off at 3100rpms (dealer settings) they ran just about 24-7 right on the governor at 60 more or
less depending on hills and loaded. We ran those trucks until bigger guys
stepped on us small guys, with tractor trailers and couldn't compete.
Believe or not I still have one of those original four. Of course it got a
4 yd dump body lot lighter that that big box. As I speak, If I nurse the
pedal -talking about governor it will do 65, that comes out to about
3300 or 3400rpms. All I can say is it 'aint blown up yet' and its 2016!
Best I can do is take ya for a ride and that will be proof..enough.....
does this help ya!
sam

do not under estimate the inline 6 bullet prof. engine. seems that the
only thing is most people (and me) like the charisma of a V8 - so what.

 

Here are the comparison pages for F-5 and F-6 conventional trucks. These are 1951, should be the same as 1948, and are from the Ford Sales Handbook. Your online reference has mistakes as you've seen. The F-4 is one ton Model TL, the F-5 is the 1.5 ton Model T, and the F-6 2 ton is Model TH. The COEs are W and WH respectively. The Canadian designations are, however, much different and I refer you to the linked thread.

There are other subtle differences in the F-5 and F-6. One is that the 134" F-5 shares the F-4 frame, and is not double walled. All others are double walled, including all the COE frames. Also interesting to me, the F-6 school bus is a T, not a TH. Stu

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...fo-thread.html

 

I've added some of my 1948 Ford Bonus Built Trucks literature guide as a comparison. I did see that the F-5 is 1.5 ton. Thanx.


Maybe I missed the 'T' reference but the link says Canadian. And I don't see a 'T'. This is in quite a few posts:
The model symbols are:
F1 C
F2 D
F3 Y CONVENTIONAL CHASSIS
F3 J PARCEL DELIVERY CASSIS
F4 TL
F5 T CONVENTIONAL
F5 JH PARCEL
F5 W CAB OVER
F6 T SCHOOL BUS
F6 TH CONVENTIONAL
F6 WH CAB OVER
F7 Q CONVENTIONAL
F8 QH CONVENTIONAL



I'll keep digging. I'm making new plates for the engine compartment, etc. and I want them to be correct. Plus I'd like to know definitively what I have (F5 or F6).


Thanx again.,

 

Ok, After checking a couple F6 specifics, it looks like an F6.
The front axle measures H2.5", W2.0",Web.33" (modified I beam)
And I have a two speed rear end, in '48 the F-5 doesn't look like it was offered.


(my wheel base is 134", but that doesn't matter).
It almost appears that they forgot to go back to the frame VIN stampings and add the engine and type. The bell housing has it but the frame does not, missing those components.


Thank you.