Here is the Glove Box Tag. No firewall tag or stampings. Does the Production Code give anything? There was this stencil on the firewall. I didn't try to save it but wonder if it has any significance.

 

Rich, there would not have been firewall stampings with the new style rating plate that you have.

F1R1HM72778

F1= 1/2 ton
R= 239 cu in flathead v8
1= 1951
HM= Highland park assembly plant
72778= unit number

3= Standard 3 speed transmission
M= Meadow Green
21L= November 21, 1951 build date
DD2864= in house production code

 

Based on 51Fred's F1 above, I think that confirms the late build date. His was built November 21st and is only 134 numbers later than yours.

 

Actually, this would be good info to have for '51 trucks, as the changeover on the F2/3 from big rear brakes with the e-brake at the drum vs. the smaller rear brakes and driveshaft brake occured as a running change during that model year. Knowing better when that happened would be interesting. My 2c.

 

OK, well I have a misc column in my database, used mostly for M-H stuff, I will start adding that in. Axle Brake / Transmission Brake.

 

I went back and edited my post #88 with the trans brake vs axle-hand brake info. Funny thing on the 51 F2 Marmon Herrington is I just rebuilt the transfer case and have all the parts to do the trans brake setup but I guess I don't need to now... I am guessing the trans brake actually worked better than the axle brake though. Maybe I'll do both... hmmm.

thanks

 

A few of the Ford and M-H references suggest that Spring of '51 was when the parking brake change was made on F-2/3s. The two different versions of the below pictured '51 sales brochure are strong indicators. The first version with the red body colored grille is dated 10/50 and shows the 14" drums on F-3s. The revised version with ivory grille shows 12" drums and is marked "Rev 3-5". The below pictured '51 M-H brochure shows 14" drums and is dated "510301". The change was fully in place by June because the 6/1/51 revision to the Salesman's Handbook shows 12" drums with "drum and contracting band" brake. Stu

 

so my confusion is based off of the title I was given (mine is shown in photo) and what the owner told me about the truck. it even had a flathead v8 in it. possibly the DMV made a mistake years ago.......

 

The good news is your paperwork matches your frame stamping. Originally it was a 52 6 cylinder truck, now it's not. No big deal. Personally, I'd live with it and not make a fuss. It's not worth bringing up to the DMV, possibly starting an investigation down a road you may not want to go down. Let this sleeping dog lay. My 2c.

 

I agree 100%. the cloudiness of the documentation will fit in with the resto rod theme as nothing is truly what it appears to be......

 

OK, that clears my concerns! The number assigned to your truck is a low one, it is possible that it may have been built in late 1951 and registered before the end of the year. Some states back then would title the year when it was first registered. We have seen that in a very few instances.

 

Joe, how are you tracking these numbers/info, Excel, Access? Just wondering how the data could be massaged to identify trends and see break points? Are you going to post it?

 

Ross it's just a simple database in Excel

 

Here I the info on a '51 F2 that I used to drive.
F2R1MP16730
It had a transmission mounted parking brake, 8' express bed, original color was red.

 

Mark, with that serial number the truck should have been built in July of 51, so you should have the stampings on the cowl/firewall for the color and build date.