I am in the process of rebuilding my 1949 F-1 and for some time now I have been studying any trucks I see to get ideas. The pic below was posted on this site a while back. It was taken at Bonneville in 2009. I like this truck. Please take a good look and tell me what you see.



I like the color, the large rear window, the vintage wheels and caps, the F-1 logo on the cowl side, and the large mirrors. What do you see, what do you know, about this truck.

 

The cab is 51 or 52 (rear window is give away), '48 SS grill covers, '48-'50 front end, an early style bed (48 to early 50) and dual wipers

 

Thanks Moe,

I like the black running boards and black (big) mirrors. Any guess on the hub caps?

 

Hubcaps are either stock F-1 or Ford car 39-48, I can't quite tell which. Wheels are likely repro's of the same....the rears look a bit wider.
That truck has a nice stance, but hard to say what's underneath....could be IFS or a dropped axle.

 

Normally I would agree with everything that's been said butcant be sure about the cab. Easiest way to get a big rear window would be a cab swap.
However I once read an article about swapping the back of a small window cab for the bigger window panel. Also I personally saw a 48-50 cab with the big rear window the dash was a 48-50 style. (You could swap rear panels, just the window from or a 51-52, or a 48-50 dash to 51-52 cab for the look.) Not saying it was factory or swapped but they are out there...

 

1low50,

Well, I plan to add another big-window 1950 to the population. I have driven many miles in my 1950 small rear window and now some miles in a 1952 big-window. The bigger window really makes it easier to see in your blind spot, I want that in my 1950.

 

Old members will remember a thread where a NOS 48-50 cab was listed on eBay in pieces. The roof and dash were 48-50, the back panel was 51/52. As I recall it was learned that replacement 48-50 cabs for collision repair came only with the larger 51/52 back panel. Makes sense that Ford would only keep parts inventory for the later version. I'll see if I can find that old thread. Stu

Edit - here's the thread I remember. Stu

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-for-sale.html

 

Yeah, if you look closely at these pics you can see that the cab is a 5-star cab, check that heater and the pass door panel. So, I think the cab and the front sheet metal are from different trucks.




I have heard the stories about service 48-50 cabs having 51-52 big windows, always made me wonder, but a lot of strange things did happen back then. Not the case with the truck in pics above.

 

Here's a thread I remember that Chuck commented on. Stu

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...dow-50-f1.html

 

I found this thread on NOS F-1 cabs. Several years ago I bought a NOS front and rear cab repair panels. The front has firewall, '48-'50 dash and complete roof. The rear has small rear window and rear panel. The only other that I have ever seen was an identical front at Hershey a few years ago. Seems like the seller wanted $500 for the piece. I have kept mine in case of the need of wreck repair.

 

My truck has a 48 cab with a 51-52 rear window. I dont know when it was done, but I do like having the bigger window.

If you want to look at my gallery here: 1948 Ford F1 - Album on Imgur
You can see my dash is the 48 dash, and there is even a date stamped on the firewall that faintly reads 1948. Id post the individual photos, but I am on my mobile right now.

 

Walt, that truck has the 48-50 front sheet metal (doghouse) and a 51-52 cab. My understanding is that all 51-52 cabs were referred to as 5 star, but then there was the deluxe or extra cab. I don't see the two tone dash, the windshield trim nor the red and silver 'Extra' seat.

 

Joe,
Yeah, I really don't know much about what Ford called trim levels back then. I do see a "top-of-the-line" heater and I see the door trim panels, arm rests, and stainless vent windows, all of which tell me that the cab of this truck is a "Top-of-the-line" and I have been told none of those trim items were available on 48-50 trucks.

Who knows the story on how these trucks get to how we see them today? I would like to put my 1949 F-1 back together with as many 48-52 "Deluxe" features as possible, with as many "roadworthy" improvements as possible, and as many "safety" improvements as possible.

Walt

 

I'd avoid getting too hung up on the F-3 M-H, it's had a lot of parts swapping. Unless my eyes are playing tricks it is a 51/52 based on having the front differential located on the driver side. That means it's an R32-4 with two speed transfer case, first available in '51. Stu

Edit - The Magic Air could have been ordered on base 5 Star as well as on 5 Star Extra equipped trucks. It was a stand alone option. Stu

Edit edit - the more I look the more I see. The hand brake location says it's an early '51 having the 14" rear drums and parking brake at the corners rather than transmission. Stu

 

Thanks Stu!