Need Help with Serial Numbers

[knightcharger]

Hi all, I am in the process of restoring a 1949F2 pick up and am stalled due to tyring to locate some bits so started to look into the history of the truck and have found it difficult to decode the title serial number and wondered if anyone can help or point me in the right direction. The earliest document is a 1952 North Dakota certificate of title whch gives the number the number 97HD203273. The engine is a 6 cylinder 226ci I will look for the engine no and post later Regards Bob

[Flaflathead]

Bob, have you posted this message in the 48-60 truck fourm? I have found that many of the guys there Know there stuff and can answer most questions. The numbers on your post appear to be the numbers on a ID plate in the cab, I have a 52 F-1 and I think those type of numbers are on the plate in my glove box door. Best of luck and try the 49-60 truck fourm. You may wish to try this site for more information about the engine http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_home.htm

[mtflat]

Originally Posted by knightcharger

Hi all,
I am in the process of restoring a 1949F2 pick up and am stalled due to tyring to locate some bits so started to look into the history of the truck and have found it difficult to decode the title serial number and wondered if anyone can help or point me in the right direction.
The earliest document is a 1952 North Dakota certificate of title whch gives the number the number 97HD203273.
The engine is a 6 cylinder 226ci I will look for the engine no and post later
Regards
Bob

Ford didn't call it a VIN back then but what you found on the title is for all practical purposes, the VIN. They don't contain much info and you know most of it already. There is no engine number.

You should be able to find the 97HD203273 on the data plate (on the cowl in the engine compartment), on the rating plate (glovebox door) and at least the serial numbers *203273* on the top frame rail somewhere in the engine compartment.

Here's what they mean.
9 = 1949 or 50
7H = 6 cylinder
D = F2 light duty 3/4 ton pickup
203273 = the production unit number or serial number

[knightcharger]

Hi Guys,
Many thanks for your replies, Flaflathead I will post on the truck forum as you suggest and see where it leads.
Ineresting mtflat that you say there is no engine No on the serial code how would you know if the engine is original.
I ask because I need to identify the engine to replace the valve guides and I think there were two types the split and the solid and did they vary between the 6 cylinder and the V8.

[mtflat]

Originally Posted by knightcharger

Ineresting mtflat that you say there is no engine No on the serial code how would you know if the engine is original.

I ask because I need to identify the engine to replace the valve guides and I think there were two types the split and the solid and did they vary between the 6 cylinder and the V8.

There is no engine number - so there is no way to tell if it is original. When working on cars and trucks of this vintage you learn the engine types and variations of that engine to make an educated guess if it is mostly original.

60 years since they were mfg'd most have had an engine rebuilt - the common practice was to take it to the dealer and he would give you an already rebuilt replacement to carry out the door.

Ford knew this would happen and if the block contained the serial number all kinds of chaos would result at the various DMV's around the world. Kept things simpler to place the serial number on the tranny half bell (32-48 cars) and they didn't even do that much with the 48(truck)-53 engines.

I can't help with sources for 6 cyl valve guides. Maybe Barry in Conn. will read this and come up with the numbers. You're correct re: V8 guides are solid one piece in the post-48 flatheads and 2 piece split guides in pre-48 V8's.

You might have to tear into your's and see what you have. Probably one of two. Both are 226 cid. 1G would be the prefix found on pre '48 engines and 7H is the prefix for the late engines. Internally I don't know the differences.

Check with Red's Headers in CA when you figure out what you have - they're online and Red or Marilyn know nearly everything there is to know about flatheads. If they don't carry the parts you need they can tell you where to find them.

[texan2004]

There are numbers on the block that will tell you the date of manufacture and perhaps location of manufacture but no engine number. They are located on the flatspot between the passenger side head and the intake manifold at the back of the engine. I found a site taht actually decoded these numbers a while back but I don't remember which one it was. Sorry. If I find it I will provide the link. Until then, perhaps someone else here has it.

Good luck.

[texan2004]

Found it.

http://flatheaddrag.com/birthday.html

[knightcharger]

Hi Guys,
Sorry for not replying sooner but have had a few days of sick with a bad back.
I have a 7H casting No on the heads so I have ordered some solid guides from LMC, also another kind member has sent me a new oil pump for the cost of the shipping( this is a great site) and I have found some exhuast valves on e bay and I am expecting them all to arrive on this side of the pond this week.
This will alow me to sort out the valves fit the oil pump/ distributor and get the engine back in the chassis so hopefully its alll downhill from here.
Thanks for all your help I will take note of the numbers on the engine and post them later in the week.
Bob

[texan2004]

Woops - I was thinking it was a 8.

[51ford fan]

On the 226 there is a number cast in on top of the head, it will be 7HA/0HA-226 or 8HA-254 cubic inch. The block number is on the pan rail right below the oil pressure sender/ distributor, It will probably start with 7HA. As I recall it was 50-52 that used the OHA, and earlier they were 7HA. There is a difference in the cams and the oil pump gears the 0HA/7HA each had a different amount of teeth. Also on my 51 F1 there is a serial number on the top of the frame rail next to the fuel pump

Hope this helps
Rod

[texan2004]

knightcharger,

Wondering if you would mind helping us out by answering a few questions. We are pulling together some information on the 1948-1950 Ford Trucks for a few purposes.

One is to establish the VIN # cut-off between the 1949 and 1950 model years. Another is to determine if there were, in fact, any large window trucks built during these years, whether any of the 1950 trucks had flat sided beds as opposed to the more common (and better looking) raised panel sided beds, and to establish which trucks actually had the column shift three speed. This little project has also morfed into a study of the numbers stamped into the firewall on these trucks.

Questions:

1 - I already have your VIN # from above. Based on the sequence #, it would appear to be a 1949. Ford did not start anew with the sequence # in the VIN's between 1949 and 1950. Consequently, there is often some confuasion over what is a 1949 and what is a 1950. Again, yours would appear to be a 1949.
2 - Do you have raised panel beds?
I woud assume you do because yours is a 1949 and because you have an F2 which continued with the raised panel beds through I believe 1952 or 1953. I am assuming you stil have a bed on your truck.

3 - What transmission do you have?
4 - Is it a floor shift or column shift?
I am assuming that it is a floor shift since it's a 49 but I was hoping that you could confirm.
5 - Do you have the small window that was common on the 48-50's or do you have a larger rear window like in the 51/52's?
Again, I would assume that you have the small window since yours is a 49.

6 - Are you able to locate a series of numbers and letters stamped into the firewall inside the engine compartment? If so, can you provide them to us?
Tim (mtflat) seems to have broken the code for us. The numbers appear to indicate the original paint color, the location of manufacture, the date of manufacture, and a sequence number for either the day (overall) or the week (plant specific). This number is stamped in the firewall and they have been located in a number of places. It could be above the top seam in the firewall or below it. It is usually in the center of the firewall but I've seen it all the way over on the passenger side (US) next to, and partially covered by, the VIN plate. We will gladly provide you with what we believe it indicates. I am particularly interested in yours because it is on the other side of the pond.

7 - Is your truck a US truck that was exported to the UK back in the day or did it get sent over later? Was it built over there somewhere? Do you know anything about the history.

8 - Does your truck have right hand drive or is the steering on the correct side?

I would appreciate any help you can provide. There is a thread at the top of the 1948-1960 forum located in the "READ FIRST Section at the top of the forum, that was set-up to collect this informationbut since the replies have slowed a bit, I'm chasing #'s now.

Thanks and feel free to ask any questions.

Carl G. - a.k.a. - Texan2004