1948-1960: 1949/1950 VIN # Cut off

[texan2004]

49 Willard, Where in Maine are you. I'm adding location to the list as well. One other question. Do you have the small window (I suspect you do since it's a 49) and do you have a VIN# for the 50 F6?? It would assist with finding the 49/50 Vin # cut-off. Also, based on the Vin, I rust this is/was a flathead 8 but can you please confirm. Thanks, Carl

[texan2004]

Originally Posted by mtflat

Willard,
They vary from one assembly plant to another, but it's thought they indicate assembly info and some don't have any markings:
color - Ib is really 16 -- Was your truck originally yellow?
plant - RH (richmond)
day - 4th
month - October (Ford didn't use the letter 'I' for a month)
unit number assembled - 238

Thanks, Dick - I'll tuck that away with the rest.

Tim,

With regards to the firewall stamping - Did Ford use A=January, B=February, etc. ?

I've seen the Flathead birthday site and the letters indicated there for each of the months appeared to be somewhat random and not in order (i.e. - A,B,C,D,E,...). Different lettering system for the engines versus the cabs???

[texan2004]

Originally Posted by 4tl8ford

For the 1948 info if needed

88RC 133732 - 48 F1 Panel

Dick,

Thanks for the information. I'm keeping track of the 1948 VIN's as well and Tim gave me a great start. I've added yours to the list.
Any chance you have a firewall stamping on the Panel truck?

Thanks,

Carl

[mtflat]

Originally Posted by texan2004

Tim,

With regards to the firewall stamping - Did Ford use A=January, B=February, etc. ?

I've seen the Flathead birthday site and the letters indicated there for each of the months appeared to be somewhat random and not in order (i.e. - A,B,C,D,E,...). Different lettering system for the engines versus the cabs???

Firewall stampings are more art than science as it appears each assembly plant did their own thing and sometimes nothing was stamped. They generally do follow a pattern from what I've seen.

And yes, as near as I can tell, they used A, B, C, for Jan, Feb, March, etc independent of the more random engine stampings.

I found the original info on a website 6 years ago, but the site is no longer active so I can't verify it. My own 48 had the letter L for the month (November), has a late serial number and someone on the assembly line stenciled the date 11-11-48 in yellow paint on the cowl. A good bit of presumption, but seems logical.

My '48 F1 is on the list, but here's the complete stuff.
vin 88RC 133323 (V8)
firewall stamping 7RH12L6025
[Meadow green, Richmond, 12 Nov, 6025 production # car scheduled that day]

FYI
Color codes on the firewall stamping so far seem to be:
7 = Meadow green
2 = Vermillion red
3 = Black
16 = Chrome yellow
4 = Birch gray

If any of you have info to the contrary, please let me know. There have been a few odd exceptions, so I'm collecting those too.

[texan2004]

Originally Posted by mtflat

Firewall stampings are more art than science as it appears each assembly plant did their own thing and sometimes nothing was stamped. They generally do follow a pattern from what I've seen.

And yes, as near as I can tell, they used A, B, C, for Jan, Feb, March, etc independent of the more random engine stampings.

I found the original info on a website 6 years ago, but the site is no longer active so I can't verify it. My own 48 had the letter L for the month (November), has a late serial number and someone on the assembly line stenciled the date 11-11-48 in yellow paint on the cowl. A good bit of presumption, but seems logical.

My '48 F1 is on the list, but here's the complete stuff.
vin 88RC 133323 (V8)
firewall stamping 7RH12L6025
[Meadow green, Richmond, 12 Nov, 6025 production # car scheduled that day]

FYI
Color codes on the firewall stamping so far seem to be:
7 = Meadow green
2 = Vermillion red
3 = Black
16 = Chrome yellow
4 = Birch gray

If any of you have info to the contrary, please let me know. There have been a few odd exceptions, so I'm collecting those too.

Tim,

I too have seen that yellow paint stenciled to the firewall on one truck and it was a 48. If I remember correctly, I was looking to buy it but did not for some reason. I do not recall being able to locate a stamping on the firewall for that one but I may not have been looking for it.

I will spend some time going through past threads on here to see what else I can collect. I will also check the Bonus Built site to see if there are any others that are not already on the list. I really appreciate you helping out with this.

[4tl8ford]

So far I haven't be able to find a firewall number.
Can someone point MY finger at it?

[texan2004]

Originally Posted by 4tl8ford

So far I haven't be able to find a firewall number.
Can someone point MY finger at it?

Here is where mine was and what it looks like.

[49willard]

Carl/Texas 2004

I am located on the Maine coast in Harpswell.
My 49 F-1 came to me in 1977 with a 56 Nailhead Buick mated to the original floor shift trans, so I don't know for sure that it was a V8 originally. The extra F-6 cab that I have I did not remove from the chassis so I do not have any additional info beyond the Vin on the aluminum tag which is 98RTH303236. When I bought the extra cab, it was for sale as a 50. The side of the cowl badges were F-6. Both of my cabs are small window.

[49willard]

MTflat,

Thanks for the info on stamping in the cowl. It all makes sence. I bought Willard in San Jose (not far from the Richmond plant) in 1977. He is Chrome yellow.

[texan2004]

Originally Posted by 49willard

Carl/Texas 2004

I am located on the Maine coast in Harpswell.
My 49 F-1 came to me in 1977 with a 56 Nailhead Buick mated to the original floor shift trans, so I don't know for sure that it was a V8 originally. The extra F-6 cab that I have I did not remove from the chassis so I do not have any additional info beyond the Vin on the aluminum tag which is 98RTH303236. When I bought the extra cab, it was for sale as a 50. The side of the cowl badges were F-6. Both of my cabs are small window.

Appreciate the input. The sequence number in the F6 VIn would seem to indicate that it is indeed a 50. The TH also confirms it is from an F6 truck.

Thanks for the help.

[mtflat]

my stamping is lower than on Carl's truck - below the seam. Sorry for the poor pic, but you gives you another location to check.

http://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gall...=93463&width=0

[texan2004]

Wow, what a difference in the stampings. This sort of thing would make the ISO9000 police go ballistic in today's world.

[Christopher2]

1. Not sure I think it is a 1950
2. 97HY192924
3. Raised bed
4. Yes
5. 4 speed
6. floor shift
7. Paint Code HAHA someone wrote black there before the truck was painted black. It is amazing what you find whenyou use Windex under the hood.
8. Branch CGO

I included the branch also might help determine manufacturing plant differences.

Originally Posted by texan2004

As suggested by George, the purpose of this thread is to try and determine what the VIN sequence # cut off is between the 1949 and 1950 Ford Trucks. It would also be a good opportunity to try and identify the VIN # cut-off for other little 1950 oddities like the raised panel bed being converted to a flat panel bed and the floor shift three speed versus column shift three speed.

Best way to do this is probably to ask for the following information:

1 - Year truck is registered as (or believed to be)
2 - VIN # (The whole thing including the 98RC, 98RD, etc.)
3 - Bed - Raised Panel or flat panel
4 - Is this the original bed
5 - Transmission
6 - Column shift or floor shift
7 - # stamped into the firewall if you have one.

?'s 3-6 may not be relavent if the truck has had major mods but if you know anything about what was there it would be helpful. I'll be sure to keep results updated. I need to figure out how to set up a link to the spreadsheet or data base I use.

Participation is obviously voluntary but would be greatly appreciated. Any other information on the truck you may want to provide would also be welcomed.

Sugggestions for other information to collect are also being welcomed.

Thanks,

Carl Gustafson - a.k.a Texan 2004

[Fifty F3]

Originally Posted by Fifty F3

Truck - 1950 F3 (but you probably guessed that already)
Serial No. - *98RY*395273*SP
Bed's original and raised panel
Non synchro
Floor shift
No discernable number stamped on firewall

This was nice timing as the engine came out Saturday and I powerwashed the firewall.

Anything else?
Dave

On closer inspection in the dark, with a flashlight and spray cleaner, it turns out there is a number stamped on the firewall. The weight of the stamp is biased toward the bottom, and not all letters are legible. This is what I think it says:
MSF?151123D313 The question mark is an illegible character. The entire truck, except some engine components (certainly the 8BA cylinder heads) is original. The cab is decorated "F3" between the door and fender. There was some discussion over the designation "Y" as F3 in another thread. This may help clear it up.

[texan2004]

Originally Posted by Christopher2

1. Not sure I think it is a 1950
2. 97HY192924
3. Raised bed
4. Yes
5. 4 speed
6. floor shift
7. Paint Code HAHA someone wrote black there before the truck was painted black. It is amazing what you find whenyou use Windex under the hood.
8. Branch CGO

I included the branch also might help determine manufacturing plant differences.

Christopher,

Thank you for adding your information. I had actually pulled your number from an earlier thread where you included a picture of the frame rail stamping to help somebody else locate theirs.

Yours has been flagged as a doesn't fit the norm number. The sequence number in your Vin (192492) would seem to indicate that it is a 1949. Any chance it was incorrectly registered as a 1950 some time back?? Any brief history you could add would be of interest. I noticed the 1972 plate with the 1973 sticker. Mine came with a 1969 Texas Farm Truck plate wired to the front bumber. I trust you held onto the lic. plate (like I did) for show and tell.

Also, where was the "Bracnh CGO" located on the truck??
Was this stamped into the firewall?
Was there a number stamped into the firewall?
And do I read you above correctly when you stated that someone actually wrote "black" on the primer before the hood/truck was painted?

Thanks,

Carl