1948-1960: 1949/1950 VIN # Cut off

[tntroll]

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 I bought a 1960 f500 box truck yesterday,can you tell me if it is a 1ton 2ton or what I have found very little info on this thing??? Thanks tntroll@yahoo.com

[mostly52f1]

hey tntroll, your best bet is to start a new thread asking about your truck, dont forget to post the VIN number.
name it 1960 f500 box truck info, or something in that nature, so people that have experience with those bigger trucks will reply. good luck.
there is also a vin decoder on the site, under the articles/specs tab.

[tntroll]

This site is so complicated ,all I wanted to know is if it was a 1ton or 2ton or what....this is one of the many times I have been refered to another post.Surely someone can answer this question sence all of you claim to be full blooded ford loving hard core ford people. I understand that this truck was built before most of you were born,however with the connections yuns must have,(BEING MEMBERS OF THIS SITE) someone can answer this simple question!! REMINDER (1960 F 500 FORD BOX TRUCK....1 TON..2 TON OR WHAT IS IT???)

[49fordpickumup]

Someone having to do with your truck will help. When I goggle "1960 ford truck", both usa and canadian said the f-500 was a 1 1/2 ton truck. chuck

[texan2004]

Originally Posted by tntroll

This site is so complicated ,all I wanted to know is if it was a 1ton or 2ton or what....this is one of the many times I have been refered to another post.Surely someone can answer this question sence all of you claim to be full blooded ford loving hard core ford people. I understand that this truck was built before most of you were born,however with the connections yuns must have,(BEING MEMBERS OF THIS SITE) someone can answer this simple question!! REMINDER (1960 F 500 FORD BOX TRUCK....1 TON..2 TON OR WHAT IS IT???)

This thread is really intended for 1948, 1949, and 1950 trucks. The original purpose was to determine the VIN # cut-off bvetween 1949 and 1950 trucks. I am not afmiliar with the 1960 VIN #'s but I have come across this information in the past from other sources.

A 48-50 F5 was a 1-1/2 ton truck. I believe that changed when they went to the three digit F-series and the F-500 is a 2 Ton truck. Verify this. Do not take my word for it.

[tntroll]

Thanks for the kind response,concidering I posted under the wrong thread,as I don't know my way around this site + I'am just a D****** country boy from the foothills of the smokey mtns. Some folks have'nt taken very kindly to me,but they will when I figure this site out. I am normaly a Chevy man but I stole this 1960 ford f500 box truck,now I'am in love!!! 390,12'box.tommy lift,etc Everything WORKS even the cig lighter.I just needed to find someone that knew something about it. The old man I got It from could'nt tell me if It was a 1 ton 2ton or what. None of the hicks around here knows anything + I have'nt found anything on the internet. Thank You for your response.....

[texan2004]

No problem. It's actually a very good site for questions.

One problem you are going to find is that the 57-60 trucks are sorta orphans. They are called refridgerator bodies because that's kinda what they look like. They are probably the least popular for restoration. That said, I must admit that I do like them even thought I opted for the 48-50 era.

Second problem you are going to have is that your truck is not a 1/2, 3/4, or 1-ton. The bigger trucks are not real popular but they do have a niche following. I have a couple of F-6's. The downside to the big trucks is that it is ahrder to find parts. The upside to the big trucks is that when you do find the parts, they are often in much better condition because they haven't been picked over yet because nobody could use the big body stuff.

Anyway, don't get frustrated. Play nice and you will make a few friends on here. Good luck with your truck.

[tntroll]

Thanks for the response, I have gotten more positive than negative from this site,and have learned alot. I undestand that this is not a desirable truck,It's kinda like an ugly puppy that's so ugly its AWSOME. What attracted me to this one is it's all there and most everthing works, besides one small rust hole in each front quarter panel,one side glass,and door handles, it's complete. It being undesirable makes it rare,most were used up and junked. It is worthy of some fresh paint and TLC,however the box has to go......

[bfc]

Howdy,
My brother and I recently acquired a couple of F1s (Central Texas). Since they both seem to be produced late in their production years I thought they might be of interest to you.

His:
1-1949
2-98RC269211
3-Raised Panel
4-Probably the original bed
5-3 Speed
6-Floor Shift
7-LU44LL I 040K (Stamped backwards)

We think:
LU=Louisville
First 4=possibly Birch Grey (currently light green)
Second 4=possibly manufacture date
First L=November
Second L=? (maybe the guy got carried away)
I=? (and it is apparently a letter I)
040K (backwards)=?

Mine:
1-Unknown (probably very late 1950)
2-98RC490766
3-Flat Panel
4-Probably the original bed
5-tranmission and motor have been removed
6-Column Shift
7-DLM K16 122

DL=Dallas
M=possibly Mellow Green
K=October
16=Manufacture Date
122=unknown

Hopefully we're in the ball park.

Thanks,
bfc

[mrcman58]

Howdy texan 2004, question for you, i was talking to a friend that is currently restoring a 48 F1, he says the truck has no firewall stampings,
& i showed him on some old 48 to 50 cabs i have where that location is,
have you heard of this happening on the assembly line before ??

thanks, Jess

[texan2004]

Originally Posted by mrcman58

Howdy texan 2004, question for you, i was talking to a friend that is currently restoring a 48 F1, he says the truck has no firewall stampings,
& i showed him on some old 48 to 50 cabs i have where that location is,
have you heard of this happening on the assembly line before ??

thanks, Jess

Yes, in fact I have a 1950 cab that was built in Highland Park, MI that has no firewall/cowl stampings. I also came a cross a 1950 truck built in Dallas that was this way. Most 49 and 50 model year trucks had the stampings and most of the 48 trucks did not. Some 48's have the stampings. I've also come across trucks where the information form the stamping was painted on with stencils thaoug this is not very common.

There just wasn't a lot of consistency with stuff back then. Either from plant to plant or within the plants.

[texan2004]

Looks like you are in the ballpark but let's take a look at each one. BTW - Where are you in Central Texas??

See Below:

Originally Posted by bfc

Howdy,
My brother and I recently acquired a couple of F1s (Central Texas). Since they both seem to be produced late in their production years I thought they might be of interest to you.

His:
1-1949
2-98RC269211
3-Raised Panel
4-Probably the original bed
5-3 Speed
6-Floor Shift
7-LU44LL I 040K (Stamped backwards)

Looks like it is a late 49. The formatting of the firewall stamping on this one is rather peculiar.

We think:
LU=Louisville
Are you certain this is LU? While Ford did operate an assembly plant in Louisville at the time, I am not aware of any trucks being produced there. That does not mean they did not. It just means I have no record of it. If this is in fact a Louisville trcuk, it is a real oddball. LU was the 2-letter identifier for the Louisville plant.

I woulkd really like to get a photo of this firewall stamping if at all possible. (carl_w_gustafson at yahoo dot com)

First 4=possibly Birch Grey (currently light green)

Hard to say. There was a Palisades Green but I do not have a confirmed paint code for it.

Second 4=possibly manufacture date

Could be

First L=November
L is the correct letter for November

Second L=? (maybe the guy got carried away)
I=? (and it is apparently a letter I)
040K (backwards)=?
The rest of these are some sort of plant specific sequencing or coding numbers.

Mine:
1-Unknown (probably very late 1950) CORRECT
2-98RC490766
3-Flat Panel
4-Probably the original bed
5-tranmission and motor have been removed
6-Column Shift
7-DLM K16 122

DL=Dallas CORRECT
M=possibly Mellow Green CORRECT
K=October CORRECT
16=Manufacture Date CORRECT
122=unknown CORRECT

Hopefully we're in the ball park.

Thanks,
bfc

Curious about a couple of things on the second truck.

1 - Is there a hole for a floor shifter in the transmission cover?

2 - Do the rear fenders had the notch in them for the raised panel fenders or are they a flat fit against the bed along the entire interface?

I ask because VIN # 469536 (build date 9-21-50 in Dallas, TX) is located up the street from me. It has a flat side bed and column shift tranny but had nothces in the rear fenders for the raised panel bed and a hole in the tranny cover for a floor shift. That hole was covered over with some sort of non-standard metal patch.

[bfc]

1st Truck:
Serial number is followed by LOU. I also think I saw two other LU's posted earlier on this forum. However, both did not include stamping numbers/letters.

2nd Truck:
1-entire center section of the floor board is missing.
2-fenders appear to be flat.

bfc

[texan2004]

Originally Posted by bfc

1st Truck:
Serial number is followed by LOU. I also think I saw two other LU's posted earlier on this forum. However, both did not include stamping numbers/letters.

2nd Truck:
1-entire center section of the floor board is missing.
2-fenders appear to be flat.

bfc

I know that you didn't see any LOU's on this thread. You may have seen that assmelby plant code for later year trucks on the FTE forum but I have every 48-50 VIN that was ever posted on this forum and the old Bonusbuilt forum and I've never come across a single Louisville truck built between 1948 and 1950 until this one. That said, all published literature said that the Somerville, MA plant only built cars but I have three examples of trucks from that plant so I want you to know that I do believe you when you say it's a Louisville truck. Your buddy has an oddball.

Thanks for the information on the two questions I had.

[bfc]

Howdy,

Actually one of them was an F3. Page 26, this thread, #378 permalink posted by 49fordpickumup on 10-21-07. 49/50 F3 98RY392034 LOU.

Other was on Page 28, this thread, # 410 permalink posted by AK50 on 06-11-08. 50 F1 98RC322598 LOU.

Neither posting provided the stamped letters/numbers.

Sent you pics of the stamped letters/numbers that you asked for of the two F1s I orginally listed to your yahoo address. Hope you got them okay.

Thanks,
bfc