Hello again, I've been silently stalking this forum for quite awhile now soaking up much needed information in regards to purchasing my first older Ford pickup.
I recently asked for advice on the 53-56 F100 trucks, and looked at a few around here but was disapointed. I then thought I found the truck I've been waiting for, but it was in TN (I'm in NJ), so I hitched up the enclosed trailer and hauked thru the night to get there 14 hours later. I was EXTREMLY unhappy when I found the truck was not even close to the description the owner had told me (and the photos hide A LOT of it). On top of that, the VIN number on the title was missing a digit (it was a 54 F100 and was missing the D or R for the engine code). I then opened the glove box door and found the data plate missing completly, and couldn't find ANY numbers on the frame. We looked for about an hour using carb cleaner, sandpaper, and a wire brush but found nothing. Needless tot say, I hauled home empty and thoroughly annoyed.

I've now located 2 different F1's that I'm going to look at tomorrow (a '49 and a '51) and am wondering what to look for when buying one?
Rust areas to look for, frame, body, trim?
Also, where are the VIN numbers on these trucks? I believe they will be on the glove box plate, the passenger side firewall, and the passenger side top framerail, correct?
Does anyone have a good photo of the exact area I need to be looking for on the frame?

Thanks in advance, I hope to aquire a good truck soon!

P.S.- I'd like to swap my spare 302/C4/9" combo into this truck down the road. What are some companies that sell swap kits for this combo into these F1's?

 

You got the VIN stuff covered. As for the rust, look at all the fenders where the running boards mount, lower sections of the doors, rocker, floor, cab corners, bottoms of bedsides. Those are the first places I'd look.

I would recommend a 51. The styling is much finer than any 49'er.

 

Look on the top of the framerail on the right side very near where the upper shock mount is located.

 

Your wallet and the amount of time, knowledge and experience one has "should" dictate what you purchaes........the reality is this generally does'nt apply!.......alot of these factors do need to be addressed, as they will effect the final outcome and how soon you want to have a running/driving vehicle and to what degree of completion, style,type ect. My son and I have spent well over 40hrs. just researching/learning about what we want to do with our truck and what we need/want to do to it. Parts availabillity also plays a big role in this..........enjoying the "hobby" is whats really important, the rest as they say will all come in time!...........good luck searching.
Doug

 

well hold up your wrong on the vin its is on the driverside framerail by the upper shockmount and on the glovebow door and on firewalll like you stated but not passanger framerail

 

From the 1951 Operators Manual for Ford Trucks, page 6:

Quote:

"1.TRUCK IDENTIFICATION.

Your identification of the truck is by the serial number which appears on all trucks except the parcel delivery. This number is located on the side of the hood. Each truck is also provided with a serial number. The number is located in three places, the patent data plate in the engine compartment, the rating plate on the dispatch compartment door, and on the top of the right frame side rail above the front axel.

On the parcel delivery the rating plate is on the right-hand side of the dash."

End Quote.

Mine is also on the drivers side. As I stated some but few were there, and generally it WAS on the left side on the Canadian trucks.

J!

They are all fun trucks Captain! But as a 51 owner, I can tell you that the 51s and th e52 are a series that are th etoughest to find parts for. There is a lot of aftermarket stuff (fenders etc) for the 48-50 bunch and aftermarket stuff for 51/52 is tough. There were a good deal of "transitional designs" on the 51 and 52 that are different than on the 48-50 - for example front brake drums are unique for 51/52 and run at least $70 each. But, there was something really nice about the 51/52 Five Star Extra Cabs (the begining of what becase the Deluxe and Custom Cabs) Restoring on eo fthose is well worth the patience and expense of finding those hard to find special parts.

Rust spots: seam between the upper and lower fenders; backs of fenders where they attach to running boards; front panel of the bed on the bottom' cab corners front and back; bed strakes. Repaired stock metal fenders for a 51 F1 will cost you avbout $400 each NOS about $1000 - for the uppers!