<TABLE border=0 width="100%" itxtvisited="1"><TBODY itxtvisited="1"><TR itxtvisited="1"><TD vAlign=top width="100%" itxtvisited="1">I have identified all of the letters and numbers except the RIC anyone know what this means?

I see both references to the F3 as a 3/4 ton and 1 ton what's the scoop?

Thanks
Greenhorn</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

The common thought is that F1 = 1/2T, F2 = 3/4T and F3 = 1T but as I mentioned in the 67-72 thread it has no bearing on actually payload. Especially when you factor in "heavy half", Super Duty, Camper Special, etc.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...t-ratings.html

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...he-origin.html

Are 2 fairly recent threads.

 

First the easier part of the question. The F-3 models were sold in the US classed as heavy 3/4 tons while the F-2s were classed as light 3/4 tons. In the US the F-4 was the tonner. In Canada, no F-2s were sold and the F-3 was classed as a tonner. I've read conflicting info on what the F-4 was classed as in Canada. Some say ton and a quarter, some say ton and a half. I've never read any authoritative explanation of why the differences.

Would I be correct that your VIN plate has four blocks below the "Engine No" space that contains the "RIC" codes? I'll post below a pic of the plate from a book, and on it is the info from one of my trucks. Nowhere have we found any source that gives explanations of those codes. We've assumed when the question has come up before that the "R" means the V8, and the "I" is the 1951. But in past instances the "C" would have worked as the half ton factory code. That doesn't work in your case. The F-3 was a "Y" code, as you see on the below pic containing my info. I've never come up with explanations for the "W" and "B" on my plate. Stu

 

RIC would have been on your data plate (firewall) in a space sometimes labeled "BRANCH" and is an abbreviation for Richmond - same as the RH in the serial string.

Stu has the answer to your other question.

 

I just went out and checked my three '51s. The two early '51s that have the firewall plate have no space for Branch. Only thing shown is the VIN. The other '51 is a late year truck and has no firewall plate. It has the '52 style glovebox door plate. My assumption was that Greenhorn has a similar early year truck that has the mystery Model blocks on the glove box door plate. I've never seen a firewall plate like you've described. Are you sure that was a '51 item?

 

No. But not all firewall plates have it - thanks for the feedback Stu. Do your early 51's follow the 48-50 serial string pattern or are they like the 52's?

From my data: RIC was a common designation at the end of the serial string on Richmond trucks toward the later end of the production ('50/'51) - and only appeared on Richmond plant trucks. I seem to remember Ford used the same serial string thru Sept 15, '51. Numbers above 430000 may have been early '51's - nobody knows for sure???

Maybe Carl, texan2004 can shed more light on this.

 

I purchased my truck in pcs, the cab was the only thing attached to a rolling frame. Of the several boxes of parts the glove box door no longer had an ID plate. The motor and tranny did not go with the truck so the type of tranny is still a mystery to me. The only ID tag is on the firewall passenger side and there is just one box with the whole string of characters as earlier listed and the rest of the tag is taken up with several Ford Patent numbers. It does not look anything like the example Truckdog listed. The tag looks like it was mass produced with all but the series in successive number with the model F3 and the ending characters in question RIC hand stamped. It sounds logical that the RIC stands for Richmond though it was already part of the main number.

 

I would agree with mtflat that the RIC is a designation for Richmond, CA plant. Same as the RH in the VIN string.

 

If that's on the firewall tag then it's got to be the Richmond designation. My two that have the firewall tag both have the later '52 style VINs. They're from Highland Park and Kansas City. The fact that there is no special block on the plate with the RIC pretty much settles it.