What is the serial number? That will tell what engine it originally had.

 

Looking forward to more pics of your wife's new ride

 

Serial number same as Vin..? I see vin on Firewall high on passenger side...?

I will get it and post here....thanks guys.... Wife loves Red, so she is torn...the blue looks really good too....and is a recent home done paint job...looks great form 15-20ft...lol...bit rough up close, but solid, and will not rust....thinking we might leave it blue for now, make it road worthy, and start collecting the little fun stuff for it....

If I were wanting to return it to Flat head original status...is there a good Auto tranny out there or adapter available to run one..? Wife has bad knee, and Clutch will not be good for her to drive...

 

These trucks were built before they had VINs on vehicles, the serial number is what they used for ownership and registration. So the number on the tag is correct. You should also find it stamped up on the passenger side of the frame near the original motor mount and on the glove box door. Did you get a title with her?

With it being a 49 V8 F3 it should start with like

98RY*****

9= 1949 or 50
8R = V8
Y = F3
the rest is you serial number down the line

 

Mine is an F2...
Here is the Serial number....
9 8 R D 3 9 0 4 3 4 K C

So it appears V8 was stock... it has a 4 speed in the bed , can I assume that is original as well.....?

I am torn between keeping the 302 in it or rebuilding the Flat Head...
I think they are the Shiz....But it is the Wifes truck, so it is Her decision In the end....Might rebuild the flat head with my Boy and Daughter , just to do it, then sell it or Stuff it into something else..

Breakdown of my Serial is much apreciated...

John

 

KC (Kansis City) is the plant that yours was built in. Serial number sound high enough to be a 1950, someone else will chime in with more info. Also take a look at this https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/4...n-cut-off.html

 

But her is a link to a company in New York who has a catalog of early ford replacement parts for pickups the catalogue is pretty comprehensive http://www.earlyford.com/images/49-59%20catalog.pdf

Good luck!

 

Is the rear bumper for the F3 Express pickup the same as the one for the F1?

Also, is the tailgate chain system the same as the F1?

It appears that MACs catalogs seldom mention the F3.

CarlH
1949 F3 Express

 

Carl,

I think the bumpers were optional in that era. I have seen a lot of F1's with a light bumber (stock). The F2's & F3's tended to have a heavy wrap-around diamond plate unit with a mount for a trailer hitch ball. I'm sure some of the big truck guys will weigh in. The stock F1 rear bumpers are hard to find and usually expensive. I made one out of 5 inch channel....I was really looking for a good way to mount a decent set of tail lights....I know...not stock, but sometimes safety outweighs the stock look.








Dan

 

HI Carl,

The bumbers would have been the same if they came with them, there are a lot of aftermarket bumpers that were probably dealer ad on's though.

I knew the tailgate chains were different but never really compared them side by side so I took this picture (sorry about the poor quality it was getting dark out)
Anyway the F-2 3 chains are a little bit longer (about 29") than the f-1 chains and also a lot bigger

F-1 on bottom F-2 3 chain on top

 

I am getting to the final stages of restoration and have a question about how to install the bright mouldings to the hood. Does one install the clips first and then slide the moulding over them? Or does one install the clips in the moulding and try to push it on?

I tried sliding...and scratched the paint. Then I tried pushing on, and it bent the moulding.

CarlH
1949 F3 Express

 

The clips go in the moulding, then snap into place on the hood. They can be a bit of a bear, and you may need to help them go through the hole with pliers or other handy tool.

PS, it's OK to start a new thread with your questions. In fact, it's preferable to digging up 2 year old topics and hope someone finds it.

 

What color were the chains originally?

 

The chains were the same colour as the body .

 

Can someone post a picture of the F3 Express chain connection at the top of the stake pocket? How much clearance should be allowed between the tailgate and bedside brackets?