Alright everyone, the frame is now back from powder coat...and yes, pictures will be posted soon. Though my frame started out in great shape before acid dipping, years of aging erased any factory chalk/paint markings from the factory. I would like to re-create any markings the assembly line workers may have marked on the chassis during the trip down the assembly line to compliment the concourse restoration. I have found a few markings on the firewall and brake drums so far, and even have documented pictures of engine markings.

This is where your help is requested. I'm looking for any pictures of a 1957-1960 Ford truck depicting any of these aforementioned markings. Historic assembly line photos would be ideal, however any pictures or descriptions of your personal truck's markings would also be greatly appreciated. I understand each plant's markings may differ, however I'm after attention to detail rather than what might have been correct for the San Jose plant vs. another. Additionally, any assembly line photos in general would be much appreciated. I thank you for your help in advance.

 

Dustin,I also have what appears to be black grease-pen type marks on the fire wall in the engine bay.The marks on the drums,I wouldn't be too sure of.I mark my drums for re-installation each time they are resurfaced during a brake job.My original drums are long gone.Are yours the originals?

 

My firewall mark is was made with a black grease pencil, and is on the driver's side of the firewall in the area hidden behind the fender. My brake drums are the originals and have a small stencil-painted, rectangular, silver mark. I haven't fully cleaned all the drums, but the rear drums do have the marks for sure.

Just to give you an idea of the originality, the first time I removed the rear drums for maintenance, the green drum retaining clips were still in place. These clips were installed during the assembly line process to keep the drums from falling off onto a workers or the floor until the wheels were bolted on. These clips are normally removed/discarded during the drum's first removal for maintenance. I re-installed mine and will retain them for authenticity of the restoration.

 

I can't speak for Henry Ford, but after being in the automotive field for the past 10 years we use what is called a china marker to mark defects on units as they progress through the shop. Some of these depending on where they are and what part of the department the unit is in will make it to the off line area and out to the customer. But usually are never seen by the average owner. Back 60 years ago they may have made changes or modifications right on the assembly line but not today.

 

Why in the world you would want to go to this "Nth degree of ****" is beyond me. Production marks of this nature were random, non standard, and OBE when the truck is satisfactorily completed. But since it is your truck and you want to do it, knock your self out. I mean seriously, if worker #321 was bored and wrote in chalk "hey Moe, your mom wears army boots" in chalk just to make #322 laugh, do you really need that on your truck?

In all candor, the "official" markings on the trucks such as stamped serial numbers, part numbers, etc, were not that consistant. And, if there were various chalk or grease pencil marking on the truck 55 years after it was built, they could have come from ANYWHERE - especially if the truck was used by the military of other government agency. Maintenance shops such as tire and alignment centers will also make markings. These are almost always unique to your truck and various "things" going on with it in production or post production maintenance.

My best suggestion for you if you really want to go to this length is to pay attention to and document the markings that are on your particular truck BEFORE you clean them all off so you can replace them accurately as they appeared originally.

 

Dustin-One guy who may be able to assist you,is Mr4speedford.With few exceptions, he puts nothing but NOS parts on his trucks, I believe both of his are 59's or 60's.He has a lot of info on these trucks, though he's not on much lately.

If that's your choice to go as authentic as is possible, don't allow any naysayers to deter you.You know what pleases you.The "Nattering Nabobs of Negativism", are everywhere! LOL! Do it your way.

 

I agree the markings are rather insignificant, but I would like to replicate them if possible. I have documented the entire dis-assembly process meticulously through several pages of notes and over 300 photographs so far. I even measure the distance of every single clip holding the taillight wiring harness to the frame to ensure the clips are replaced in the exact same position on re-assembly. ****...yes, but I want the truck to be exactly as it was when it left the San Jose plant in 1960. The truck has been in the family since new, and is so original it even retains the stock clutch, generator, and other parts usually long gone by now. At age 12, my grandfather taught me how to drive in this very truck on his property. The truck is so original it would be a shame to alter it in any way, so I'm restoring it with nearly all NOS parts, which I have been buying for eight years now.

I've been in constant contact with Mr4speedord. He's provided a lot of info and original Ford Motor Company photos. For a while we were in constant contact, now if takes a few weeks to hear back. I'm sure he's busy, and has been an extremely valuable resource for this restoration. I'm considering a trip to the official Ford Archives, and going through their extensive archive of production photos and documentation. A web page is also on the horizon, which I hope to make the most accurate and documented source of information for the 1957-1960 trucks.

 

I fully support any improvement in the documentation for the 57-60 years, but I tend to agree with Julie that this may be a little on the "****" side, but to each his own. Having been through the restoration of a loved ones vehicle, I understand your thought process. I suffer from kind of the opposite, most of the time I was fighting the thought that my Dad thought I was crazy and wanted to go get a load of gravel in the truck to fill in some pot holes in the drive way. We tend to cherish these old pieces of iron, but they were "tools to be used" to them.

I wish you all the best and I looked through all my hundreds of photos and if there were markings, they were far gone, probably from hauling gravel.

 

LOL its funny that you mention that. Two associates on our E-coat sanding lane got the hots for the same girl and was writing messages to her on the bonnet (hood) in china marker and almost lost their jobs over it. Once the unit is E-coated if it is marked for a defect it has to be sanded out or it could bleed thru depending on what color the unit is. When you are running 350 units a shift you don't have time to sand out love notes!

 

Good luck on your restoration. Some history there, too. I'd pay no attention to the nay sayers, but to do it to your satisfaction.

 

Seems like arranging deck chairs on the Titanic...you powder coat the frame (absolutely outside the bounds of any concours restoration effort) and now you want to recreate the factory markings? I have a good friend who does 100 point concours restorations and he showed me some of the over the top efforts that must go into these cars...when he has to spray the paint on the car with lots of orange peel to match the factory finish instead of spraying a glassy smooth finish then that's where I draw the line.

 

That's nothing. The overly-**** Mustang resto guys insist on overly-duplicating the factory overspray, found on the underbody over the red-oxide primer. To me, that's nuts.

 

Actually, many judging rules now allow the use of modern paints (urethane, powder, etc.) in place of the original paint finishes with no point deductions. I also will be opting for the imperfect (orange peel) body finish. The decision to powder coat the frame was not easy, and is the only deviation from a 100% exact replication of the original assembly. Ford's original paint practically flaked off from the showroom floor. I opted for the slight deviation in the interest of preserving the vehicle (through the highly durable powder coat finish) for future generations within my family to enjoy.

If you looked at the frame, you probably would never know it was powder coated. The frame was acid dipped (instead of hard media blasted) then blasted with an extremely fine media to remove the flash rust formed between the two processes. These methods allowed all the factory press/score marks and stamped part numbers to remain as clear as they were in 1960 during initial assembly. The frame was pre-heated, powder coated, then double baked. This process allowed the powder to remain thin enough to leave detail and not orange-peel. Unlike most powder coat jobs which leave a thick, evident, finish, my frame looks just like an epoxy paint job...but then again it took the powder coat shop over a month of active work to make it all happen.

With this said, instead of focusing on how ****/OCD I am in this restoration and trying to change my mind, lets re-focus on the reason for this topic.

 

Perhaps you would find better support at another site that is more attuned to restorations. I think that you will find that most of the contributors to this forum are more interested in enjoying the use of their trucks than they are in how much they look like they just rolled off the assembly line. Personally I am not trying to change your mind, just understand that based on the postings that I have read on this forum over the past few years there are few and far between that deal with topics of this nature.

 

Dustin, I think Charlie is correct in stating that we are more "Keep it on the road" type of guys,than perfect restoration sources - though I'd love to follow your efforts and cheer you on! I applaud your efforts,and do hope you don't take it as an affront if we're not as helpful as you might had hoped.I, for one, am pretty much of a "stocker",though I've had to make concessions to safety/convenience.My 51 year old truck is my only vehicle,gets driven at least 60-80 miles per day.Other sources for a correct builds would be Col. Flashman,and, of course, NumberDummy.N.D.(Bill) can help you find NOS Ford parts.If it's still around,he can sniff it out.

There aren't enough sources here on FTE for our era of trucks.Please stick around this site!While we share much of the same mechanics with the rest of the vehicles in the 48-60 grouping,it's nice to see others who share your exact truck.I'm really looking forward to any future 57-60 website you might put together.