I have had for sometime what I thought was a 1942 1/2 ton Ford Marmon-Herrington. I started to look it over and although it seems original the flathead is what appears to be a 59AB and not a 21c. Is there another way to tell if it is a 1942?

 

Mike - Engines aren't a good way to determine model and year. Ford considered them replacement parts, and for this reason didn't number them. I'm certainly no expert, but I think I've read that the truck's serial number will be stamped on the top of the bell housing and can be accessed through the transmission access plate in the cab. I'd also think you should be able to find the serial number stamped on the frame. Mac Van Pelt's site gives good info on all of this. Stu

Ford Flathead Engines

 

mike, my 42 has the serial number stamped on frame under, or just behind, steer box. it also has a 59ab. is truck military? got any pics?

 

I don't believe that it is military, although it is military green. I know absolutely nothing about the truck. I found it in Mexico some years back. It is certainly not a queen. This is the one M-H that I have acquired that has a dent in every panel. I have acquired all N.O.S. panels for it except a tailgate.

I do have pics, unfortunately I am not very familiar with uploading them to a website. Stu has been doing this for me. I will try to impose on him again.

 

Certainly. Stu

 

I think a quick way to tell 42 fords from the later ones is the hood. 42's have a die cast Ford script emblem in front of the cab where the later ones have it stamped. That is of course if the hoods haven't been swapped.

If it is military it will have no numbers stamped anywhere on frame, motor or transmission plate. There would be a plate on the dash with all neccesary identification on it.

But as said. The frame is the best place to look. Because the transmission could have been swapped later and that would give you an incorrect number. That happened to me on mine. I had a 47 1 ton flatbed and the transmission decoded to a 47 Panel.

But here is a pic on where to find the number on the frame./

 

The '42s had a die cast Ford script emblem, not a blue Ford oval. In later years the Ford script was stamped in the side of the hood. Look for the aforementioned frame numbers, the last six numbers will give you the year since we know the serial number range for each year.

 

Thank you for all of the info. I won't get to it until Saturday afternoon. I will report back what I find.

Thanks again everyone,

Mike

 

if i'm not mistaken, the marmons had an oval badge in place of the script. these hoods are different in that the side panel is smooth for badge, not stamped or script. on a side note-- my truck is military and has #'s on frame. i believe this is because it was made in feb of 42, and they were using up inventory? any input folks??

 

Since your truck is a 42 it could have been a truck produced for civilian use and then put to military use after MH did the conversion? This could be the case as well with the original posters truck.

 

I looked at it again this morning. I never felt that this was a military truck, however, both inside and out look like military green.

 

anything is possible considering the way things were back then. the only thing i know for sure--- it was olive drab on the frame when stripped down with nothing under or over it. and it was not easy to get off.

 

Iin the Hood.