Bill, you may be on to something. It wouldn't be the first time a line worker got the stamps turned around.

Stu, thanks for the info - I'll tuck that away for future reference.

One more question if you don't mind. Do all the 51/52's have the plant as part of the serial number?

48-50 was all over the place with that, almost seems like they were developing the practice as they went along.

 

Since the number mix up is on the data plate, it would seem possible that the guy that set up the stamp machine that day might have gotten the letters reversed. If this were seen on the frame, however, I'd wonder because the metal stampings on the five or six frames that I've messed with had the initial letters and numbers in perfect alignment, spacing, and depth of impression making it look like they were actually one big stamp. For instance, the "F3_1KC" looks perfect, then the "R", "H", or "D" is cocked and the individual digits are all over the place having been individually hand stamped. We just need to know what Bill's frame shows.

Not to introduce a sensitive subject, but '51 data and features was an area that Dan/Julie had a lot of interest and knowledge about. Too bad that's been lost.

Last, yes, the Chassis Manual shows that the '51s and '52s all had the plant identified in the serial number. Stu

 

Lakotas53,
Just up the road ion Guntersville.
Stu,
As soon as I can, I will check the location you suggested.
Just picked up a 1 ton shop crane for $99 from harbor freight with one of their super coupons. Had to buy it to remove the 2 L134 engines sitting on the tailgate of my 05
F150.
Bill in Bama

 

I'll see if adding to your post works - I think it does if you add 10 characters of your own outside the quote....

 

Lakotas53
I'm just up the road in Guntersville.

Stu,
I will check the location you suggested.

ps Does anyone know someone that would like to feed my ford habit by trading me a nice F1 or 2 for 38 pounds of Easy Flo 35 silver solder?
Bill in Bama

 

That truck has a HUGE heater!

 

"Not a problem for me - I tried to fly under the radar on most of that. I agree we lost a resource. I've read most of what Julie posted on the subject, but never saw the specifics of my questions answered."

So much of this is speculation, we have to be careful not to package an opinion as fact. Unless there's a reference to cite, and even then that's risky. Stu

 

There should be two sets of numbers on the frame, one set is where Stu indicated and the other set is on the same side further down the frame rail about where the rear cab mount is. You might check to see if there is a discrepancy in the stampings.

 

Sorry about that - posted and then had to run out for a couple of hours. I tried to italicize what I typed and it backfired on me... forgot it automatically does the italic thing.

So much of this is speculation, we have to be careful not to package an opinion as fact. Unless there's a reference to cite, and even then that's risky. Stu

That's the truth. Since the records for most of the serial number stuff is gone we end up with our best guess.

 

Here's what I know; in the 60's all the assembly plants had their own string of consecutive unit numbers. Since the assembly plant code was part of the serial/vi number, there was no confusion or concern of 'doubled-up' numbers. I think it's safe to assume the same thing was happening with our trucks, especially from the 1951 model year, with the revamping of the serial numbering system.

Tim, do you have enough serial numbers from your 49-50 research that would include the same consecutive unit number from the different plants?

 

To Tim's point about never seeing numbers having six digits, is there any source that tells us whether the numbers used on a run of, say, F-1s were isolated from the numbers used on a run of F-5s? Or did the digits get assigned in pure number order irrespective of which model was coming down the line that day? If number 12345 was used multiple times on an F-1, F-2, F-3, and so on up the product line, that could explain why you never see numbers with six digits.

 

48-50 used a continuous numbering system. No truck rec'd the same serial number during those 3 years even tho the prefix changed in 49. It was a little confusing at first when Ford decided to keep the prefix the same in 50.

As close as I can get it,
48's ran from 88RC101 thru 87HC166979 (according to the old ford truck club, Cin. OH) oftc
49 started with 98RC166980 and continued thru 1950 with the highest number I have at 98RC510976

Without counting this am, I've collected around 300 serial numbers. Carl believes as you do Wayne, that Ford issued blocks of numbers to assembly plants. The trouble is most plants didn't stamp a plant identifier in either the serial number or the build code on the firewall. Some did consistently. Some plants also didn't bother to stamp a build code on the firewall either. Some didn't at first but did later in the run.

Our data still looks like lace curtains on 48-50's even after all these years. We're building conclusions about the direction the data is pointing, but it's still just a best guess.

No overlap on any trucks, but it appears that F7/F8 used their own sequential numbering system cause there's nothing higher than 5 digits. Same with some F6's, but not all. Some have the normal 6 digits, but then an obviously later one will only have 5. Confused yet?

On Stu's question of mixed numbers/truck series: "did the digits get assigned in pure number order irrespective of which model was coming down the line that day?" I'd say yes, this is what appears to have happened with 48-50 trucks. I have no clue about 51/52.

 

I finally got my truck home. A closer examination of the plate shows that it is indeed LU. This is confirmed by a plate on the firewall with the same serial number and a stamping on the front of the cab under the vent(under hood )that shows Lu but a different set of numbers. I will post pictures later tonight. The numbers stamped on the body are different then the serial number. I will have to clean them so more before I can make them out. The truck is in better shape then I thought . The door lock works, windows all roll up and down, seat is original and has adjusting handle on it. Gosh! I could ramble on forever but I think I will just post the pictures. Now the question is, "Where to begin?"
Oh, what does the stamping on the cab tell me?

 

Congrats on getting it home Bill. The numbers on the firewall should be different than the serial number and will tell you color, plant, date of assembly and vehicle down the line.

Some plants put more info on them, but not much.

 

I got a couple of hours to play with the F3 today. Now I have one major problem, where the heck do I start. Does anyone remember the word , over whelmed?
Gosh, even with thr rust, the broken window, the dent in the fender, it is a beautiful truck. I think I am in love!