Does anyone know the differences between a 1947 F1 cab and a 1948 cab F!? I think there are ridges at the rear of the 47 behind the box area. Help is appreciated. Thanks

 

Completely different design. The only body part that is the same is the bed (less fenders).

 

Thanks I am having this conversation with a guy who said 47 was the same as 48. Anyway thanks a lot

 

Its a common misconception because Ford split the car model year between 48 and 49. We're continually educating them that the trucks got the new engine and styling more than 6 months and a whole model year before the cars.

 

My grandad has a '47 sitting right next to my '48. To be completely accurate the '47 (and all previous) is a CAR body cab and nose clip attached to a bed, and they did not have model designations like F1. They were called 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton and tonner. 1948 is the first year of the all truck body line (called bonus built trucks), and was the first year to get model designations F1 (1/2 ton model), F2 (3/4 ton), etc.

A real easy way to quick ID the cab beyond the massive differences in grill teeth (horizontal verus vertical) is the windshield. '47 has a split windshield, '48 has 1 piece flat. In my garage there are pics of a nearly original 48 F1, and if you really need I can get you pics of an original '47 3/4 ton. (body wise it is original to restored as original, mechanically it has a 9" rear end with much lower gears but otherwise stock)

Now all that said, his bed will fit on my frame, and vice versa. His rear light & license plate bracket is identical to what I should have had (I didn't get any from the PO).
There is a lot that is still very similar mechanically.

As far as the ridges go, in 1948, some plants (i.e. ohio) did put ridges, some did not (i.e. detroit). One serial number apart you might have the two different styles - both styles were called F1, both got 1948 vin, etc. (I do not know which plants put ridges and which did not - don't hold me on those, that's an example... but I do know it was based on plants for part of the year)

 

Do the early 48 F1 cab have three vertical ribs on the rear of the cab below window where the box meets the cab??? Did Ford smooth them out for 1949 , if you know?

 

No. I had to sit and think but my 49 and my 50 (and I'd imagine even the 51-52's) have them.

 

Same goes for the 48-50 hoods. Some got raised ridges on the sides of the hood where the moldings would attach and some were smooth. Ford didn't have too much consistency between the plants. As long as the vehicle rolled off the assembly line, Ford was happy.

 

Depends entirely on the plant they came from - mine for example does not have ribs it is completely smooth. (I've been all through the title and serial numbers - it is a F1, and has never been a mish mash of F1 with a F2 cab on it or anything wierd. The bed 6 1/2 foot stakebed was replaced with a 7 1/2 foot aftermarket non-ford script stakebed but that is the only part that is "wrong model".

I don't know enough about '49 t o speak of those. I believe a few people here have said they have ribs, and a few have said not - might search threads for "ribs" and see what comes up.

 

The original cab on my '49 F-2 had the ribs. Cabs are all the same for all models.

 

Interesting about the ribs and the different factories. Makes perfect sense considering one place might have had the press while the others did not. It's a very minute detail, but interesting nontheless. Like I said, both of mine have the ribs (I even pulled up an old photo to be sure). The 49 is a Louisville truck. The 50 is a Norfolk truck. Kind of reminds me of the day when a bunch of us realized there is a missing horizontal crossmember on the inside of the 51-52 cabs around the rear glass as compared to the 48-50's. Doesn't mean a thing, but it's still interesting.

 

Three-rib models are highly sought after and much more valuable than the smooth cabs....

 

Would you care to elaborate on your 'complete accuracy'? While the 42-47 trucks shared the same cab with the 40-41's, the rest of the truck, including the chassis, is completely different. There is nothing car related with any of it. It is true the 40-41's 1/2 tons did share the chassis design with the car line, the cab was not related to the cars, and even though they may look the same, the fenders, hood, grille, and trim are unique to the pickup. And in either case, none of the front sheet metal is attached in any manner to the bed.

 

Seriously? Or are you just pullin my internet cable?

 

"Three-rib models are highly sought after and much more valuable than the smooth cabs...."



Even more sought after than the '56!

That gets me to thinking. Does anyone with an F-1 have their roof/cowl to lower cab seams filled with lead? This is the area right near the top of the door on the back and then at the seam on the cowl. My '41 is filled but the '52 isn't. Wondering if that could be a factory thing too?

If you need any clarification I have a '41 1-ton express delivery and a 52 F-1. The main way to tell them apart is the split windshield as stated earlier and then there is a raised ridge along the side that goes around the back. The '40-'47 dash is also flat with a rectangular gauge cluster and glove box door (see gallery).