Thanks NumberDummy - Maybe some help figuring this out ? My VIN (F25V5K) says it was built in Kansas City, KS. It shows an X color but it also has (**) in the DSO Code box. I can find nothing about the DSO code other than it means Domestic Special Order. Is there anywhere I can find more on that? I found the piant color off this web page......

1955 Ford Paint Color Codes - Ford Paint Cross-Reference

It shows the X color as Regatta Blue #MO522. And if ya click on the word Regatta it takes you to ...
Paint Color Codes - Regatta Paint Cross-Reference
where I found it says the Regatta Blue was on a Fairlane in '55.

I do know that the Internet is always100% correct - Is there somewhere I can go that I can trust?
Thanks again

 

Does anyone have any info on reading/deciphering the Production Codes? What do all the #'s mean? FOund out mine was what my mom called a "Camper Special" Does that mean anything to anyone? There is a plug-in type connector behind the drivers door. Any Help?

 

Thanks again for your help.
Now another quirk in my quest. I have a book titled "Catalog of Ford Truck ID Numbers 1946-1972" PUt out by Cars&Parts Magazine published in 1992. It has a lot of the same info aobut the VIN as I find on-line> But the big question I have now is that in the front in the "How to Use This Catalog" page it describes all the codes on the VIN Plate. It says that DSO stands for District Service Order but I have seen other places it stands for "Domestic Special Order" Which is it? Also where can I find info about the Production Code. Can that tell me more about my truck?

 

The DSO for these years is called a "Domestic Special Order." There isn't a "Camper Special" series truck for these years. The 239 Y-block will be the second generation of the small y's, and will have the same cam journals as the later Y-blocks ('54 is a lonely year for 239 Y-blocks). The fender opening depends on the tires equipped to the truck originally. if they were 16s, they will be the same as the F-100, if 17s, they will be larger. All rear fenders are the same. The long bed is what was available, and there were '56 F-100s with a long bed, but no short bed F-250's. All parts for the F-100 will fit the 250, except for the brake shoes, and such like that. The 100 had a Dana 44, the 250 was supposed to be a smaller split housing Timken like the 350, until the 9", and Dana 60 became available later.

Just a few sources for parts, but these all sell reproduction parts, and not NOS parts. These all have F-250, and even some F-350 parts available. Concours ships fast, great customer service, as well as Mid-Fifty. LMC has gotten a bad reputation, but I just spent over $1500 with them, and most parts were from the same suppliers as all other places (mostly Dennis-Carpenter), and I was pleasantly surprised, and they offer free shipping on orders over $1000. Macs is a bit slow on shipping, but has a ton of hard to find correctly reproduced parts that most others don't offer. I've not purchased from little dearborn, but they have a decent selection and a personal experience when you call.

www.concoursparts.com
www.lmctruck.com
www.midfifty.com
www.macsautoparts.com
www.littledearborn.com

 

Really look forward to seeing that truck reach completion. Glad to be of help.

Rob

 

Rob....I really appreciated the drawings and tips on the longbed. I will be sending George.....the original builder of ''earl'' pics first, and then someday soon here.

 

Sounds good.

If folks are relatively new to FTE and looking for F-250 info, check out "Earl's World".

http://earl.clubfte.com/

It's a very good read documenting George Hartman's work on his F-250 truck from 1998 to 2006 or so. George was "Earl" on FTE and a local mini celebrity until poor health prompted him to turn the truck over to someone else for completion. Walford's 56 has the truck now and is finishing that project.

 

Everything on the '55 F-250 from the cab forward is pretty much the same as the F-100, except the fenders as mentioned earlier and the brake drums and shoes. The spindles are the same as are the king pins. The F-100 disc conversion will fit the F-250 spindles, but you have to go the the smaller five lug disc. The bed is longer, wider and taller than the short bed F-100. They currently do not repop parts for this bed. The running boards are longer on the F-250. I have found that the guy from Flashback F-100's (Tom is a wealth of information and might even have some used parts for the F-250. Also, Rod from Hot Rod's is great to deal with. Bruce Horkey has a '55 F-250 and also has some used parts available. I found on my '55 F-250 that the bed parts were the most difficult things to get. The rear sill is wider and is not repopped. I was lucky enought to find the previous owner of my truck and he had extra parts. He had a set of original wheels and a set of hub caps that fit the 16 inch wheels. Good luck and keep asking questions. You can pm me if you want for pics or anything else.

 

That information is outdated. The 250, and 350 beds are currently being reproduced, and are available. Also, the front fenders can be the same as F-100, IF the 250 has 16 wheels.

 

Who is repopping the beds?

 

I'm not sure who the vendor is, but Mid-Fifty, LMC, and most others are listing them currently, as well as the options of the inner tubs for the350, and the 4 stake pockets. They are not much more than than the 100 beds in cost. This was particularly of interest to me, because my fathers truck is a 350 express, and the bed is very, very rough. They are not doing front fenders, but the rears are the same on all sizes. They are not doing the emblems either.

 

longbed wood is sold by bigbucks on epay. Also mid fifties does sell the longbed and express kits as WMJOE mentioned.
In time.....and the rear sill crossmember and the other 5 crossmembers are also repopped , and sold currently by mid-fifties. Sy is great to deal with and ship fast.