Hi there! My dad and I have been dealing with FORD trucks for a while and we both have been building/driving our own '56 for the past few years. Today we came across a 48-52 panel (body) that we just couldn't pass up. Over the years we have been looking for parts/info for our trucks we both haven't seen much about panels anywhere. like I said we found just the body, no frame or front end. We are wanting to put it on a newer frame seeing as we don't have one anyway.

I am in need of some help with a few questions I have about them please.

1: Where could I find out the frame dimensions, for the body mount locations and such? Would they be the same as a truck?

2: What would be a relatively easy 2WD frame to put it on?

3: What front ends are interchangeable with these years? Just strictly 48-52 years or anything newer or older that can fit up, mostly for grille choices?
I took down some numbers off of the plate on the firewall but so far I don't think it helps me identifying it at all cause I thinks it's the Patent Plate (or something like that) not the actual VIN plate that is hopefully on it somewhere still, supposedly the glove box?

 

The patent plate has your serial number. First spot is the year, second and thrid is what engine. the forth spot should be a the weight) should be a "C"= F1 the rest is your serial number

 

The serial number I got off the tag is different then what I have been finding to decode it! Unless I have the wrong one but the tag is in mint shape and easy to read. this is the serial# without the last 5 digits (Bda82ahp-#####) does that look normal?

 

It looks normal for being a 1952 Canadian Ford panel truck.

 

THANKS VERY MUCH Moe Craig! My phone didn't load the images the first time, thanks again!

 

52 Canadian Panel truck is definitely a rare beast. However, without the Mercury badging, it's just an ordinary Panel truck.

Good luck on your build and let us know how the process goes.

 

Very cool it a Merc, I would try to find a Merc badging and make it look like a Merc panel... Did you get a title for it too? Get your paper work in order before you get started... We love our truck **** so we need pics...

 

I asume thats cause you have a 52 Mercury as well then 52 Merc? LOL I'm having a hard time decoding my vin number. Where is a site or something to figure it out? Could you point me in the right direction? Please!

 

Sadly I didn't have any way to take a photo when I was first there.
But I have talked my dad into trying to pick it up this weekend. I'll take some pictures then and put some up.
So far all we have gone on is a hand shake to get the truck, we'll deal with all the paper work when we get there.
And we're definitely going to make it back into a badged Mercury for sure.
We'll have to find out more options about a frame to put it on before we get too far into it just yet.

 

Well, yes, I do have a 52 Mercury truck. That's it there in my avatar. But in case I wasn't clear, your panel is not a Mercury, it is a standard Ford.

Your vin decodes as;

BD=Ford F-1
A=Conventional (not COE)
82=Panel body style
A=standard trim level (not deluxe cab)
H=built at home office (Windsor, Ont)
P=1952
finally, your consecutive unit number.

I'm assuming you found these numbers, along with some others, on a tag screwed onto the upper-center of the firewall, under the hood? There should also be a smaller, square tag by the passenger side hood hinge. If you wouldn't mind jotting all the other numbers down and PM'ing them to me for my records, I'd appreciate it.

 

One of the question in your first post was about front clips on these trucks. '48-50 are the same, '51-52 are basically the same with a few minor trim changes. You can mount an entire front clip from either series on the panel truck body but you can't mix and match parts from the two different styles. Parts from one to the other will not interchange. I've a few trucks with the hoods swapped but that entails reworking the way the hood latches which isn't easy.

The frame from a pickup from the vintage Ford will fit under the panel. The frames are a bit different. The pickup has three running board brackets on each side, the panel has two and they are little longer. The panel truck running board brackets are the same as the flat bed trucks because they use the same running boards as the flatbed trucks. The panel truck frame also has extender at the rear to mount the rear bumper. The panel truck body uses the same floor pans, from under the seat forward, as the conventional cabbed trucks. The trucks are the same from the dash forward. I have a pickup chassis under my '48 panel truck.

One of the hardest things to do is swap a modern frame under one of these trucks and there have been numerous post about this. Most responses have been negative toward do this. It would be a lot easier to find a stock frame, they're still out there. Usually they are the last part remaining after the rest of the truck has rotted away or has been stripped of parts.

The page might help:

Body Part Interchange Guide

 

Sorry LOL I got a little excited just thinking that it could have been a Merc. I'm still excited LOTS, it seems like this week is never going to end just to go pick the body up! Thanks for the break down 52 Merc.

I'm definitely going to be getting the 52 front clip, however long it takes to find a decent one around here. and if along the way we find a frame we'll put that in too. I'm just researching for different options right now. and speaking of rust thats what I'm really worried about. It has been sitting on a few boards off the ground for who knows how long but we couldn't lift it up or see underneath it that much at all. Just from where we could see on the top side of it, all the corners and all the sheet metal have VERY LITTLE surface rust on them, and even the wood on the inside looks like it just needs a quick sand and stain. I still have my fingers crossed to see whats underneath. All I can do is wait soo far tho!

 

As Bob suggested, your panel will best fit on it's own, specific 48-52 chassis. Finding a 51 or 52 pickup you can part out the body on, then install your panel body with the pickup front clip and assorted trim parts will be your easiest and cheapest route to getting it back together and drivable.

 

Finally back to the shop!!!

Got to use a brand new $200,000 unit to move a $100 tub of metal! LOL


Quick air clean before going into the garage




Chopped out for some reason, but it's still there to be welded back in. Does anyone know what the dial/**** above the cluster is for?


Decent shape still. But the radio was ripped out.


The pile of stuff I found in one of the fender wells. Someone really liked bubble gum and Lick-a-Maid.


The match box car with it.

 

I'm really certain I know the answer to this already but I have to ask anyways. Did any of the panels trucks come stock with the additional windows behind the doors like this? We haven't decided what we are going to do about them yet.