new to forum, found the forum researching a truck i just inherited.
I was told it was a 42 or 43 but not sure. havnt been able to really get into it to check for numbers but it has been sitting in the barn for about 15 years..

 

 

it has the inline 6 motor and all parts seem to be accounted for..
trying to figure out wether to restore or to build rat rod.
any help is greatly appreciated..

 

It could be as new as a 1947 that body style was used from about 1942 to 1947 the hood dose not look right for a 42 but i can,t say for sure .

 

It is either a '42, '46, or '47. Find the serial number on the frame on the drivers side by the steering box... Here is a link to help you out.


Flathead Model ID chart

 

Casper, welcome to the site, great looking truck, so much dust and dirt layers. Your hood makes it look like it could be a '45-'47, since '42 had a chrome die cast emblem on the sides, however, the only true way to know is by the setual number. Clean the top of the driver's frame rail, in the area above steering box to around the I beam, somewhere there will be a stamped number, starting and ending with a star, that's the serial number. Post it and we can pinpoint the year. FYI, no such thing as a '43 half ton, after '42 no half tons unil '45.
Your 6 appears to be a replacement, a '47 and later H series 6.

 

Thank you all for your responses and the warm welcome.. I tried to take pics of the important stuff that could.. the truck is located in a dark dusty barn..

I will be picking the truck up this weekend and I will check the numbers and will be doing some cleaning on it..

I have a pretty good feeling you will be seeing a lot of me from here out as i take on this endevor.

 

Looks like a nice solid start. Can't wait to see pictures of it out in the sunlight,

 

here is the serial I believe.. was not exactly where i thought it would be.

 

here are pics of it when I went to pick it up yesterday.







picked up a 73 Triumph bonneville too... good day.

 

Not the serial number there, that's just the part number of that part of the frame. The serial number will start with a star and end with a star.

 

local hot rod guru just left the house... says that it is military. it didnt have any of the normal serial numbers in the location they should have been in.. he is pretty positive it was 43.. using a 42 frame.

he said it had a military designator plate, but it has been removed. said the blinker controller was military and the front brushgaurd was military.. and it had no windshield wipers. plus the bottom layer of paint was o.d. green.

we pretty much have no choice but to chop it and make it a rat rod.. rust has eaten most of it beyond repair.

 

Brush guard is not military, those were available from a variety of aftermarket places, I have seen several before, probably even available from JC Whitney. No such thing as a 1943 Ford 1/2 ton pickup, in '43 Ford made the 1.5 ton military trucks. As for the blinker, you could pick those up from Pep Boys, not military specific. As for not having wipers, in one of the new pix it looks like it has the wiper post under the driver's side windshield. Driver's side wiper was standard, even military would need them for rain.

 

Removed the bed and front clip today.. working on the cab now..
Found a serial # surrounded by 2 stars.. it was close to the bell housing on top of where the motor meets the trans.
1gc-239889

The only reason I care is because I'm trying to figure out if I should rat rod it or sell it to someone who might want to fully restore it.

I'd just assume rat it out... and if it make no difference that is what I will do.
Thank you all for your help

 

Body is rough real rusty lots of rot.. frame seems solid..
Post pics a little later.