Well,

After many months of ownership I was working on getting the horn operational. In removing the horn for repair, curiosity got the best of me and I started sanding down the frame to find the VIN.

Now the prior owner thought it was a 46, it is registered as a 46, so heck it's a 46. Not so fast.

To my surprise the VIN read, *799T-1660994*

Guess I got me a 1947 tonner!

Now I have to change my user name, rats.



Craig

 

I think you had it right in the first place. A tonner would be Y

 

Ah, yes. Got me.

Still got a 47, right

 

The sequence number to the right of the dash determines the year. I don't have that chart. Someone will jump in here with that. I've got my money on 47.

 

Hard to say on the truck size. I have a half ton marked with a "Y" in the serial number.
Measure between the hubs to make sure. 114" is the half ton.

 

Ok,

Still learning a lot about this old truck. I got my information from the below data. But, it looks like the year are the first 3 digits? 799 prefix seems to be a 47.


Tech Tip - Ford V-8 Serial Numbers


FRAME AND ENGINE SERIAL NUMBERS


There is usually no engine number stamped in the block, but the transmission bell housing was factory stamped with a number which, when the car was assembled, becomes the vehicle serial number.

The frame numbers which match the engine (transmission) number is usually stamped in three places on the top surface of the left-hand frame rail (front, center and rear). The only number which can be seen with the body mounted is the front number. The prefix was usually omitted from the center and rear frame numbers.

For Ford cars, the frame numbers started in 1932 with *18-1* (* being a star) and ran consecutive until the end of production in February, 1942. Mercury production began in 1938 with '39 models at *99A-1* and continued sequentially to the end of production in 1942.

Post war production began in 1945 ('46 models) continuing the Mercury sequence (*99A-etc-.*) for both Fords and Mercurys. This is due to the fact that the same 100hp 239 cubic inch engine was used in Fords and in Mercurys. The sequence continued to the end of production in 1948, the only changes being in the 1947 prefix (799A) and in the 1948 prefix (899A).

The year end cut off numbers are only approximate as some assembly plants could have engines left over from the previous model year that would be assembled into cars for the next model year. The reverse situation could also occur.

This information was compiled from various sources and we wish to thank the Ford archives as well as each of the V-8 times advisors for their assistance. The data is as accurate as we have available at this time. If time proves that some of the information is incorrect or omitted, we apologize. If you are aware of new or conflicting facts, please email us.

APPROXIMATE YEAR END SERIAL NUMBERS BY YEAR

FORD, 221 CID V-8

....................................START......... ......................................FINISH

............1932................18-1................................................. ....18-203,126
............1933................18-203,127..........................................1 8-457,477
............1934................18-457,478..........................................1 8-1,234,356
............1935................18-1,234,357.......................................18-2,207,110
............1936................18-2,207,111.......................................18-3,331,856
............1937................18-3,331,857.......................................18-4,186,447
............1938................18-4,186,448.......................................18-4,661,000
............1939................18-4,661,001.......................................18-5,210,700
............1940................18-5,210,701.......................................18-5,896,294
............1941................18-5,896,295.......................................18-6,769,035
............1942................18-6,769,036.......................................18-6,925,898


MERCURY & FORD
239 CID V-8

............1939................99A-1................................................. 99A-101700
............1940................99A-101701.......................................99A-257100
............1941................99A-257101.......................................99A-446700
............1942................99A-446701.......................................99A-539426

WWII PRODUCTION

............1946................99A-650280.......................................99A-1412707
............1947................99A-1412708...................................799A-2002282
............1948................799A-2002283.................................899A-2374315

NOTE: It has come to our attention that there may have been serial numbers beginning with 699 for 1946 vehicles, instead of 99 as listed above.

ALSO, For 1942-1947 Pickups, a letter after the first numbers indicate the size truck: C = 1/2 ton, Y = 1 ton, T = 1 1/2 ton



60 HP PRODUCTION
1937 started with 54-6602
1938 started with 54-358,335
1939 continued from 1938 to 54-506,500
1940 54-506,500 to the end.

There are other number sequences for 4 CYL 32-34, 4 CYL 41-42, 6 CYL 41-48. Some early 1933 model V-8'S used a "40" prefix.

Contributed by Dan Krehbiel, CA

 

Thanks,

Measured between the hubs, rough number is around 136ish. Frame is double channel part of the way back.

Still learning, a lot here so bear with me.

 

1412708 looks like the first number for 1947. It looks like your truck is in the mid point.
Also, none of the tonners had duel wheels. It looks like your truck has a nice rust free frame!

 

Thanks for helping me out. Still learning the jargon. Just thought tonner was all inclusive of the bigger trucks.

So what is a 1.5 or 2 ton called?

 

We always called them a 2 ton coupe

 

I have seen 1 1/2 Ton, Ton and a half, Two ton, Two Tonner.

 

OMG

I am in TONNER hell!

 

if its a 1947 serial # could it of been sold in late 1946? and just registered as a 1947 model? i have a 1943 ford GTB (burma Jeep) that shows on the title that its a 1955 model, i know what happened there! it was surplused out of military service in 1955. and dmv for some reason recorded that it was a 1955 model. and the moral of the story is that it depends on whos working at the dmv office that day