Hello,
I just bought a nicely done F100 but the owner couldn't tell me any information about the truck. He bought it from a friend and had the trucks body restored about twenty years ago, but has not done anything to the engine or transmission other then clean it up. I am trying to find what would have been originally installed in the truck from Ford, like the motor and options (power steering).

I am not sure what i have read is correct or not but based on the information i have found about the Vin Number, the truck was manufactured in Deer-born MI with a Inline 6 motor. I read that the 1954 Year was the first year they installed the 223 6 cylinder, but the information i saw on decoding the Vin number it told me i should have a 215 inline 6. The information i read about the motor was that EBP meant the it was built / installed in the 50s. The numbers 6015 was just a ford number meaning motor block...or something like that.

Questions:
1. I can not find the trucks Vin number (i have it on the Title) or the vehicle identification tag, where would i find it on the truck?
2. The motor is an inline 6 cylinder, with a block ID of EBP-6015-D. What does this motor id number tell me? If the information i read was correct what does the -D mean, is it a plant code? The motor has a sticker on the side of the valve cover that says Ford Mileage Maker 6, is this original markings? How can i tell if its the original motor or correct build year for the year of the truck
3. Where can i get an original (like) vehicle identification tag that will tell me more information like the transmission, rear axle, color code...,? And if i can get this where should it go?
4. Would the truck be worth more if all was original or original build year parts or does it matter?

Thanks for the help

 

Question 1: the vehicle data plate is located on the inside of the glove box door.
Question 3: the vehicle data plate is stamped to reflect the options on the vehicle, there is not an off-the-shelf tag available to match your truck. Should the data tag be missing off the glove box door then a new one can be procured from various sources who will stamp it to match your title.
Question 4: the value of a truck is in the eyes of the beholder. There are folks that only want to have a truck that is original and drives like a 70 year old truck. To them originality matters, but they probably already have at least a couple of trucks in the barn and are not ready to pay the premium to get another original truck. That said, there are always exceptions to any rule. Personally I place more value in drivability/safety on modern roads/freeways.

 

If the above-mentioned data plate is missing from your glove box (Ford called it a dispatch box - for whatever good that is!), then you might also look on the top of the right had frame rail somewhere forward of the front axle. The frames are all supposed to be stamped there with the VIN also. It can sometimes be very faint and hard to read. Cleaning the rail up with some fine sandpaper or scotchbrite and holding a light at an angle sometimes helps.

 

NeeBee, welcome to FTE the best Ford Truck Forum on the world wide Web!

I'll try to answer your questions. Ones I can't help you with lots of other guys will be here to help you. But if you really want to invite us to help you, we need pictures of your truck, interior, exterior, and under the hood!
1. There should be a data plate on the inside of the glove box door. If it is missing you'll have to look on your right frame rail where the data is stamped in.
2. I can't help you with your engine ID with out looking at my books and they are upstairs so I'll leave that one for someone else.
3.a Ford trucks parts place a lot of us guys like called MidFifty sells reproduction data plates. As I said above they were screwed into the glove box door.
4. That is a question that is debated here many times. The general consensus is that if it is a unmolested stock truck in great shape, don't chop it up. I personally like stock or stock looking trucks. Let's see pics of your truck and we'll help you decide.

 

Thanks Guys
I will Post Pictures of the Truck and Motor sometime Tmrw. I just got the truck this past Saturday. I was looking around on the Net to figure out what a good offer/ price to give for the truck but the prices were all over the place and most of the trucks were modified. So now i just want to find out what i have and how original it is.

Thanks.

 

Welcome! I believe you are correct about 1954 being the first year for the 223 cid I6 engine. One way to tell the difference between a 215 cid (1952-3), and a 223 cid is to check the position of the distributor. A 215 cid engine has the distributor located at about the mid point of the engine. On 223 cid engines, the distributor is located more toward the front of the engine.

Here is a picture of a 215 cid engine:




If your engine has the distributor located in a more forward position, your engine is a 223 cid, which would be correct for the 1954 model year.

Jim

 

Welcome Aboard F100NewBee
Look forward to seeing your new to you truck. I wouldn't get to worried about originality unless you want to enter high level Car Shows. Some of the tradeoffs you will encounter are:

o The Original Transmissions have some very low gearing...good for pulling stumps...not good for going over 50mph on highways.

o The Original Brake Master Cylinder was a single chamber design no longer used today for safety reasons. Modern cars have a dual chamber design so you won't lose all braking if you have a leak.

o Seat Belts - You will have to install a modern 3 point belt design if you want one. They didn't come with truck in '54.

o Door Locks - I'm not sure about '54 but our truck only came with
(1) door lock on the passenger side. You are supposed to lock the door & slide out the passenger side. We installed a lock on the driver side.

o Windshield wipers - Our truck only had (1) wiper - vacuum powered
that don't work well going up hills, accelerating, etc. We installed electric wipers & a Passenger side wiper as well.

o Mirrors - The Original Mirrors aren't your friend in crowded city driving... our's were pretty worthless. We changed to better more modern mirrors for safety driving around Austin.

Gas Tanks, Radial tires, Radio, A/C, electric windows, etc...

Good luck over there in NY. Personalize the truck to your wishes
& enjoy driving it.

Ben in Austin
1950 F1

 

Ben, you bring some good points here. But my 54 F100 can cruise at 55-60 mph no problem. If I have to I can get it up to 70ish and I still have the 3.92 rear end. My truck came with electric wipers, maybe his did too.

And I think the original stock mirrors work quite well.
These are stock:


these are not stock originals (and I hear the passenger side mirror is pretty useless):

 

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​​​​​​Thanks Jim, I guess based on that I do have a 223. Do you know what the block numbers mean?

 

First of all, my welcome to you, to FTE forums. Most of your questions can be answered here and I think 1-3 have. You have a nice looking Truck and in my opinion need to go go further. So...... your question 4 concerns me. Are you looking at reselling the truck or using it yourself? That makes a big difference and will determine what you do to it. Only you can answer that. $$ can add up fast and make it impossible to get your money back if resold. Hopefully you will enjoy the Truck and let it tell you which path to follow. Good luck and I look forward to following along

 

I just wanted to add my welcome and say nice ride. That is a beautiful truck.

 

Hey New Bee, congratulations on acquiring a great looking truck! Your engine does seem to be a 223 cid rated at 115 HP--that's up from 101 HP for the 215 cid version of the engine I have in my truck.

Like Abe, I have the 3.92 rear axel ratio, and my truck is able to cruise at highway speeds. I wouldn't want to go just too fast, however, due to my truck's emergency handling characteristics, brakes, and lack of seat belts; but I'm not afraid to take it on an extended trip. It of course doesn't have the comfort and convince features of a modern vehicle (like wipers and a heater) but that's all part of the fun.

What do you have for a transmission? I have the 4 speed non-synchro that requires double clutching or some special know how to shift without using the clutch at all. That is part of the fun too.

I hope you enjoy our forum--Lot's of good people here very willing to help.

Jim

P.S. I don't know about the casting numbers, but someone who does will be along soon.

 

You cannot go by the VIN engine code to decode the size of the engine, because...Ford used the same VIN engine code for the 215 & 223 I-6's.

4th digit of the VIN is the engine code: D = 1951/53 215 I-6 / D = 1954/56 223 I-6.

P/S was not available for these trucks.

And, as far as being all original, it isn't...for one thing...the wheels and hub caps are 1970's "outies." 1953/56 F100's have 'innie' wheels and painted 'innie' hubcaps

Pic: Scroll down to Engine Codes:

 

Well it doesn't say what models , but power steering was offered on 1954 ford truck here is s factory brochure

 

P/S was available as an option for the following, but not for F100/700's: