Engine Identification Location
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 124
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From: Greensboro
Engine Identification Location
I have a 1948 f1 , the title say 1948, but it has a 8BA flathead in it, been told that the 8BA is a 1949 engine, unless Ford put some 8BA in the 48 at the end of 1948. So would like to know if I can find out where the engine numbers are located, so I can find out if the previous owner replace the 59A with a 8BA, or it is a 1948 with a 8BA , or the truck is a 1949 or 1950 ? Thanks f1butcher
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 16,201
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From: Burbank, WA
If your serial number starts with 8, your truck is a 48. If it starts with 9, it's a 49 or 50. We'd need to know the complete number to know which.
Like Ross said, all US production trucks 48 and later came with the 8BA flathead. Some heads were marked 8RT, but the engine is basically the same for both 8BA and 8RT. The serial number was not stamped on the engines of these trucks, so there's no real way to know if the engine is original or had been swapped out over time. As engines were routinely replaced when they wore out after about 70,000-90,000 miles back then (if the truck was still in one piece), it would not be unusual for it to be a replacement engine.
Like Ross said, all US production trucks 48 and later came with the 8BA flathead. Some heads were marked 8RT, but the engine is basically the same for both 8BA and 8RT. The serial number was not stamped on the engines of these trucks, so there's no real way to know if the engine is original or had been swapped out over time. As engines were routinely replaced when they wore out after about 70,000-90,000 miles back then (if the truck was still in one piece), it would not be unusual for it to be a replacement engine.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,782
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From: Kalispell, MT
Check for a patent data plate on the firewall, the rating plate on the glovebox door and the top of the passenger side frame rail in the vicinity of the motor mount cross member. All are stamped with the same number. Frame rail number can be hard to see. You may need to scrub the rail with fine steel wool to clean off rust and dirt.
Serial number prefix will show a hollow star followed by 88RC or 87HC for a 48 truck. 98RC or 97HC for a 49 or 50 truck. Then, 5 or 6 digits and followed by another hollow star.
The posts you got above are right on target. 1948 trucks hit the showroom floors Jan 16, 1948 with the new 8BA/8RT engine. Cars didn't get the new engine until that summer with the 1949 model year.
Car guys can't believe that trucks got the new power plant first.....
It is possible physically to swap in a 59AB as the mounting surfaces are the same.
Serial number prefix will show a hollow star followed by 88RC or 87HC for a 48 truck. 98RC or 97HC for a 49 or 50 truck. Then, 5 or 6 digits and followed by another hollow star.
The posts you got above are right on target. 1948 trucks hit the showroom floors Jan 16, 1948 with the new 8BA/8RT engine. Cars didn't get the new engine until that summer with the 1949 model year.
Car guys can't believe that trucks got the new power plant first.....
It is possible physically to swap in a 59AB as the mounting surfaces are the same.
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