I am looking at what is being represented as a 48 F-1. Truck is completely dismantled and has no engine or transmission. The Vin # is as follows:

98RC368186D1

Can anyone tell me anything about the truck based on this VIN #? What engine, where was it built, is it an F-1, is it a 48? which transmission?


Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

What you have is a late 49 or early 50 F-1 with a 239 Flathead V-8. There is no way to get where it was built, what tranny, etc.. out of the vin. You can look at the tranny itself and see what is on the sides of the case of the tranny. They had 3 tranny's available. 3 speed L/D floor shift. 3 speed H/D floor shift and a 4 speed spur gear , floor shift tranny.The rear has either a 3.92 to 1 or a 4.27 to 1 ratio. There's no way to really tell where it was built, but being in Texas. I'd say the Dallas assy plant. 48's had a chrome divider between the vent window and the side window. 49-50 were black. early 48's had the chrome strips on the grille, later ones were painted. These were optional in 49-50. The 48's had the "F-1" emblems in cast metal, 49-52 were stamped stainless steel. look for these telltale signs to help determine the year. I'll bet it's a 50 as that was the highest production year because of the Korean war. People were afraid they wouldn't be able to get new cars and trucks like in WW II.

Barry

50 F-1

 

Hi Texan go to www Bossap.com it will tell you everything you need I hope it will help you out.

 

Gene,

Thanks for the link. I've seen that one before but I think the Decoder they give for 48-52 is only good for the 51-52 model yearss. Looks like a completely different numbering system. Truck grill looks like the 48/49/50 shown on that link. I guess I need to start by taking a look at the things Barry mentioned first. I have the truck, it's totally disassembled and packed away (that was Saturday's chore) but the guy could not produce the title he said he had. Tried to give me a registration renewal as the title so I am little suspicious/concerned at the moment. I have not paid him yet. He is supposed to apply for a lost title. It may be going back at the end of the week if this doesn't get straightened. Another option is to offer a couple of hundered bucks for everything as parts. Then look for something with a title????

It did not come with an engine or transmission. Are the flathead V-8's difficult to find. I did find a flathead 6 with transmission reasonably priced. I was considering purchasng that engine to go into it but I would prefer to install the same type engine that came with the truck. Thanks to those of you who have replied.

 

There are flathead 8's out there, but if you buy one as is, you don't know if they're ok or not. They are noted for cracks between water jackets and cyl walls. You may find some cracks between cyl head bolt holes and water jackets, most are harmless. The ones in the cyl holes are usually able to be fixed by usinging iron tite plugs and drilling and tapping the hole and threading the plugs in. Then you drill halfway into the previous plug. Then re-sleeve the cyl. THe easiest way would be to get a rebuilt one from a reputable engine co. My buddy picked up one for his 50 from someone in Okla. He guarantees them to be good.
I would get the title issue taken care of before you spend $$ for an engine. As for those sites, most just copy the decoder out of the shop manual, which is good for the 51-52 only. The 48-50 is a gray area with minimal info out there. A good book that helps is "Ford pickup Red Book". It has some good info that covers 46-77. Did you look at the reg he had? It would give you a good idea as to the year.
You could put the 6 cyl in, but you would need some parts that are exclusively for the 6 cyl installation. Battery box is on the drivers side on a 6, radiator is different, engine mounting is different.

Barry

50 F-1

 

Thanks for the line on the red book. I will start to look for one. Also appreciate the info on the engine. Registration says it is a 48 but you saw the VIN #. I will let you know what happens.

 

tex, barry has the vin info - in fact I'd lean toward calling it a '50 as high as the number is.

One slim possibility for more info - do you happen to have an alpha-numeric series stamped on the firewall just under the cowl and to the left of the voltage regulator? Some trucks have it and some don't.
Tim

 

Yes, in fact that is the only tag I can find but it is barely legible. I have not yet checked to verify that the #'s match. May try yo do that today. Anywhere else I might Find a number on this thing??

Again, thanks to all of you for your replies. I really do appreciate it.

 

I'm not talking about the data plate under the solenoid. That is the vin.

I was referring to a possible string stamped into the firewall itself. Characters may be 1/2" high and run something like 7RHI2L6025

Your truck should also have a rating plate on the glovebox door. In addition to the vin, it should include model #. The serial number - six digits of the vin are also found on a top frame rail - some on drivers side, some pass side. Shallow stamping fairly small with a star.

 

MTFLAT,

What I have is a business card sized tag rivited to the firewall in the passenger side of the truck cab. I looked at the glove box, and there is no tag or plate there and I saw no indication that there ever was one (like holes from small rivets. The glove box door has been painted over. hiding any sign of what may have ever been there

I have not checked the frame yet for a number and I have not yet looked for the numbers stamped on the the fire wall. Also, where was the solenoid mounted. As I mentioned in a previous post, the truck is 100% disassembled.

Thanks again for the help.

 

The glovebox door plate is on the inside. Open it and it is usually there. It's held on by the 2 screws that hold the door to the hinge and 2 more small sheetmetal type screws on the other edge. The serial number on that should match the plate by the solenoid. it's about the size of a 3x5 inch card. The numbers stamped into the firewall will not match the numbers you have now. They are usually just below the seam that runs horizontally across the firewall. They are a decent size, very hard not to miss. The frame numbers are tough to see from years of rust and scale. You may have to sand the frame with 80 grit to see it. It may start with a star and the numbers.

Barry

50 F-1

 

The glove box door tag is gone. Again the truc is disassembled including the glove box door being removed from the cab but it did come with the truck loose. I looked and do not see a number stamped on the firewall fo the cab. The tag (3x5) on the firewall matches the number on the registration. Frame is covered in plastic and I did not want to undo the covering to look for the number right now. Again thank you all. What number corresponds to a 48? Just curious. I am assuming that part of the VIN# is a sequence #. That's where the 49/50 identification came from. Correct?

 

Yes, a '48 vin would read *88RC 123456* Then Ford used *98RC 123456* for 1949, 1950 and until Sept 15, '51 when they went to a longer more informative vin.

For a 48 - the first 8 is year, second 8R is V8 and the C is 1/2 ton pickup. numbers are production unit number or sequence #.

The tag you are describing is pinned to the firewall above and maybe 6" left of 2 screw holes where the starter relay (solenoid) is mounted for a V8.

quote: "the truck is 100% disassembled" end quote

Sorry, I missed that the first time around - and you weren't kidding. Hope you get to keep the truck and the title stuff works out.

 

MT

Thanks for the explanation. It must be a 49. Registration calls it a 48 and the guy selling it represented it as a 48. Hmmm?? Probably not a big deal.

Also, your description of the plate is exactly correct.

 

My '52 Panel was registered as a '53, but we all know the major body differences. In order to re-register my truck as a '52, I went to the DMV with a Ford Truck Encyclopedia book. It provided an explanation of how to decoded the VIN. I showed it to the clerk at the DMV and then showed her the VIN. A few minutes later she had me fill out a form in which I had to describe how the VIN is decoded. With that form filled out, she was able to change the year on the registration. Just a thought for you when it comes time to register your truck...

Ilya