Differences between '51 and '52

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Mar 31, 2005 | 10:24 AM

91Bear

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Differences between '51 and '52

Did the 1951 Ford look like the 1950 or 1952 trucks? Was the 1952 a one year only look?

Mar 31, 2005 | 11:00 AM

Scott123

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From: Augusta, ME

51 and 52 were practically identical as far as looks go. About the only noticeable differences are in hood trim. The 52 had a circular badge over the center trim strips on the side of the hood running front to back. The hood nose piece is different, and I think the V8 emblem just below the hood latch was different, 52 may have just had FORD spelled out, not sure about that. Mechanically they are the same too, maybe a few small differences. I know the shop manual for 49-51 has a 52 supplement, so there must have been some difference in there.

51 and 52 look the same, 48-50 look the same but compared to 51-52, they have different grills, front of the fenders and lower fender extentions look different, rear window is smaller, dash is different, bedsides different, among other things.

Scott

Mar 31, 2005 | 11:50 AM

barry

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From: Connecticut

52 did have the FORD letters on the nose, 51 did not. As Scott said, 52 had the badges and 51 did not. 48-50 are in thier own group, but have the same physical shape and share the same mechanics as the 51-52. 52 was the first year for a OHV 6 cyl engine in the light duty F series.

Barry

50 F-1

Mar 31, 2005 | 02:12 PM

51PanelMan

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From: San Jose, CA

Here are the differences.

1951:
-3 "nostril" hood emblem in the front
-hood side mouldings are tapered at one end and squared at the other end
-hood side moulding have "FORD" and truck model (F1-F8 and Big Job for bigger
trucks) stamped into the mouldings
-top panel between the front fenders had a "V8" insignia for a V8 engine and
no insignia for a 6 cylinder

1952:
-2 "nostril" hood emblem in the front
-"V8" emblem on the nostril for V8 engines and a different crest for a 6
cylinder engine
-hood side mouldings are tapered at both ends with "FORD" stamped in and a
round trim denoting the truck model (F1-F8) attached over the trim towards
the front
-top panel between the front fenders has "FORD" letters like on '48-'50 model
years

That is the quickest way to tell them apart.

Here are pictures of both of my trucks. The red one is a '51 and the green one is a '52. Note that the circular trim isn't attached when the picture was taken. I have since attached it.

Ilya

Mar 31, 2005 | 02:34 PM

barry

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Maybe a chart should be made up for all the years and put on here as a "sticky". That might eliminate so many repetative posts. They could just read the info there. I know that's a big undertaking and I'm NOT volunteering for that job! LOL!!

Barry

Mar 31, 2005 | 03:59 PM

91Bear

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Sorry for the repetition. I am a relatively new member.

Mar 31, 2005 | 04:19 PM

51PanelMan

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From: San Jose, CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry

I'LL DO IT!

Most of the parts books for Bonus Built trucks have a diagram of front clips explaining the differences between the '48-'50 and '51-'52 trucks.

This will give me an excuse to take pictures of my Panels. I'll also scan in the diagram from the parts manual.

Ilya