From what I have found , before 1959, if a customer ordered a 4WD truck from Ford they would send a complete new truck to Marmon-Herrington for the conversion. M-H would literally bring the truck in the front of the building, completely dismantle it, modify the frame and install the front axle and transfer case and then reassemble the truck and drive it out the back side of the plant. This may not be exactly how they did it but I am sure Chuck4850 will be along in a short time to give a better explanation and detailed description of the whole process. Chuck restores M-H trucks and has quite few restored examples.

 

Marmon Herrington was a a big all wheel drive truck manufacturer that branched out to convert Ford products to all wheel drive. Up until 1949 you could get any Ford product, roadsters to Regular trucks, converted. They would even convert Regular trucks to six wheel drive. The cars and trucks had a standard rear axle fitted with M-H -designed turning knuckles, and a M-H transfer case. These conversions were a factory-authorized Ford accessory, which meant it was covered by the factory warrenty. The car conversions ended with the 1949 model year, as Ford went to independent front suspension. The truck conversions concluded with the 1958 models, as Ford started offering their own "in house" four wheel drive models. M-H continues to convert heavy trucks to all wheel drive.

You're correct Bob, they were assembled at the factory, then shipped to the M-H facility, where the conversions took place, then to the dealer. After juice brakes were standard, and the transverse leaf springs were dumped, it is my understanding that some kits were purchased by dealers, and possibly customers, and installed outside the M-H facility.

 

http://www.cutsoldtrucks.com/ http://www.dodgepowerwagon.com/class...ster48ford.php
http://www.marmon-herrington.com/history.html

Here are 3 web sites that may help you in identifying your truck. Which quite possibly at one time might have been one of these.
There are plenty more sights on these, but I believe its a step in the right direction, best of luck and let us know what you may have found.

 

MARMON HERRINGTON truck on ebay. It's awesome.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=4599701220

Just wanted to say hi, I recently got a 1949 Ford F-6 Dump Truck, I plan on taking the dump bed off and putting on an extended angled flatbed on it to hual my planned Model A roadsters around.

My Truck:

 

Kevin,
Watson auxillary transmissions were sold by Ford dealers, and truck equipers. They came in kit form, for the specific truck they were to be installed in. They were not installed by Ford.
They are pretty rare today, and are a nice way to ad overdrive to your truck.
CM

 

does that mean brown lipe is part of watson transmissions? Does this mean that people would buy their trucks from ford and then have someone else install the aux transmission

 

Jalopy,

Looks like that '58 M-H is Bigfoot's great-grand-pappy!

Johnny

 

Yes, Watson and Brown Lipe are one and the same. They were installed somewhere other than Ford. Could have been a Ford dealer, a local garage, or a body company.

 

Does anyone know what years will have the same bodyparts as the 1949 F-6?

 

You can use this chart as a reference:

Body Part Interchange Guide

 

I am new to the restoration process; so I will need all the help I can get. I bought a 1949 F6 truck in fairly good condition and I want to know a bit more of what I have bought. I have purchased several books and CD’s to educate myself, but when comparing with the truck some of the illustrations are different and this throws me off.
This is the info I have managed to gather: Model - 9R8TH, 239 V8. The chassis has been reinforced because at one time it was used as a fire department tanker. The rear axle housing has the number 5200 P 458 F stamped on it, and the appearance is very different to the rear axle identification chart on the catalog.
The specifications for this F6 model call for 2 tubular propeller shafts, but my truck has 3 with 2 bearing supports; the specifications call for only one. By the way these supports need changing. Could these changes have taken place when the chassis was reinforced?

 

John, welcome to FTE, you have finally come across the BEST site for info and advise on your truck.
The first bit of advise I can give you is to start a NEW thread about you and your truck, rather than jumping into one that has been dormant for 4 years.
We like pictures here and lots of them, the more pictures of the truck and the specifics you describe, the better information you will get in return.
You mentioned books and CD's but you didn't say which one's you have. The first thing that you should have is the '49-50-51 Ford F series Shop Manual with the '52 supplement. (This is a Red soft cover book available from many of the ford parts houses and also on eBay)
You mention the chassis being reinforced. These trucks were built with a double frame, so pictures of the 'reinforcement' would be appreciated.