yessir Dick it was a 51. The numbers say:
F1 halfton
R 239 V8
1 1951
EG Edgewater NJ assembly plant
27382 serial number assigned to the truck

 

1 - Year truck is registered as (or believed to be) 1949
2 - VIN # (The whole thing) Frame - 98RC179143
Pattent plate - 98RC179143 DAL
3 - Bed - Raised Panel or flat panel - Raised
4 - Is this the original bed - Believe so
5 - Transmission - Gone
6 - Column shift or floor shift- Column
7 - # stamped into the firewall if you have one.- somethings there but haven't figured it out yet...

 

Yes, it's an early 49. V8 halfton built in Dallas Serial number 179143

If you find letters or numbers on the firewall, please post again

Interesting it's a column shift. I didn't think they had column shifts before mid-50.

Thanks

 

I was shocked also about the shifter column too but it was probably someones upgrade. I will post the stamps in the firewall once I figure out what they are...

 

Here is my F1

1 1949
2. 97HC 279708
3. Raised Bed
4. Original bed
5. PO said 3 spd
but it is a 4 spd
6. Floor shift
2
7. Firewall stamp RH FI 20C7630


I titled it today and I am the 3rd owner

 

Thanks. Late 49 or early 50 half-ton six cyl. Depends on state in which it was originally titled. It could have been registered as either. Model year designation switch at that time was calendar year, Jan 1.

firewall:
RH Richmond CA plant
F1 (Ford used the letter I for the number 1)
20C March 20 assembly date
7630 vehicle down the line

 

My latest for the records:
1949 F-1 226 Engine
97HC231205
3 KC11H300
Black paint all over/floor shifter/ one wiper/ raised bed design
title,frame/data plate numbers match
Additional info: on the firewall above the wiring hole to the cab is the number D300 in yellow letters. Also above the data plate on the firewall the number 299 in white letters.
Purchased from granddaughter of orignal owner who lived in Iowa.
The tool tray is in very good condition, as is the jack. Last tags attached were 1958. chuck

 

Thanks for adding it to the list. You know everything the serial number tells. The firewall stamping says it was black (3) built at the KC MO assembly plant on 11 August and vehicle 300 down the line.

Less is known about the painted stenciled numbers on the firewall. Often the the stenciling shows a calendar date such as 8-11-49, but there are almost as many exceptions as there are trucks.

Last plated in 1958! It has to be like a brand new truck - I'm sure a bunch of guys here will be jealous.....

 

I wish it was in great condition, but it must have been a farm truck and spent time parked outdoors after 1958. It has its share of rust. chuck

 

I think i have figured out most of the info in the vin but i dont quite get if it is a 1950 0r a 49? Also, i cant seem to figure out the punched code on the cowel?

This is what i have:

serial: 98rc374020*lb (the * im not understanding)
Stamped on Cowel: LB FN (long beach?? i guess but FN? im not sure)
The 374020 (49 or 50????)

Thanks in advance for your help!

Cheers

Robin

ps First time here GREAT FORUM!!!!!!

 

Hey guys, I'm working with a 49/50 truck. It's titled as a 50.
VIN on firewall 98RD359315 KC
Firewall 4KC2C3280
Glove Box door VIN followed by WBD

I'm interested in where it was built and is it for sure a 50 model? As KC keeps popping up it would lead me to believe it was built in Kansas City, but I didn't think that plant was open in 1950. Anyone have any insight?

 

1950 serial numbers were a continuation of the '49 numbers, so all of them start with 9. Tim, AKA mtflat has the decode info you're looking for. He'll be along shortly.

 

Hi Robin, welcome! The asterisk in the serial number is just a spacer - doesn't mean anything. Some plants used it, most didn't.

LB is Long Beach as you suspected. You might take a closer look at the cowl and see if there are any faint stampings between the letters. I don't have many LB serial #'s with firewall stampings but the ones I have all follow the standard pattern of: paint code, plant, date and vehicle down the line.

Something like 2 LB 15F N

So there should be a letter or number in front of the LB and another number in front of the F. The N could be part of the line number. If you find more please let me know.

What color was your truck originally?

374020 is definitely a 50 - which is why we started this thread. The split between 49 and 50 is somewhere between 280,000 and 300,000 as near as I can tell. Because of the variations in registration processes I don't know if we can ever come closer.

Have fun around here - Tim

 

Hi bluestang65,
Based on your serial number you have a 1950 F2 assembled in Kansas City. As I posted for Robin the 49/50 split is between 280,000 and 300,000 units.

Firewall: 4 color code (what was your truck originally?) KC varied this code
KC - Kansas City was producing trucks in 1948, but I don't know the history of the plant.
2C - assembled March 2, 1950
3280 - vehicle down the line

WBD was model code - I'm looking to find my notes on it, but this will get you going.

edit: It seems model codes for 50 used WB (wheelbase?) D (would be the rating) I've seen WBC for F1, WBD for your F2 and WBTD for my 1 ton. Makes sense to me unless somebody else can shed some light on the subject.

 

The truck was originally green. Everything is green including the firewall, dash, inside doors, etc. Dark green. The firewall has the words "8 cyl" in cursive white paint pen and some other markings.

I did some research on the KC plant. Here's what I found. The Claycomo plant which still produces pickups today was opened in 1951 assembling parts for airplanes and other military equipment. For the 1957 model year, it switched to F100 production.
By contrast, the Kansas City plant was/is at 11 & Winchester a few miles south of the current plant. It opened early in the 20th Century as the first plant Ford opened outside Detroit. The building is still in operation today housing a variety of tenants.

I absolutely love automotive history and I love the process of gathering the data and telling the story. It certainly makes it clear why so much of history is lost forever. Without people digging it up, it just fades away.

What else can you tell me from your research about the Kansas City plant?

It shouldn't surprise me, but the factories listed as responsible for producing the 48/50 model pickups on Wikipedia is all wrong. Based on your research, can you tell me were the 48/50 units were made?