OK, for the build date, plant and color you need to look for the stampings in the firewall. They were not all stamped in the same location, sometimes it varied depending on which plant.





Patent plate pass side firewall note plant indicated on the right side (branch)





Firewall stamping





Serial number location on the frame


Frame Serial Number

 

Hello all, I have a "49" that is badged as an F3.
The firewall has 7H*172099* RIC
The glove box is 97HD 172099 model 9HD with a GVW of 5700
The rims are one piece 17 inch
The trans is 4 speed
The engine is a 6 cyl # 7HA 6015 B
The bed is 8 feet
The rear axel is double cone at the rims


My question is, is it an F2 with upgrades or an F3 with the wrong glove box plate?
I am pretty sure it is original and that I am the second owner.
It came out of Northern Ca.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Kevin

 

The FIRST question ... what is the serial number stamped in the frame?

Both f2 & F3 had 8' box

If you have 17" wheels, they are NOT one piece, they are widowmakers.
F2 came with 8 lug 16" wheels, F3 came with 8 lug 17" wheels.

 

The rims are 8 lug 17"
They are not the common split rims and have a standard 8 lug center disc.
They do seem to be two piece when viewed from the backside.
The frame # is; 97H 172099
Kevin

 

The widow makers are not a split ring rim, they actually split in the middle of the rim under the wide band.



Check the size of the rear brake drums
F2 would have a 12" dia. drum
F3 would be 14"

 

We've seen several model stamping errors on F2/3 trucks over the years. More common on the earlier models. I'd say you have an F3 that has F2 tags, which may have confused the stamp guy when he saw F3 specs, and put a * where the letter was supposed to go. Stranger things have been known to happen.

RIC is the code for Richmond, CA, assembly.

 

Thank you for that.
I don't think the truck has been out of California. It came with the registration papers up til they changed from having them visible on the steering column in the 60's.
Registration was always same owner and address in Arcata, Ca.

 

I've been searching for 5 days! I need to know before tomorrow
is this vin a 1949 or 1950 ford pick up?
*98RC*362383*RIC* - NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW--YIKES!
in the glove it also says "series F! model 9RC. The gentlemen said, the transmission
is on the floor and original, yet the bed is wood. please help me, i am exhausted lol

 

please help me, Ive tried for 5 days to determine is this ford pick up is a 1949 or 1950
*98RC*362383*RIC* IN THE GLOVE-BOX NOT AFFIXED THERE IS A LABEL WITH THE
VIN ABOVE MINUS THE *RIC* THAT SAYS SERIES F1 MODEL 9RC.
PLEASE HELP WHICH YEAR IS THIS PICK UP, THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT ON THE COLUMN AND THE BED IS WOOD

 

It's a 1950. The RIC is not part of the VIN, it's the code for Richmond, CA assembly plant. The cutoff between 1949 and 1950 for the Richmond plant is right around 300,000. 362,383 is well past that. It may have been built in late spring/early summer, 1950. There are other folks who have maintained the records more closely and could get you a closer build date, if they happen to pop in and see this.

Only the light duty 3 speed transmission application received the remote, column shifter later in the year. Optional HD 3 speeds and 4 speeds all used the floor shift. All we can tell from the serial number is the year (1950) engine 8R (V8) F1 model (C) and the consecutive unit number.

Hope this helps.

 

What we can tell you for sure is that the Patent plate and the Rating plate match. Keep in mind that these are easily and often removed and switched. Now if you check the passenger side frame rail, near the motor mount and find the same serial number stamped in the frame, you have a correct truck.

 

Hi:

My guess is that this is an early 1950. From my recollection the 1949 cut off at around 250000 (98RC250001) is an early 1950
I believe they all had metal beds originally if Im not mistaken. Most aftermarket beds are wood as it is a far easier and better looking install. I put aftermarket metal beds in my last 3 truck builds
Thanks
Brad

 

well I was just today able to find the transmission stamp VIN under a lot of paint and it does match. It has an HT in it. I guess they weren't careful in the plant on the stampings....

 

I posted the trans stamp for VIN and it matched the title, it had a HT in it. But still doesn't help me understand location of plant, etc... Thanx.

 

Well I think that stamp on the tranny would indicate a very early 48, as was mentioned before. The older models had the serial number stamped on the bell or transmission. I'm sure it was mentioned somewhere before, but the plant code, color and build date was stamped directly on the firewall.