I can't quite tell from the picture - does your differential have a cover pan that bolts on from the rear or does it bolt together in the middle (right and left halves)?

Great looking truck, whatever it is!

It just doesn't square for me that Ford would use an F3 vin on an F1. Christopher asked about the frame number, but if it's like my 48 it will only have the serial string of numbers and not the vin prefix - which is what we need.

If I remember right, overload springs were a dealer add-on. They're not shown in the shop manual at least.

 

Does the serial number on the frame match the cab plates? I would very much like to see pictures of the ID plates and frame numbers.

 

Joe,

Thanks for filling in some blanks for us. Hope you know we are asking all of these questions becasue we are really interested in what you have there. You something we haven't seen before so we are naturally very curious.

I have come across 2 other F1's with the Y designation. One is a deisassembles F1 that was recently on Ebay. the other one I don't remeber where it came from but it did have matching frame and VIN plates. I seem to remember that we chalked it up to being an oddball. I need to see if it had a stakebody on it. I deo have a note that the model was listed as "WBC" and I don't recall what that means. Perhaps Tim or Christopher will know. Seems to me it made sense at the time.

 

I can't quite tell from the picture - does your differential have a cover pan that bolts on from the rear or does it bolt together in the middle (right and left halves)?

It has a 3.73 standard f-1 rear end (dana41)?

I will try to get pictures on tuesday of vin tags etc..

any more questions?

thanks Joe

 

Well it certainly is a curiosity! I was about to question the ratio of the rearend - as I have with several guys here - then I went and dug out my operator's manual. It shows the std ratio as 3.73 just as you said.

Crazy thing is, I've been going by the shop manual which states std ratio is 3.92. Hoo boy! Looks like I have some apologizing to do.

Joe, does your speedometer have the shift points marked or is it just a plain dial with only the numbers? One other indicator is the number of leaves in the spring packs. F1's have 8 up front and 10 in the rear. F2's and F3's have more. How many spring leaves in your overload packs?

Did you happen to find the serial string on the frame rail when you had it apart? Mine is located on the passenger side, up front near the crossmember. Not stamped very deep, you might have to shine a light across it at an angle to see it. That number is probably more important than the body tags.

I like what you've done with it - much improved since you found it on ebay. Your color scheme is alot cleaner than what it was. When you painted it did you notice color differences between the cab and fenders?

What I'm becoming sure of is: 48 was a crazy year in the Ford assembly plants. I've read that early ones were shipped with 47 style sheetmetal, engines and vins. The current body style first hit the showrooms Jan 16, '48. I'm not sure we'll ever pin it down tight.

Carl, I've never seen a listing for model 'wbc' but Joe's model of 8HC is a std F1 model. If it were an F3 the model should be 8HY. I'm about at a dead end on this one unless as Christopher suggested the cab was swapped by a p.o.

 

Tim,

Regarding the 3.73 gear ratio - I have two F1 rear ends and both are 3.73:1 so I'm pretty certain that is the correct ratio. I have the 49/50/51 manual and it lists the rear ends in the F1's as being 3.73:1 and 4.27:1. Which book do you have that shows the 3.92:1 ratio?

One other item regaridng the 48's, they seem to be the least likely to have any firewall stamping for some reason. I have a 50 F1 cab with no stampings from Highland Park so it's not necessarily unique to the 48's just more common.

Joe,

Any answers you can provide to Tim's quesitons would be a help. Again, not an issue of not believing you. We do. Since you have a unique truck, we want to learn as much about it as possible. We really appreciate your participation and assistance.

Carl

 

Carl, the manual in question is the 1949-50-51 Ford F-series Trucks, Shop Manual with 1952 supplement p. 366 .....part number they show has a 0M prefix so maybe things changed in 50?

My F1 came with the optional 4.27 and I changed it out for a 3.50 9" so I haven't had reason to dig into std ratio rear ends. I know 3.73 was a common flathead ratio thru the 30's/40's.

 

Tim,

Thanks for letting me know about this error in the manual. Mine has the same error. If you look at page 166, they list the correct ratios for the rear ends. The owners manual also lists the correct ratio on page 401.h.

When I pulled my rear end, it still had the tag on it and it read 41/11 which happens to equal 3.73. I also checked by rolling the frame before I pyulled the rear end and counted # of pinion rotations per wheel rotation. It checked out. A spare rear that I got with some parts from BobbyTnm also had the exact same tag on it.

I will note the error in my manual. Again, thanks for pointing it out.

 

Ok
the speedo is standard(no shift points)
the inside of rims 6-48
the vent divider was black now chrome
hope these pictures help
the frame is hard to see numbers
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=100942&.jpg
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=100940&.jpg

any more questions? just ask
Joe

 

Joe,

Thanks for the pictures. They really help. Of course now I'm going to need some help figuring out what branch that is. I have seen Dallas (DAL) and Richmond (RIC) trucks with 3-character branch code before and I haven't seen one with with the first two letters being CC. Any idea what the last character is. It's a good picture so I understand that my guess may be as good as yours. Hopefully Tim can chime in. You've certainly got a unique one.

Again, thanks for indulging us Joe. I really appreciate it. I may be a bit weird but I find this stuff interesting.

 

Sorry, I'm no help on the branch. I usually skip ahead to 51/52 for assembly plants and the only ones with a 'C' are Chester PA (CS) and Chicago (CH)

It is definitely a special case. If I only had the vin I'd assume it was an F3. Only it's not and I'm thoroughly convinced.......I could imagine the guy picking up the wrong stamp, but 3 separate places??

I really don't think the vin has anything to do with it being a stake bed. That would have been indicated by the model number.

Joe, there doesn't happen to be a build sheet stuck up under the seat springs by any chance? I love a good treasure hunt - and this one has been a doozy! Thanks for your patience my friend.
Tim

 

The vin tag on fire wall
the Branch # (CG?)
I cant tell last digit
did you notice the glove tag says F-1
on lower left
and the seat was recovered before I got the truck, so no tag sheet
thanks Joe

 

I noticed the F1 on the Tag. Like Tim said, I can understand some guy picking up the wrong stamp and I agree, it's hard to believe that could happen in all three places. For entertainment purposes, take a look at this shot from Christopher2's gallery. It shows a "re-stamp" on the frame rail. I've never asked Chris about it but I assumed this was a factory oops when I first saw it.

 

year: 1950 F-1

VIN: 97HC-299377

raised panel bed

original bed

light duty 3 speed

floor shift

firewall stamp: B 12 F 301

firewall stencil: 6 5 B the 6 might be a G

 

V8ER,

Thank you very much for the information and welcome to FTE. I hope you are are able to get some photos of your truck posted in your gallery soon. What kind of shape is it in? Is it a runner? Stock 6 cylinder or later model engine? Hot rod or stocker?

- Do you happen to know the original color?
- Any chance it was Sheridan Blue?
- Do you have the small rear window as opposed to the larger rear window on the 51/52's? I suspect you do but there are rumored to be some out there with the larger rear window and as yet we haven't been able to locate any.
- Any chance you have a Branch code on one of your data plates? If yes, can you read the initials. Should be two or three letters. If you have a PA truck, it may be CS which would ahve been the Chester, PA plant.

Thanks,

Carl