Appreciate the contribution. Here is the breakdown:

9 = 1949 or 1950 Model Year
8R = 239 c.i.d. Flathead V8
Y = F3, 3/4 ton heavy duty, 122" wheelbase
222614 = Vin sequence Number. This one is definitely a 1949 and was probably built sometime during the summer of 1949. More on that in a bit.
HP = Highland Park, MI assembly plant

VIN # 97HT 222602 is an F6 that was built in St. Paul, MN on 7/21/1949. Only 12 off from yours. Truck was purchased new from M.J, Mcquire Ford in Rugby, ND

Vin # 98RC 229684 is an F1 that was built in Norfolk, Va on 8/16/1949. It belongs to FTE member 49 F1.

Safe bet yours was built in the summer of 1949. Post some photos. woulde be great to see how your restoration turned out.

 

Carl, Tim and everyone,

I'm new to the forum and thought I would share my truck information:

1 - Year truck is registered as (or believed to be)

1948

2 - VIN # (The whole thing including the 98RC, 98RD, etc.)

88RC 43131

3 - Bed - Raised Panel or flat panel

Raised Panel

4 - Is this the original bed

Yes

5 - Transmission

3 Speed

6 - Column shift or floor shift

Floor shift

7 - # stamped into the firewall if you have one.

SP18E 2112A 5130

I just got this truck and am in the process of deciding what to do with it (restore or modernize). The VIN is stamped on the glovebox door and also on the passenger-side frame. From what I have deciphered from this thread, that makes it a 1948 F-1 with V-8 engine. As near as I can tell the truck has all original equipment - engine, transmission, etc.

The firewall stamping is very legible, but about all I can decode is that it was made in St. Paul on May 18, 1948. The original paint appears to be vermillion on the outside and meadow green inside the cab. Any further decoding would be greatly appreciated.

The truck is in pretty good shape for a 59 year old. I would also appreciate any advice as to whether to restore or modernize. I bought it to modernize and be my daily ride, but after looking at how good of shape it is in, it might be more appropriate to restore.

Thanks in advance for any comments and/or advice.

Tom
in Louisville

 

Hi Tom, welcome to FTE. It looks like you've got your stuff figured out. Customize or restore? Flip a coin - you're the only one that can tell what's best.

IMHO, if you want to drive it very much, upgrades just make sense. If it's only for parades and an occasional summer drive then total stock is awesome.


Another update - confusion reigns.

The data tag on the firewall appears to be original and is clearly stamped 88RT 22117 and the title matches. However I dug thru the crud to find the vin on the driver's side frame rail and it says 88RT 32117 ??? Thought I misread it until I checked the tranny half-bell and it also says 32117.

So I have 2 vins on the same truck with 2 sources for each.

Also this truck didn't spend its life in North Dakota - I found registration stickers in the bottom of the glovebox for Minnesota. Still nothing on the firewall - could be a SP truck I 'spose.

I'm back up and running computer-wise. Still trying to salvage data on the old hard drive...........

 

Tim,

I found one down here last year sometime that had the same thing. One digit discrepenacy between the firewall tag and the frame stamping. On that one, I believe that the glove box tag matched the firewall tag so that was the number I used.

Tom,

Agreed, it look like you got it figured out except that I have one question. The early SP firewall stampings I have were formatted like this:

SP XXM DDYYYYYYY ...

SP = Saint PAul
XX = color code (most everywhere else the color code proceeds the Assmbly Plant)
M = Month
DD = day of the month
YYYYYY = Other stuff

Any chance that the 18 you read after the SP could be 16. That would make the original color of the truck Chrome Yellow. Sound right??? If so, I'd say your truck was actually built on May 21, 1948. I guess I'd like to know what color your truck was originally if you know.

Thanks,

Carl g.

 

Carl G said:

Tom,

Agreed, it look like you got it figured out except that I have one question. The early SP firewall stampings I have were formatted like this:

SP XXM DDYYYYYYY ...

SP = Saint PAul
XX = color code (most everywhere else the color code proceeds the Assmbly Plant)
M = Month
DD = day of the month
YYYYYY = Other stuff

Any chance that the 18 you read after the SP could be 16. That would make the original color of the truck Chrome Yellow. Sound right??? If so, I'd say your truck was actually built on May 21, 1948. I guess I'd like to know what color your truck was originally if you know.

Thanks,

Carl g.

Carl,

A picture is worth a thousand words:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=153417&.jpg[/img]

The green paint in the background is the original color (I bvelieve)

Tom

 

Tom,

Your original truck color certainly looks to be Meadow Green. Useful information. Apprecaite it and the photo.

 

97HC298906
Truck was a Cab-Frame shell.
Appears to have been a floor-shift
All other parts from a different truck/trucks.

 

Can anyone tell me where the location of the vin is for my 48 to 50 F6 COE would be? thanks Chad

 

I suspect the locations would be the same as on any other Bonusbuilt. Frame rail on the passenger side - data plate on the firewall on the passenger side inside the engine compartment - inside the glove box door.

There may also be a seires of letters and numbers stamped into the cowling just above the firewall in the engine compartment or on the firewall itself. no VIN # in this set if numbers but other interesting inforation if you can find these numbers. They can be hard to read so look carefully.

 

I couldn't figure how to put the photo in this thread, so I managed to put two photos of the firewall in my Galley. Sorry about photo location, glare, lousy cheap camera. I found the 4 after additional sanding, but the next 3-4 numbers/letters like your example I am at a loss. If this doesn't work I'll borrow a camera. When the photo was in My Documents I could zoom in/out but not here of course.Previous information on page 20 of vin section.

 

4 = Bierch Grey color code. Will look at the rest later.

 

50 F1
97HC 320819 CS
flat panel
6 cyl
3 speed, column shift
no number on firewall

 

Noob here. My s/n is f100kid1936. My truck is a '56, bought in '76 has all the usual goodies (p/b, p/w,455 Olds engine(I know,I know), torsion bar front end, 9" Ford rear, etc, etc. I've been around a long time, but I promise to not stir the pot.
I've used the same s/n on Military.com for about 5 yrs so I can always remember it.

 

My truck is titled as a 51 with the following vin#F1R1HM65473 on the title. I have not been able to find the numbers on the truck itself. I think it is a deluxe. Chrome strip around the windshield. Where should the id tag be located on the truck?

 

One ID tag om firewall, passenger side and one inside glove box door.