I opened the hood again this morning and looked at it again. That "H" on the fire wall may actually be "11" or possibly a combination of the letter I and number 1 (I1 or 1I). Either way, the top half of that area was not done well. I'm leaning more toward the 11 or I and 1 combo because the digits have little horizontal bars at the base (just like they are typed here). Sorry for the confusion. I agree with everybody's statement that these letters were not stamped well.

And while i'm here, I'll go ahead and tell you the info on the 50 F1.

1. 1950 F1 1/2 ton (was definitely Sheridan Blue based on inspection and me getting bored with a heat gun and a pocket knife one night in the interior--hehe).
2. 98RC324502
3. Raised panel bed
4. Bed Looks original
5. No clue on the original transmission
6. Floor shift originally
7. I found some firewall stampings (which probably mean nothing) over where the voltage regulator was but nothing else "P 5NR8 B3600".

Honestly, like everybody else, I truly appreciate the info and somebody taking the time to make sense of it.

 

Happy to help out - and thanks for posting your info for the greater good. Each one adds to the picture we're trying to put together.

Ford made it confusing at times - they used a capital I instead of number 1. The production code makes even less sense that way, but Louisville went their own way and so far I haven't found the key to sorting it out.

The 50 is easy and follows the regular pattern.
9 - 49/50
8R - 239 ci flathead V8
C - half-ton 4700 GVRW

Not sure about the P, but 5NR8B3600 translates as follows:
5 - Sheridan Blue
NR - Norfolk, VA assembly plant
8B - 8 February build date
3600 - vehicle number down the assembly line

 

TIm,

For some reason, Norfolk always put a "P" in front of the paint code. Best I can tell, they are the only plant that did this.

 

My best guess at the firewall stamping is as follows:

LU = Louisville
H5 = August 5, 1949
3 = Raven Black

L161J = Haven't sorted this out yet.

I only have five Louisville trucks on the list and I only have three with firewall stamping information. That said, yours fits pretty well with one that was added to the list on 7/31/09.

 

1949 F3
226 Flat Six
3 speed can't tell if syncro, never drove it. floor shift
Didn't have original bed.
Firewall Tag: 97HY 235680 Branch: CGO

Firewall Stamping: 7CH22H139B

no glovebox tag, looks like there were holes for it but its gone.
I think the original color was the green but it has been repainted a diff green. You can see the original green in the cowl lacing area.
Whats all this mean?

 

Thanks for sharing your info.
As a six cyl it likely has the standard duty 3 spd. If you crawl under it on the passenger side of the case the HD 3 spd has "T87D" cast into the case. The case is physically much larger than the LD version and doesn't taper toward the rear.

Firewall tag:Serial number
9 = 1949/50
7H = 226 flat six
Y = F3
235680 = serial number used in 1949
Branch: CGO = Chicago assembly plant

Firewall Stamping:
7 = color (Meadow Green)
CH = Assembly plant Chicago
22H = date of assembly August 22
139B = internal plant code/vehicle down the line that day

 

Thanks for the detailed info Carl - sometimes i can't see the forest for the trees in the way........

 

I love this thread! I have learned more information from stumbling upon this thread than anywhere else! So I had to register and list my VIN # to get as much info about my truck as possible. So here goes:

1 - Year - 1950
2 - VIN # <style type="text/css"> <!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --></style>*97HC*270331*RIC
3 - Bed - This is a Panel Truck, not a Pickup
4 - Not sure, but it looks original
5 - Transmission - 3 speed (I believe)
6 - Floor shift
7 - <style type="text/css"> <!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --></style>RHFI 3 I8AI9I7 (the 3 is stamped much higher than the other numbers)


Thanks for any info! ~ Steve

 

Hi Steve - you probably have sorted out much of what we can tell you.

9 - 49/50 model years
7H - 226 ci flathead six cylinder
C - half ton chassis
270331 - serial number and is an early 50
RIC - Richmond CA assembly plant

Firewall stamp is similar
RH - Richmond CA assembly plant
F1 - half ton
3 - color Black
18A - 18 January assembly date
1917 - vehicle down the line

 

1950 Ford F1
Vin 379133
Bed- Wood with sheet metal welded on top. I dont know what raised bed is?
Original wood bed
Transmission-3 speed
Floor shift
Firewall # 98RC 379133 SP

 

Sorry, misunderstood the firewall stamping. Mine is
5SP21D51161459

What does the SP stand for in manuf. plant?

 

Hi,
Raised panel is on the side of the box for early trucks, while on later boxes the side is totally flat. On the outside the fender is notched for the early raised panel.

These didn't actually have a VIN, just a serial number and your's is 98RC 379133 SP

As you probably have read,
9 - 49/50 model year
8R - 239 flat V8
C - halfton
379133 - assigned serial number during 1950
SP - St Paul assembly plant

firewall:
5- color Sheridan Blue
SP - St Paul
21D - date of assembly 21 April
511etc - unknown (unique to each plant, vehicle down the line)

 

Hi everyone. I've got a little dilemma and I'm hoping I can get some good feedback from some of you gurus...

About 6 months ago, i received a frame, cab, and add'l pcs from a friend as a new project. The price was right: free, and I've been building it up as a rat rod. I'm nearing completion, and have hit a few bumps in the road. The major one is that title was lost by the previous owner, and i've yet to contact the local BMV to see what their process is and what will be required to apply for the title.
The truck's firewall vin plate has rotted away, as this truck cab was sitting outside for years, exposed to the elements. I managed to clean away part of the frame rail to reveal the stamped VIN number, but i'm missing a number currently because of a grille support bracket that was inevitably welded right over it (i should be able to remove it to get a look at the number if need be). And to top it off, there's no glove box cover, so no vin plate there either.

But anyways, here's what I have found so far:

Frame vin: 97HC312x55
No idea what the truck originally looked like, so i dont know the bed options
Firewall: 9HS 15H 392

I was hoping it was a '49, and as it turns out it looks to be that way, unless it was a late model 49 which it could have been titled as a '50 (boo...)

Here's some before



and after pictures



After i finish up a few things on it, i will be chopping 5.5" out of the roof, the body is already channeled 4". It's gonna look sick!

 

So if anyone knows of how I can go about getting this thing titled, the most painless way, please let me know.

 

I hope you know where your friend is - the best bet for title is for him to apply for a lost title from the BMV and then do a standard transfer to you. Otherwise you need a clear, notarized bill of sale from him listing the serial number - depending on your state's requirements. I do remember from living in Indiana you'll have to have the VIN/serial number inspected by a state patrol officer so you might as well remove that brace now....

According to the serial number you found on the frame I'd call it an early 50. Sorry - but it's close enough that if you want it to be a '49 not many people will call you on it.

Check the firewall stampings again - I can't make anything out of the first 3 digits. It should be color and assembly plant, but doesn't match. You have an assembly date of 15 August and the 392 is just the vehicle down the line.