The guys in in the 1948 to 1960 Forum told me that I need to check and see if anyone in your forum might be able to help me. First here is a little background information on me.

I presently have a 1953 Ford convertible (light blue with a tan canvas top). I Also have a 1963 Corvair convertible (red with black vynal top). The 1953 Ford I have owned about 30 years and it needs to be painted again. It's like the one that I owned & drove in High School in the late 50's. I have had to quit driving for the last four years & I don't know when I'll drive again. But for now this is not a problem my lovely wife is my chauffer.

Now here is my problem.

My problem is that a friend gave me an old rusted Ford van that has been abandened on his property for many years. I want to work on it but I need to get a title on it first. I think it might be a 1950 milk truck, but that is just a wild guess. When I do searches the only thing that I can come up with is die-cast 1950 models that look like this truck but no real trucks. This truck has a wooden floor and double thickness walls.

I need help desperately to find someone that can decode the patent plaques on this truck and also tell me anything else about this truck that they might know.

The following is on the two plaques on the passanger wall in front of the door.

The First Plaque says:
Vanette Body
Model: P-350-122
Body Number: 26645
Chassis SN: JE-161250
Give above data when ordering parts.
Universal Sales, Inc.
Delaware, Ohio

The second plaque says:
SN: P35JE161250
Made in USA by Ford
Reg. US Patten Office
WB color 122 P
Model P350

Date trans-axle A 26
Max GVW 08000
Cert. HP 114
RPM 3600DSO

This Ford van has an overhead 6.
The front doors slide into the side walls (between the layers).

I need help despirately so that I can start working on this true rust bucket.
Can anyone help me any.

PS: I will disconnect this computer to take to the shop for wireless networking about 11:00 pm tonight & I may not be back in business until Thursday of this week. If anyone should post something and I don't answer for three days or so I appoligize.

Thanks Gary

 

Gary: The first set of data refer to the body. The second plaque is the truck's Warranty Plate for the frame.
It is a P-350, a panel van with an F-350 equivalent frame and suspension.
The actual VIN is this:P35JE161250. Careful inspection will reveal it stamped into the upper side of the right frame rail near the radiator.
P - Panel Van
35 - for 350
J = 226 I-6 (Which matches the 114 HP at 3600 RPM)
E = Assembly plant, which I do not have handy
161250 - Serial number, about the spring or summer of '61 (The SN range in '61 was 100,000 - 205,000 for all trucks made that year.)
WB = Wheel base of 122 inches
P = Color code, which I don't have handy.
Trans A = Light duty Ford 3 speed
Axle 26 - Don't have that handy either. Probably a Dana, but could be a Ford 9" with a heavy duty spring set. Visual inspection should be able to tell you what type it is, and the tag will tell you the gear ratio.

So, you have a P-350 with a three speed and a 223 six.

Hope this helps.

 

by the serial # it would be a 61, april. P350, j - 223 six, e -Mahwah plant. transaxle a- 3spd standard, 26 - 4.88 rear gear. assuming it really is a 61. I would say the body was built by Universal. For instance, UPS trucks (something I am familiar with), look alike, but are often built by different body companies. Or built with different make chassis by the same body company.

 

Greetings and a big thank you to Mr banjopicker66.

Thank you for the information on my 61 Ford Van Truck. I have been trying to find someone that could tell me anything about this truck for probably six to 9 months. I needed this information in order to get this old rustbucket titled. This should get me started.

Thanks again,
Gary
53fordconv

 

Hi Sam_Fear,

Thank you very much for getting back with me on my old rustbucket's serial number breakdown. This is some very valuable information to me. It should help get the truck titled. Once I have this information along with a couple other things, I will get the truck titled I can start working on the old rustbucket. Since I am not driving at this time this should help keep my mind busy.

Sincerely,
Gary
53fordconv

 

If you can, post a couple pics of the van....Im not up on them, but always love seeing a survivor....


- cs65

 

I call her the old rustbucket. It's a mess and I wish I could post a photo. However at this time I don't know how to do that. The truck will give me an unlimited amount of work. And now I need that, since I am not driving at this time.

I have two old cars now and my favorite is the 1953 light blue Ford convertable with the tan canvas top. I can look at it.

Thanks for asking and I will post a couple of photos when I know how.

53fordconv

 

I'm not trying to get too far off subject here, but I can't help mentioning I have a friend who is a mechanic here in El Paso, Tx who has a 1960 Chevy delivery van. It is kind of large, looks like a UPS van. It has a straight 6 engine, has no rust, and would be great to restore. If anyone is interested I can get you in touch with him. It is just collecting dust, and I think he needs money. I hate to see it just fall apart with neglect.

 

64F260, You not only crossed the line but you climed the 7 ft high divider wall and got over into the opposing oncoming traffic lane.

John

 

John, you handled that suprisingly well

I'd like to see some pics of this monster as well - especially the steering system. Always wondered if those were double knuckled and if they would be adaptable to a PS app.

Start by using the pull down menu >Galleries>Manage/Create or goto UserCP and use Edit Gallery. That should get you headed in the right direction for posting pics.