I have a 1948 Street Rod with the VIN of 87HY85497 and I know this VIN breaks down as follows:
8 = 1948
7H = 226 ci 6 cyl 1BL Carburetor
Y = 3/4 ton
85497 = Production Sequence (Series #)

However, I have been asked what the Model Number is? Am I correct that this is a Model 87H?? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Alvin

 

Engine model truck 3/4 ton is F3

 

On the Data Tag the Model is a three digit number?? Since mine is missing from the glove box door, I don't know where to look. Also I have a new fatman chasis and don't have the old frame to check there.

Alvin

 

87HY85497 is not a valid VIN number, the assembly plant is missing

 

If you look at the other Thread in this forum concerning VIN number cutoff for the 1949-50 F-1 all of the VIN's are exactly the same as mine. This truck has been titled in three states that I know of with the same VIN.

 

I see what you mean, however, one of the three places on the truck should mention the complete number including the assembly plant. For example, from the referred post, 98RC*321426* KC, where KC stands for the assembly plant.

The FTE VIN Decoder(https://www.ford-trucks.com/vin-deco...x.php?a=decode) is handy, however, sometimes I guess it's wrong.

 

Jim, most of the assembly plants didn't include the plant code before '51. Thats why cowl stampings are so important in Carl's collection at the top of the forum page. Alvin's vin is complete and he has the correct info for it.

The FTE vin page doesn't work for 48's. And Mac VanPelt's website is screwed up for '48 truck as well. Both use 49/50 data and ignore the existing documentation that shows 48 vins were unique.

Model would have been 8HY according to the '48 Operator's Manual.
8 for year,
H for six cyl,
Y for HD 3/4 ton

 

The model numbers I have seen are the last 3 characters of the prefix. In this case, 7HY.

If your VIN tag is still affixed to the firewall, there may be an assembly plant code. They also called these region codes or something like that.

Sounds like you have already trolled through the VIN # cutoff thread at the top of the forum. Have you checked your firewall to see if there are any numbers stamped into it. It wasn't very common on the 1948's but some did have it. Tim (MTflat) has a 1948 truck built in Richmond, CA with the firewall stamping. We could tell you a bit more about the truck with tis information if it exists.

One last thing you should know. It was sometime mid-year 1948 when they began distinquishing between F2's and F3's in the VIN prefix. I believe this change ocurred after VIN # 100,000. You are correct when you state that the "Y" indicates 3/4 ton. The question is whether it is a regular 3/4 ton (F2) or the heavy duty 3/4 ton (F3). The 1-ton was the F4 back in those days.

 

F2 in parts book VIN info is = D / F3 is = Y (this info is from the combined 1948/56 book, last printing-1964)

Assembly plant double letters in VIN's went to single letters in 1953.

Examples: KC = K-Kansas City; LU = U-Louisville (L was used later for Lorain)

Up till 1953, RH stood for Richmond. From 1953, R stood for Richmond but only for a few more years. When the new San Jose Assembly Plant opened in the late 1950's, R was used to designate the San Jose Assembly Plant.

 

Bill, my reference says, "effective with engine 87H number 110141, Ford replaced the Y with the letter D to identify the F2 series 3/4 ton truck."

Carl, my first inclination was to think 7HY except that the Operator's Manual specifically says 8HY. Another curiosity!

 

7HY or 8HY hmm, look at what Ford did with passenger cars. More confusion.

I'm far more versed on the cars of this era (1945-48). Did you know there are two different 1947 Fords? Ford changed the dash trim and guages, the grille and hood ornament and hood trim, the bumpers and guards, the parking lamps and hubcaps. However they did not change the model number! Talk about confusing, as the early 1947 cars are identical to the 1946's except for the trim on the decklid. If you have a Sportsman, the outward appearance is identical, as there are no chrome decklid strips on Sportsmans.


Ford also used two different models codes: 6A = 1945/1947; 7A = 1948; 8A = 1949 always a year behind..why? Prior to 1946 it made more sense: 21A = 1942; 11A = 1941; 01A = 1940. Ford also used 59A to distinguish all the 1945-48's...but 79A was also used in 1948.


Ford was one of the very first to begin post war production~in September 1945..some were titled as 1945's, some as 1946's. One other oddity...1945 and early 1946 Fords came with wooden bumpers...no chrome bumpers were available till mid year 1946. Ford replaced all the wooden bumpers for free when they became available.. But I know of at least two cars that weren't changed. Talk about a rarity!

 

Initially they used the "Y" designation for the F2's and F3's. They also initially used the designation "T" for anything F4 or larger. This later became the deisgnation for the 134" WB F5 only. Also, I have at least a half dozen examples of F1's that for whatever reason, got the "Y" designation.

As far as the single/double character designation for the asembly plants go, I am in complete agreement with you there however, they would occasionally use three letter designations as well. RIC = richmond, DAL = Dallas, NOR = Norfolk, ATL = Atlanta, SOM = Sommerville, MA, BUF = Buffalo, MEM = Memphis, CGO = Chicago. Haven't seen three letter codes for the others. The 3 letter codes ususally show up as the "Branch" code, not region as I stated in my previous note.

 

Wow, what a discourse on Ford ID's. Interesting stuff. I bow to the experts. Just makes our hobby all the more interesting when you get into this stuff.

thanks, Jim

 

My 48 F-3 has the model and state (PA) of manufacture stamped on the cowl....

 

I haven't seen that before Vern. Any chance your truck was originally Black? By 50 it seems many plants went from a number designating color to a letter. Several Carl has collected list P, then a letter for color. PA could stand for Paint Black??