Hello,

I'm not sure if you ever got your questions answered as much as got a lot of information. The glove boxes and glove box rating plates on these trucks got changed around regularly. It would appear that the truck you are refering to (I can't see the pictures) was probably one that someone build or started to restore with parts from other trucks - thus the mixing. But, there is a third place the SERIAL number (there were no VIN numbers on these trucks) of the truck is located. It is stamped into the top of the frame, on the drivers side, just above the shock absorber mount. Try that for a more reliable number. There really isn't much of a reliable way to tell if it's an F1 or higher now as it is probably a composite. The F2 and up had heavier suspension (the leaf spring numbers mentioned above) but they also had larger wheels - leading to the only "body" difference in the trucks. The cut out in the fender for the front wheels was smaller on the F1 ONLY. If you look at your truck, and the arch for the wheel opening does NOT extend above the horizontal line made by the horizontal crease in the back half of the fender, it's and F1. The F2-F6 wheel opening size is 2 to 3 inches (50-75 mm) above that crease line.

Also, don't be disuaded about the value of the truck. Again, I can't see the pictures, but if the truck is a "5 Star Deluxe Cab" it may be quite valuable (up to $3500) if it has certain parts. If you would like to send me the pictures of the truck directly, (inside and out please - drivers side and passengers side) I'll see if I can't give you a better idea, and also, I can provide you with a list of those "Deluxe" parts. I have not seen ANY F1s that are in restorable condition selling for less than $1500 (US) in California for the past few years. The Deluxe cabs going for $2500-$3500 depending on parts.

Please feel free to contact me at: sandidande@***.net if youwould like more help.

Good luck and have fun with your truck!
Dan

 

My personal opinion is that this is an F1 truck. Someone bought it without a title, and used the Rating Plate off the F6 to register it.

I still say the wheels are 15 inches. I've been in the old car hobby for nearly 50 years, have owned 100's of cars and trucks, and have never seen a 16 inch tire with a thin line whitewall. The right front tire as pictured has a thin line whitewall on it, making it a 15 inch wheel. Thin line whitewalls of this width were first used in the mid 1960's, and are still available today.


My reference says: The serial number is stamped on the left side frame rail near the steering box.

 

The number dummy is probably right, and I think one thing is certain - this truck is a "mut". As I stated earlier, I haven't seen the photo's. Thin line tires were popular in the 60's and early 70's and had a cousin in the "Red Line" tires as well (I had them on my '67 GTO).

6.00x16 or 6.50x16 tires were STOCK on all F1s. 6.50x16; 7.00x16; or 7.50x16s were stock on F2s. 7.00/7.50x17 were stock on F3 (except Parcel Delivery). The F4 had one model stock with 7.00x18s, and the rest of the F4s up to F8 had 20 inch tires. But who cares about tire size? You can change out a wheel tire combination on these trucks as fast as a glove box door or rating plate. And many people (including myself) have gone to non stock 15 inch wheels. And yours have probably been changed too. Chances are that someone had a couple of these trucks and took the rusted body off one and threw spare body parts off a number of others onto the heaviest frame. So, I would imagine that your chassis is probably fairly consistant with the serial number on the frame and the body parts are mis matched. And they were all the same except fo rthe F1 front fenders which had the smaller wheel openings (which technically means the upper and lower fenders - they were two pieces).

As far as the Serial Number location on the frame is concerned I guess you can quote the books and say it's next to the steering box. My sources (my eyes - I'm standing here looking at mine) tell me Number Dummy is more correct with the location than I told you earlier - it is just abreast the forward edge of the steering box - about 9 inches aft of the shock mount. I stand corrected.

 

Its been pretty well documented on this site that the books indicate where Ford said it should be - however in real life it varied by assembly plants or by where the stamper happened to be standing. It certainly isn't a point that can be argued.

I have two '48's and both are stamped on the right frame rail just behind the motor mount x-member.

 

Yep, I couldn't agree more!

 

Hello!

Thanks for all that help.

MAybe i asked to early. The truck will go end of month in a container and will be in Germany Mid next (hope so)

I will make a complete Blog from it....

Shure that we cann togehter identify it....

 

Hello!

Good luck on your project! I'm sure it will be fun and rewarding! If you ever need any help, this site is a very good place to get it. Also, I have been restoring my 1951 Ford F1 Five Star Deluxe Cab pick-up for two years and have a thorough list of sources for information and parts, and many documents and manuals.

If you ever need any help - with anything feel free to write to me anytime at sandidande@***.net

Best wishes,
Dan