about a year ago I joined fte. as I found a 46 1/2 ton in fair condition. any way I have a good title state issued id #. I found apartial vin on the frame rail just in front of the steering gear. I posted the #s I had and It appeared to be a one ton ? na cant be . this aside.. A couple days ago I was tearing appart the doors,to install power windows .and guess what I found in the bottom of the drvers door?the fire wall vin plate wow .how long it had been there? any way with some carefull cleaning and toothpast,I was able to make out the #s.as before I could not make out the vin # on the frame 100%.the plate I found in the door is 99% of what I could read from the frame . so I am asking can sombody help id this new #. the # is.71gy396696. the modle # is..7G-c.thanx in advance. this whas flipin cool stuff finding this plate n the door.there was also a very old for sale sighn cruchie old paper fell apart but at some point sombody was asking $1000 for it in new paint and and stong v/8

 

1947 1-ton, 6-cylinder: click here --> 1942-1947 Ford trucks

Mike

BTW, the VIN plate was on the inside of the glove box door

 

the added decoding infowas a good thing for me . at some time the axles may have been swapped as 48 ford hub parts fit the front breakes as well appear to be from a 48 . the rear is deffinatly post 47.modern 5 lug 1/2 ton wheels fit all corners. again thanx .dave

 

Correct me if I am wrong but the model number 7GC suggests that it was a 1/2 ton pickup.
My first truck was stamped the same way on the frame, but interestingly my transmission was the heavy duty 4 speed. Does yours have the original transmission? Is it a HD 4spd? Now I am wondering if my trans was stamped to go into a tonner, but got put into a 1/2 ton so the frame guy just had to stamp what he had on the frame. Yours seems to point this direction since it has both the 1/2 ton model number and the 1 ton VIN.

I wouldn't automatically assume that you have stuff swapped out on your truck. I am not sure exactly what differences there are between the '47 and '48 front axles as far as brake parts go, but the '48 axle has an eye cast on the bottom out toward the backing plate for the new tube shocks to bolt to. The '47 doesn't have the eye and is flat on the bottom of the axle because it used the lever shocks. The '47 rear had 2 axle tubes that bolted to a center housing with the gears in it. The '48-'57 has a rear inspection cover on the center housing and the '57 up is mostly the 9" with the center section that bolts in the front of the housing. All of the 1/2 tons will use the modern style wheels. Like I say though look at your stuff carefully because the model number on your tag suggests 1/2 ton and make sure you hang onto that tag.

 

There are no VIN's on any Ford car or truck prior to 1948.

Back then vehicles were registered by the serial number which is also the engine number.

The VIN = Vehicle Identification Number, pertains to the entire vehicle not just the engine.

7GC is the series code for a 1947 1/2 ton 6 cylinder truck on a 114" wheelbase. And...7GC refers to more than just pickups.

There were 8 7GC models: Pickup, Cab & Chassis, Stake Bed, Flat Bed, Panel, Chassis & Cowl, Chassis & Windshield, Sedan Delivery.

 

Vehicles are registered by serial number, given as 71gy396696, not model number...

With all due respect , NumberDummy, most states do not recognize the Ford terminology, so legally it IS a VIN... , not to mention commonly used verbal shorthand.

Mike

 

here in ny the serial number is refered to as the vin, as far as registration is concerned.

 

soale 46. the truck was a rolling cab and front sheet metel.when I took over as caretaker, the rear is 48-53? its not the banjo and does have the rear access cover so it aint a 9". no motor or trans were in it when rebuilding the front axle ,I found 42-47 break parts and spindle parts bearings and such dont fit. 48 does, Note the inner bearing on the spindles were not a perfect mach. I to have them honed .010 to fit ? the guy before me put shimmes on the spinle ??? what a mess that was. he only did it on one side ? the other was way loose and wobbling . I think this is were whoever gave-up . it didnt appear to have any milage, other than beeing pushed pulled whatever and oh yes Im going to mount my plate on my now aluminum fire wall "after " I get it registerd.Ive whanted this body styl for years and finally found one in fair shape.thanx all you guys for the in put,Dave