first i would like to say hello to everyone and thank you for the opportunity to pick your brains .I need help to identify a truck that has been in my family for many years.when my granparents were alive they told me many times the details of this truck so i will say what i know.it was bought during the war and is one of only 13 trucks made that year,it is a factory dump bed it was bought from the dealer that way.i would like to ask where do i find out what year this is ?.And also where is a good place to advertise this truck to find the right person who would restore it ?any other info like where to find reference material on it would also be very welcome ..thank you

 

Welcome to FTE.

A picture or 20 of the truck would help.

Good luck!

 

Welcome to FTE.

and, What He Said - picts would help.

 

Here is some information that might help ID your truck.

No commercial Ford trucks were built and sold in 1943 and 1944.

Since your truck was purchased during WWII, it's probably either a 1941 or 1942 model.

The serial number and engine number are identical.

Serial/engine number is located on 6 cylinders: On left frame member ahead of cowl, and also on top of clutch housing.

Serial/engine numbers is located on V8's: On top of frame, left side, and on top of clutch housing.

The wheelbase as originally configured was 122 inches...measured from center of front wheel to center of rear wheel. If the wheelbase is longer than that, the frame was modified by whoever added the dump body to the cab and chassis.

The dump body was built off a cab and chassis. The original owner may have ordered the cab/chassis layout, and then had the dump body installed. Ford did not build a dump truck...only stakes and platforms were made by Ford at that time.

Take a look for possible (dump) body maker build plates inside glovebox, or on the floor to the left of the drivers seat.

 

whteknte, welcome to FTE. We'll try to help you out as best as possible.

If it is a dump chassis, then it would be mounted on a 134" wheelbase frame. Ford did offer a factory dump truck before the War, 1942 was the final year a factory dump truck was built. Factory dump trucks were built by Ford from 1930 to 1942. In '44 a 158" cab and chassis was offered to civilian buyers with clearance from the government. Not many went out as cars and trucks were directed for the War effort. And those that did get out did not have a bed of any kind, just a cab on a chassis.
If the dump body is actually a Ford built unit, then it is prewar. As far as 13 being built, that number is a bit off. 1942 vehicles are rare, but a number that low would not have been. Production of '42 vehicles ceased in Feb '42, I believe, so the '42 model run was in full swing for a few months before, so 13 dump trucks built is a bit low. They are rare, but not quite that rare.
I am thinking '42 if bought during the War, however, a '41 is possible as I'm sure dump trucks were in lower demand than other models, so a '40-'41 could have been sitting on the lot for a while. If it is a '42 then the headlights are mounted in the same panel as the grille, and the grille is comprised of 15 vertical bars. If it is a '40-'41 the the headlights are mounted on the fenders, not flush in the body.
Hope you find some of this to be some help.

 

I stand corrected. Thank you 46Fordtruck.

 

hi guys and thanks for the input if i get the serial where can i find info on it?.some info i can tell you is ,there are 17 vertical bars in the grill,the headlights are in the same panel as the grill and the marker lights are in the fender wells,with amber turn signals mounted to the top of the fender well ,the dump bed is a cast iron one with i believe a ford mark on it as well as the pump and the hoses the bed actually looks like a military bed with a tarp frame around the top and it has simple rear fenders that cover the tires i will take some pictures and post them as soon as i can

 

I would like to use this thread to ask Gary a question about the larger trucks of this era. Did Ford build any of these dump trucks as a COE?

 

whteknte...except for the 17 bars, that sounds like a '42-'47 Ford. Some pictures will certainly help.

loholland...yes, there were in fact factory built COE dumps. Ford built them only in '38 (first year of factory COE) and in '39. For '40 the dump truck was cut from the COE offerings.

 

While it's true that Ford in 1940 only offered a dump bed on their conventional chassis both Anthony Co. Inc and Hercules Steel Products Co. offered dump beds for the Ford COE trucks. It would have been possible to see a Ford COE with a dump bed on it in without the Ford logo in 1940. This is from the Special Equipment Directory put out by the Sales Development Corporation to the Ford Dealers and Truck Operators. I agree with Gary that the truck in question sounds like a 42-47. Serial number will be on the top of the frame between the firewall and steering box. Also stamped on the transmission just above the inspection plate. The frame stamping can be hard to bring out, so I suggest you try the trans location first.