Identification and Serial number Help.

D

DL1939

New member
Hello,
I'm a fairly recent new member to the Ford Barn and am a Newbie to the restoration world for that matter. I want to start by saying that this forum is awesome! It is really encouraging to a Rookie like me to know that there's such a wealth of members knowledge at ones finger tips . With out I don't think I would attempt to even try to get into to this hobby / passion of so many.

So, here we go.. I have recently Purchased to what I believe is a 1939, 122-inch - Stake, Express, or Chassis with Cab, One Ton truck that has no clear identification / serial number. I have found traces of what appears to be a serial number on the frame , near the front drivers side section described as one of the locations on here, but it doesn't follow / make sense to what I researched and found on here and links recommended to decipher. I purchased the Truck in Alberta, Canada and from information the Farmer I purchased it from, believe it was purchased and spent all of its life here in Alberta.
The truck has some pretty cool options. Attached are some pics of the truck, motor #, and Frame ser#.
Can anyone Help to what i got ?
 

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original numbers are on the frame, as you found, and on the flat spot on the top of the transmission/clutch area. trans numbers are usually easier to read. next stop would be vanpelt sales web site, theres serial numbers and lots of good info there. no numbers on the motor
 
Someone was trying to tighten up that front cross member shade tree style. They weren't originlly welded. I hope you can still see all the numbers there. There should be numbers in the middle of the rail and at the hump that match the numbers without the 18- that designates V8. Someone chiseld the rivets and messed up the number there.

The 81A part number on the heads is consistent with the age of the truck starting 1938 model year.
 
The info supplied in the above is very good, as to why someone removed the factory rivets from the frame, replacing them with bolts in the cross member is hard to tell.
One word ot caution.. Before you attempt to remove any of the spark plugs clean the head recess free of any debris. Not a pretty picture if any of that rust, etc., falls into the cylinder...
 
I have a couple of fames from the 38 - 41 era and reading the serial numbers can be difficult, but they are there.
 
I suspect the front crossmember was changed at some point due to it being broken where the spring mounts. a fairly common problem with trucks and pickups. the chisel marks obliterated part of the serial #. If you remove the cab you should find the complete # about mid door on the left frame rail. Since the bed is off you should also be able to see the # stamped about half way up the rear kickup on the left frame rail.
Interesting rear window. Looks like it may be a sliding type window. I also notice a chrome windshield frame. Also unusual for a commercial vehicle.
 
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Looks like *I?80737 to me, anyone else have a guess. I don't know a source for the Canadian serial numbers.
 
I have found them on a 41 pickup as well, but most of the references state car only on the three locations. My guess would be that the pickup frame is basically a car frame and the car locations might extend over.
 
post some close up pictures of the frame from cab back. since it has short running boards it was either cab/chassis or a platform (stake) truck. 3/4 ton had the same rims/brakes as a car/pick up. 1 ton had flat base rims with bigger brakes on front and rear
 

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it took 80 years to get that look, stored inside we'll all be dead before it looks any different
 
Thanks for all the help and suggestions..
Blucar, That is Oil saturated dirt western prairie farm trucks are famous for. pretty much a layer about 1/4" throughout. The distributor was covered also.
I believe when zooming up on the ser# it is *I or H8073* . so therefore from the attachment V8coopman would say this is a 38.. This truck has puzzled, as some research / info I find regarding options it has seems like it is a 38 ( square astray in middle of dash), then others ( Hydraulic brakes and Grill middle molding) say its a 39. I cannot attached anymore pics at this time as i get an error saying "security token is missing"?
It does have other interesting options like the sliding rear window, a Clock in glove box, head liner, massive heater in the middle / below the dash. The doors inside have metal liner with molded / formed handle in the top of the door near the window.
Thanks again for the help and I will try to attached pics tomorrow after work.
 
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