Odd Serial on 1941 Ford truck?

rabidscott

rabidscott

Member
I found the frame and ****** serials on my big truck project and I'm a bit perplexed.

The frame stamp is 99I-31xxxx. It's possible the I is a T because the top slash is a bit wider than the bottom.

The ****** serial BB18-442xxxx. I realize the ****** was likely swapped out at some point but I'd like to know what it's from.

Anyone shed some light on these stampings? Are my Google skills simply weak?

Many thanks,
Confused in California :confused:
 

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It was originally a 1 1/2 ton army truck that farmers shortened for their fruit and nut orchard, when I got it I swapped the massive axles out for a F3 front and a full floating Dana 60.

I've been poking around a lot more, I believe the serial starts 99T as other large trucks on the internet have that prefix. I believe the 99 indicates that it's the larger flathead shared by the Mercury which has a 99A prefix.

I'm also pretty sure it's the original engine as it has the raised intake casting which I've read is 1941-1942 only, although the heads are mismatched with an 59A on one side and a 81A on the other. I'm no expert though. :D

The ****** is a 4 speed of unknown origin, I've yet to find a BB18- serial source.
 
Ya I agree unofficially its a merc number 99. What a mystery. Fun one!!

van pelts....

What ya going to do with it? :)


Flathead_Trans_1929-51truck4spd.jpg
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99T denotes an originally equipped with a 95 hp motor, is it the original engine? what heads does it have on it now. My 41 former army firetruck has the 99T serial number with original engine/heads
 

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Kube said:
The transmission case is fairly late 1938 four speed.
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I'm no expert but the O/P truck should have had an open drive line and I believe the '38 big trucks were still closed drive shafts. Doesn't mean someone didn't change the case back in the day or I could be just plain mistaken.
 
51504bat said:
I'm no expert but the O/P truck should have had an open drive line and I believe the '38 big trucks were still closed drive shafts. Doesn't mean someone didn't change the case back in the day or I could be just plain mistaken.
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That's why I made it clear the case was late 1938. Who knows what was done throughout the past???
 
It's definitely an open driveline now, interesting that a 1938 trans would find its way into it. It's got the little lever for a reverse lock out?
 
alanwoodieman said:
99T denotes an originally equipped with a 95 hp motor, is it the original engine? what heads does it have on it now. My 41 former army firetruck has the 99T serial number with original engine/heads
Click to expand...

The heads have been changed I think, one is a 59A the other a 81A.

I didn't have a 99T tag on the engine but this was on the top timing cover bolt, a tag that said '7619'.
 

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rabidscott said:
The heads have been changed I think, one is a 59A the other a 81A.

I didn't have a 99T tag on the engine but this was on the top timing cover bolt, a tag that said '7619'.
Click to expand...

That tag is not Ford. Most likely a rebuilder's identification tag that was very common many years ago.
 
It likely would have had the 99T heads since it appears to be a 1941. The 59 type heads would need a valve head relief to fit on a prewar engine. (correction on relief, it would have been using prewar heads on the post war engine block that needed relieving and that is not applicable here) The 81A wouldn't but it is a mismatch on compression ratio. Heads were replaced whenever they cracked from overheating or corroded out from running straight water as a coolant. The 81A is a higher compression head than any of the 239 heads. You can use the 9T or any post war 59A or 59AB heads as long as they match it will be OK. If the engine is original to a truck then it will likely be relieved on the deck surfaces. Mercury car engine blocks were not relieved on the deck surfaces.


The installed transmission with the BB18 indicates it came from a big truck with the 85 HP V8 and were generally straight spur gear non synchronized 4-speed gearboxes. I'd be curious if it has a PTO drive or not. There were several options for big trucks and they went open drive before the cars ever did. There were two speed drive line brownie boxes (BLC) and two speed rear axles. Reverse lockout was common on the earlier big truck transmissions. The one it originally came with may have not been much different. The T8 or T9 types can have some mixing and matching of parts to get them to fit those prewar years prior to 1942. I thing that the closed drive case can be used for open drive spplications with the right combination of parts.
 
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Thanks for the great information! I appreciate the replies, I'm absolutely new to flatheads and these trucks.

No PTO but it did have a cable operated two speed axle. I've never heard my engine hoist make the noises it did when loading that rearend onto the new owners trailer!
 
Here is some info on 41 Ford Trucks that were purchased by government contract. These pages are from the official maintenance manual that was published at the time. It runs 156 pages and covers all aspects of the vehicle including rebuilding of all parts.
 

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