I believe that The Standard Catalog of American Cars contains the majority of info on specifications, VIN's etc..
There are two additions.. 1805-1942 and 1945-75
"ricklove" There is a very good chance that you are misreading the Ser number on your '48.. The original numbers were hand stamped, most likely by employees that were only given a few minutes to do so..
As I have stated before, far to much importance is placed on old Ford serial numbers, which mean very little.. If the local DMV does not raise a fuse, adopt the position that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"..
I have read many articles about Henry Ford over-riding the rejection of what he considered minor flaws in vehicles because the cost to correct the flaw out-weighed the end result..