Hot Rods Need help IDing this truck - 1950 Ford?

So I will pull a wheel tomorrow to see if they used adapters on the rear. Thanks

 

As has been shown, your vin decodes to a 1949, v8, F2. 3/4 tons have the wide body long bed unless changed. If the truck has the original tags, there will be one on the right hand side of the firewall and one on the glovebox door. The widebody has narrower fenders on it. Original 2/3 tons don't have the 5 on 5.5" bolt pattern.

 

If those wheels are 17”, they may be the dreaded widow makers. Would seem kind of silly for someone to want to run those. Guessing they did it to match the front?

 

The pic in post 24 looks like there is definitely an aluminum spacer/adapter in use. You can see it through the hole in the center of the wheel.

 

Yep, you can see how far the register is back from the wheel face. The porta wall has 16 on it, so probably a 16” wheel and tire.
Curious, what front hub did they use that fit disc brakes, or does it have an adapter to run the 8 lug wheel too?

 

Good eye. I did not see the size on tires. The F2s came with 8 lug 16” wheels. F3s came with the 17” widowmakers.

 

The HAMB is amazing - better than a Google search! Appreciate the feedback.

this image although taken from the rear shows the front axle pretty well. When I looked at the front wheel it was 8 lug but I think I need to pull the cap off again and double check for a spacer. Looks like a booster on brake system as well?

Can anyone tell from the trans mount cross member if this frame is a F1 or F2? Truck is registered as F2.
What about those trans supports?

 

That transmission reminds on the one I took out of my ‘48 F1, it was a 4 speed with the compound 1st gear.
So Mr48Chevy confirmed your numbers as an F2, but yours (daughters) isn’t a longer bed. So the bed could have been shortened, normal place was behind the cab. Every shortened frame I’ve seen done, had a fishplate put over where the frame was cut.
But now the 8 lug thing makes me scratch my head, especially since the rearend was identified as an 8.8. Will take someone who knows more that I do if Ford made an 8 lug 8.8.
So back to the front end, if you pull the cap off and you can see what looks like a spacer/adapter in the resister, pop the lug nuts off and take a pic.
What is in my mind is someone used/had F2 pieces and also had a F1 frame. But had the F2 ***le. If the frame numbers did match the F2 ***le, and the tag on the glove box matches, I’d guess when the “new” frame (***uming not shortened) had the section with the numbers cut out and replaced. Nothing wrong with that, if selling a legally ***led vehicle, I’ve seen a few do it when replacing a bad frame. But I’m not a legal expert, so…
I’m not trying to raise any concerns with the truck, just wondering how an 8 lug long bed truck, has a shorter frame, along with a rearend to my knowledge wasn’t available in 8 lug.
I know, not much help, but getting the front wheel off might shed more light on it.

 

That transmission mount looks like it's not up to the job, looks bent.

 

With your last picture, I see the F2-3 crossmember, with the transmission mount/bearing retainer from an F1. Those all-thread or long bolts were an attempt to marry the F1 mount/bearing retainer to the F2-3 crossmember. Interesting.

 

Frame serial number location, right hand side. Though the crossmember tells the story, I think. Guessing front axle is the stock F2 (8 lug), adaptors made to match front and rear bolt patterns.

 

What you probably have is a very nice ***embled truck.

Someone started with a 49 F2 frame they had a ***le, possibly a savable cab (and maybe even 4 wheels) for.

From there the frame was shortened (how many want a long box hot rod?), and all the currently available aftermarket new parts, available used parts, and repo parts were bought to build a nice truck.

A very high % of the old, nice looking, pickups on the road these days were or are being done the same way. Few retain the OEM parts the old truck left the factory with. Almost any attempt to determine what was originally on one of these trucks when it was built 80 years ago isn't going to work out well.

What I find amusing is some of you can't figure out why some parts that many have been junk (or sold off) 40 years ago are no longer on this truck that has mostly new parts on it.

The State of MO says my truck is a 49 Dodge. Some of the repaired (from a wreck in its past) sheet metal is about the only 49 Dodge parts left, but its a legal 49 Dodge pickup. Any one that would attempt to determine any history of my 49 Dodge by the parts that are on it now would be screwed. You guys are on the same path with this Ford pickup.

 

One of the pictures shows the wheel adapter. You can see the 31 spline axle end plainly through the center hole. My guess is that it's an Explorer axle.

 

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful replies. I truly appreciate the help.
My niece thought it would be fun to have a historic truck - her grandfather had restored many antique cars and trucks but he has long since p***ed. Now she realizes life and hot rods don’t always mix when you are young. So she is leaning on her Uncle (me) to help. I wanted to know what she had before I helped her sell it if that is what she decides to do. I would love to put it in my garage but I am currently building a 34 dodge 4dr and just don’t have room with the Buick (avatar).
With the help of the HaMB I now have a much better idea of what the truck is as we move forward. Value will be difficult to determine and will be based on the buyers desire for this combination of parts if she chooses to sell.

thank you for all the insights.

 

Send the front axle to Sid.
Have him stretch it.
Got that thing down closer to the dirt. Drive the **** out of it.

value?
Well it’s a nice looking truck with a strange combo of parts. Us custom guys could care less about original.
If it goes and stops it’ll bring good $$$$

 

I think I can see where the frame was cut and ****ed right about even with the back end of the mufflers. (?) Click pix to enlarge.

 

@shiftwizard - I think I see the mark on the bottom of the frame you are referring to. Going to take a look today.

@Anthony - I always love your posts -“get that thing closer to ground” and “drive the **** out of it” - the p***ion of the HAMB!!

 

@shiftwizard - you were right - just in front of spring supports frame was cut to shorten the F2 for the F1 bed!

So what my niece has is a registered 1950 F2 frame and cab. Frame was shorten to accept new F1 bed. All F1 fibergl*** fenders. Late model rear end with disc brakes. Converted to 12 volt. Original front axle with 8 lug. Rear uses a spacer to convert newer 5 lug to 8 lug.

Looks like someone definitely had an idea to make a nice looking F1 driver. Appears to be strong running flathead - 3spd shifts good, brakes well.

Mystery solved!

 

Semi-mystery solved!

 

cool, it's nice but would be great if lowered a bit.

 

And you won that bet!
That truck has been changed around more than you can write home about and is still pretending to be a stock f=2.

 

What your niece has there is a nicely put-together Ford F1 and a half.

 

At this point F-1 / F-2 doesn't mean anything as long as the serialnumber on the truck matches the vin on the ***le.
The only "maybe" issue is that they might try to charge more tonnage when one goes to register it but most states are pretty easy on tonnage on "cl***ic" trucks anyhow.
The mix and match of drum on the front and disk on the back and keeping the 8 lug is a bit strange but for someone who wants that truck swapping a dropped F-1 axle with disk brakes and a 5 on 4-1/2 bolt pattern and a wheel swap makes for a nice little cruiser that you can drive out on the big roads.

If you were to carfax that truck if it is possible to do so you would probably find out that it has changed hands a couple of times since it was ***embled in that manner and the details have been lost in the process.

The good is that it has the potential to be a really nice little truck with what amounts to a weekend's worth of work.

 

What is that chrome pipe in the bed?

 

Flag pole??

 

I’d guess F2’s were sprung heavier than F1’s were, rear may have been taken care of when the 8.8 was installed, since the frontend is still F2, I wonder if anything was done there?
I just mention that if it’s a rougher ride than wanted.
The expense of converting to a F1 dropped axle and converting it to match the rearend BP, may just be a weekend of of work to remove and replace, but cost should be taken into consideration.
But seems the owner will probably sell it? as I recall, so would be left up to the next person to decide.

 

The truck looks nice. Its ***led, and can be driven. Old trucks are in demand right now, its worth some coin.

Spend some time looking at sale prices of hot rodded F1 trucks. A buyer would alter the things they don't like. If she bought it at a good price (not gotten ripped off) she can likely still get her money back out of it, maybe a bit more, if she decides to send it away.

Do not let your dislike for the modified truck cost her money by reasoning no one would want it. That simply isn't true right now.

 

I guess I'm the only one to notice those fine hub caps. They are fairly rare and as far as I know they only fit the 8 lug wheels. If I had a good set I would do what I could to run them too.

 

Question above - yes that appears to be a flag pole holder in the bed. I guess previous owner used the truck in parades.

I agree - I think it is tastefully modified and as said above a few more tweaks and it becomes a very nice driver.

thanks again for the feedback

 

Yes, look closely at the center register hole of the wheel.
The wheel is not on the axle flange, and the axle's register is under an aluminum spacer / adapter.
Looks like nochop got that one right !
Chances are the late model rear axle, with disc brakes will have newer / smaller lug bolt pattern ( 5 X 4.5 ).
The wheels and tires do fit the rear fenders nicely.