I'm talking about before their standard B, C etc. cl***ifications for manufacturing date took place. Before 1952, or thereabouts, there was no standard, and even many parts through the '50s don't start with B**. So is there anywhere to decipher what part numbers went to what for the 1928 through the '50s? Google searches don't work many times. An example: B5 is for '55, and most parts contain that prefix, but FAB-13752-A is for a dome light switch that fits a '55. Many other parts for a '55 start with FAB also. Go figure Edit to say that if it were just a few parts, it wouldn't be a big deal, but I'm dealing with thousands of parts. It would take a lifetime to research every part.
https://www.lincolnoldparts.com/parts-books but they're only for Merc and Lincoln. you can buy a CD with the 49-59 parts books at various places, too. I can't make a lick of sense out of it, myself. I'd be tempted to buy some old books, I have several for Chevys https://www.ebay.com/itm/143187484282? https://www.ebay.com/itm/392266043537? but I'm weird like that. Good luck!
@squirrel gave good advice, get the parts book for the "years" you want, they are a great help when you are working on an old car....one of the CD's I've got was for 49-59 Fords and of course there are reprints of all the parts books.
Try tracking down a copy of the Ford 'Green Bible' parts manual, it covers parts from 1928 to 1948. You can also get a reprint of the original from Amazon or many other sources. https://www.amazon.com/1928-1948-Green-Bible-Mechanical-Reprint/dp/B00MMTALB0
First, I need numbers going back to the Model A years, not just '50s. The parts inventory is vast. I wanted to avoid spending hundreds of dollars on vintage Ford manuals to cover all the years, but I will check out that "Green Bible". That looks like it might be helpful. I'm a "book guy". I can't stand trying to look stuff up on CD's. That was one of the things that really irked me as a mechanic (now retired). ALL manufacturers are now going to online parts lookups. Doesn't matter what you're working on. You can't take a CD or computer to a vehicle or piece of equipment to verify if it's correct. I hate this modern world!
get the green book and the two blue books, that should cover just about all of it. Selling one part could pay for all the books, you know
I just purchased the green book on Amazon. I have lots of shop manuals for '50s and '60s Fords, but not any master parts books. Maybe I'm wrong here (I'm hoping), but I think they have expanded diagrams and numbers lists based on year. If I knew the year, I pretty much can figure out what it is or where it goes. It would be nice to have a book with a numerical and alphabetical list of the numbers, that then told you what it was for. Oh well, wish in one hand..... Like I said though, maybe those master books have a listing in the front or back, and I'm wrong about that.
Ford parts lookup in the Green Book is simpler than you think. The index takes you to each section of the cars. The detailed drawings on the start of every section give you a base number for each part. For instance, the base number for radius rods is 3405, whether it is for a '28 Model A or a '48 p***enger car. On page 86, the part number for the '28 model A is; A 3405-B and it's for '28 and '29 p***enger and commercial vehicles. AA 3405-B is for '28-'29 trucks. AA3405-B is for '30-31 trucks. It's the same system for all their parts. The parts may be shaped differently to accommodate different vehicles but they all have the same base number.
If I recall correctly there was an explanation of the numbers in the Model A service bulletins. It tells what numbers cover what parts.
Model A stuff was easy, then the numbers got a B in 1932, then things went weird....and didn't get normal and sensible again until the mid-late 50s. Have fun!
***ignment of part numbers at Ford was not random but instead was approached in a logical manner. Blocks of basic part numbers (groups of numbers) were ***igned according to their function. An example of this is that the engine components were ***igned numbers from 6008 through 6856 (a complete list of these basic part numbers is contained in the table). Continuing the example within the block of numbers “6050” was ***igned to the cylinder head. This number would continue to define the cylinder head as future parts were identified by new prefixes and suffixes. When later V8’s required a different cylinder head for each side of the engine the left head continued to be numbered “6050” while the right head was designated “6049”. A prefix was added to the basic part number representing the application for which the part was first used. These prefixes are shown on the illustrations at the back of the “Green Bible”. All Model A (1928-1931) part numbers began with “A” for p***enger vehicle and “AA” for heavy trucks. When the 1932 vehicles were introduced the part numbers began with “B” for the 4 cylinder and common parts, with “18” for the parts unique to the V8 and with “BB” for the large trucks. Any Model A parts that were used in the 1932 vehicles were renumbered. Any part that was unique to the Model A retained the “A” prefix. This concept is important to the Model A owner because it explains why some Model A parts in the supplier’s catalogs carry a “B” prefix while others have an “A” prefix. The model year 1932 was the last time that Ford would completely renumber all of the parts. In 1933 the prefix was “40” for the p***enger car, “46” for the commercial and “BB” for the large trucks. Parts that remained the same from 1932 were not renumbered. If after the original release of the part a change was made such that the part was not functionally interchangeable a suffix was added to the part number beginning with ”A” and extending through the alphabet Ford Basic part Numbers (The following information is from the Ford Ch***is Parts and Accessories Catalog dated November 1950 and has evolved slightly since the Model A era.) 1012-1244 Wheels, Hubs & Drums 1350-1498 Spare Wheel Carrier 2004-2441 Brakes (Service) 2442-2597 Brake Controls 2600-2866 Brakes (Hand) 3010-3446 Front Axle 3503-3743 Steering Gear 4000-4799 Rear Axle 4803-4906 Coupling Shaft 5000-5194 Frame & Brackets 5230-5293 Muffler & Exhaust Pipe 5300-5469 Front Spring 5484-5494 Stabilizer 5505-5799 Rear Spring 6008-6856 Engine 7000-7449 Transmission 7501-7620 Clutch 8005-8458 Radiator 8501-8592 Water Pump 8600-8665 Fan 9002-9326 Fuel Tank 9349-9417 Fuel Pump 9424-9488 Manifolds, Clamps, etc. 9502-9685 Carburetor 9700-9819 Accelerator, Throttle & Choke Control Rods 9902-9974 Carburetor 10000-10449 Generator 10505-10653 Cutout & Voltage Regulator 10655-10722 Battery 10732-10732 Battery Support 10844-10990 Instrument Cluster & Ammeter 11002-11383 Starter Motor 11450-11587 Starter Switch 11646-11673 Lighting Switch 12000-12388 Ignition Coil, Distributor, Condenser 12405-12410 Spark Plug 13002-13324 Lamps (Head, Parking & Cowl) 13402-13799 Lamps (Rear & Dome) 13801-13919 Horn 14176-14615 Wiring 15001-15709 Miscellaneous Accessories 16000-16157 Front Fender 16160-16446 Rear Fender 16450-16548 Running Board 16550-16590 Shield 16604-16960 Hood 17005-17125 Tools 17254-17293 Speedometer 17450-17647 Windshield Wiper 17679-17745 Mirrors 17749-17997 Bumpers 18006-18197 Shock Absorber 18204-18998 Miscellaneous Accessories 20039-S - 97015-S Standard Bolts, Screws, Nuts etc. 350001-S - 359932-S Special Bolts, Washers, etc. The final change to the part numbers was a couple of years ago when Ford decided that anyone utilizing the Ford part numbering system was infringing on their intellectual property. In all fairness to Ford they were probably trying to combat “gyp” parts being produced for current model cars (remember, Henry warned us about “gyp” parts). Now antique parts suppliers can pay Ford to use the Ford part number system but most have chosen to make up their own numbers. Of course no one talks to each other and now the parts numbers really look like “they were pulled at random from a box much like lottery numbers.”
The part that we all have trouble with, is starting in 1933, the prefix looks kind of random. It's probably based on the random looking model numbers for the different cars and trucks over the years....but since it looks random, it's kind of difficult to understand how it works. Can you please explain it? You had a great explanation going up to 1932, then it kind of stopped. To get back to the first post in the thread, what does FAB mean, for example?
In the mid 30’s they began the system where the prefix designates the year the part was designed. The first digit is the last digit of the year. All parts for 40 Fords that were new have 01A as the prefix. The parts for 37 Fords had 78 as the prefix. I don’t know what the second digit of the prefix designates though. The suffix after the common part number is the revision of that part during that year. A “B” after the part number shows it is the second version of that part in that year.
I'm sure there was logic to the system, but nothing easily deciphered by anyone outside the company, unless of course you lived around them day in and day out. The number identifying a part is not the problem.....it's not hard to figure out what a head looks like, or a front axle, or a spindle, or a door handle etc etc, but the years ***ociated with it get really confusing and have no long term logic, as they changed them through the years. The later codes identifying decade, year, and body style are easily ciphered. I can look at any late '50s and up part number and instantly know what year it is ***ociated with, and what body style, like Mercury, Galaxie, Mustang, Falcon etc. And yes, I realize it was all a work in progress as all this stuff was fairly new and they were still figuring out an easier system. I'm not complaining about that, just trying to figure the best way to identify the parts that aren't easily ID'd. That's not entirely accurate. I have '50 Ford parts that start with 01A. Nothing indicates the decade, so it's not as straight forward as you suggest. As for the FAB, I have no idea. I have NOS headlight buckets that I couldn't identify until I figured out the lightswitch by recognizing it. That led me to thinking the buckets must also be for a '55 and possibly '56, then I verified by looking at the ones on my '55. On the flipside, all the NOS '55 body parts I have start with B5, so an easy start to figuring on that one. Why they were using TWO different systems at the time is mind boggling. Trying to do that with hundreds and hundreds of small parts is not a fun thing to do!
I think I can at least partially address this... When the OP posted that number, it got me curious, so I looked in my '61 Ford parts book. Some appear to be parts outside the 'standard' applications, i.e. taxi. While the 'normal' part number in this case (also a dome light switch) started with the expected C1 number, there is a second part number with a FEW prefix but the same 'part identifier' number. This is specified for a taxi application, and I'm ***uming Ford fitted a heavier-duty switch anticipating many more door opening/closings compared the standard p***enger car. But this doesn't appear to be the answer either. In going through my parts book, I found five more of these three-letter prefixes (when I quit looking). Two oddball ones; FDM for an alternator bracket and FDR (another taxi part), and two more 'normal' ones, FAA (223-6 distributor bits) and FEK (shifter bushing). The last one was WAN and ***ociated with power steering. But what did strike me is all of these parts appeared to be low-volume items, not parts that would normally need replacing unless you lost or broke them or a very limited application (taxi). Ford started the letter decade/number year system in the '40s but as noted, it took a while to convert over. I suspect these are parts that fell through the cracks for various reasons and didn't get an updated number. If they had adequate stock for anticipated demand, I doubt they would have spent the money to re-label/re-package them. And none of these parts with their prefixes showed in the index or any sort of explanation of them.
The Jalopy Journal
