Post to the EFV-8 Forum
Post Classified Ads
Shop the Online Store

User Login

Not Registered Yet? Click Here to Sign Up!

Early Ford V-8 Club Forum

FORUM RULES: Users agree to these Rules when using Forum.

The site administrator reserves the right to change the terms and conditions of the user agreement without prior notice to the user. It is the responsibility of the user to regularly review the terms of this agreement.

The user agrees to the following terms:

All information that you provide to us for your membership is correct.
You will not use your membership to spam, harrass, or exploit other members in any way.
Vulgar, Abusive, Racist and Sexist Language will not be tolerated.
Commercial-type sales postings will not be allowed.
No mass posting or flooding of the boards is allowed.
No Advertising of parts or cars; no Ebay or business/commercial ads (please use the "Classified" for ads Wanted or For Sale).
VIEWING MULTIPLE TOPICS ON SCREEN: You can choose to see more than 10 Topics at a time ... Log In and choose "Preferences" from the top bar on the Forum page. Scroll down and Change the "Default Topics Returned" parameter to 25 or 50, and save the changes. Since this setting is stored in your browser 'cookies' (if enabled), it seems to use that stored value even if you are not logged in. So, if you use a PC that you haven't logged into the forum from, the setting still seem to remain at the default.
EXTERNAL PHOTO LINKS ON FORUM: You can still use external photo links in your posts on the new forum. They follow the rules of any link in that they have to have the URL link qualified down to the full image file name (example: .jpg). The links will open in a new browser window, the same as an uploaded image attached to a post. Since an image attachment to any post does not display inline with the post, the results are the same. You can use multiple external links within a post. This link is from photos on a site from Don Clink's 'Deuce@75' albums:

http://donclink.com/deuce_75_1/images/dscn2950.jpg

Using links from photo sites such as Photobucket can help in "size" issue with uploaded attachment files. For best viewing in web browsers, photos should be around the 800x600 pixel range, and probably not more than 1024x768. Most cameras today store HUGE jpg image files, as the default settings are in the 7, 8, 10, and 12Mb image sizes. The image files that are then attached are very large, and the browser can't display the full image size without using the scroll bars. Use the re-sizing functions of your photo editing software to reduce the image to 800x600, which reduces the file sixe and the image load time in the browser. Don uses Google's free Picassa3 software, which is an excellent photo management product. All of the photo albums of the Deuce, Grand National, and Auburn that are links on the NORG site were built using Picassa's web creation functions. And it's free? (THANKS to Don Clink for the info!)
HOW DO I SHOW MY EMAIL ADDRESS ALONG WITH MY USERNAME? You can LogIn on the Forum, and select PREFERENCES. On this page Members can add optional information such as their City,State, Country; Occupation; Hobbies: list a Homepage; list AOL Instant Messanger Handle; Signature; "Make Email Address viewable to others;" and even change the number of Default Topics shown on a page. WHEN others click on your profile, they will see this information.

EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / New member, new project. :)

Reply to Discussion | New Discussion

<< previous || next >>

Posted By

Discussion Topic: New member, new project. :)

gunbunny119

05-10-2023 @ 4:38 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 7
Joined: May 2023

Hello everyone.

Stumbled on a 47-48 ford that will be my next beloved project that I intend to drive for years. I've been deep diving and doing as much research as I can about these cars, but I felt I should join and say h*llo.

The car was bought without title (of course), so I'm beginning the bonding process. I've done this before, so no big deal. However...I wasn't prepared for the fact that the serial number was never put on the cab prior to 49. And of course, this car got a resto-mod treatment a while back, so it has a gm G-body front end (full stub job, not just crossmember) and a 350 chevy. (I know, I know). So the two most prominent places they stamped the serial number are gone. I just pulled the body today and managed to fetch the serial number from the frame at the 2 alternate stamp places..

Here's my question...How do I know if this is a 47 or a 48? The frame only has the 6 digit serial number and not the prefix and I'll need the prefix and proper year to get it titled.

It does have the front marker lights under the headlight, so I know it's not a 46. It has the dual ashtrays in the dash , so I know it was a super deluxe. (not even sure if it had the 6 or 8. However...nothing from the firewall forward is original and it has a ford 9 under it, so the rear axle is no longer stock. Although it has the original 3 on the tree steering column, the steering wheel was replaced so I don't have the stock steering wheel. I read online there was a difference in the clock on the dash? the only answer I saw online was "the clock" without elaboration. At least it still has the stock clock if that's a clue.
Based on the information available to me, I figure it could be a 47 or a 48. It does have the aluminum running boards, so I'm leaning toward 48. I'm assuming due to the axle swap the rear shocks aren't original, so the tube/no tube shock difference is probably negated.

Opinions? The only real clue I have is the aluminum running boards to tell it from a 47 or 48. The other determining factors I've read online are negated because of all the work this car has had done on it. I'm leaning toward 48, but I'd love to hear from you guys.

Obviously, I've done my digging, so this isn't just a lazy new guy post, I promise lol.

I'll post pics soon and it's good to be here.

Also, I just bought the green early ford bible, so I'm looking forward to getting it in the mail.

This message was edited by gunbunny119 on 5-10-23 @ 4:47 PM

carcrazy

05-10-2023 @ 4:53 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 1667
Joined: Oct 2009

If the car still has the original steering column and ignition switch, you can make a pretty good guess about its model year. The very last 1947 and 1948 cars no longer had the coincidental steering and ignition lock, they simply had an ignition lock mounted to the right of the steering column.

JayChicago

05-10-2023 @ 5:04 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 484
Joined: Jan 2016

"Here's my question...How do I know if this is a 47 or a 48? The frame only has the 6 digit serial number and not the prefix and I'll need the prefix and proper year to get it titled."

This chart shows serial numbers by year, and the prefix:
http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_serialnumbers.htm

gunbunny119

05-10-2023 @ 8:08 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 7
Joined: May 2023

I will definitely have a look at that steering lock. This is my first fat fender project, so I'm learning. Thats why I was so caught off guard when I heard the serial number was only on the engine and front frame, which are both long gone. Thanks.

gunbunny119

05-10-2023 @ 8:24 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 7
Joined: May 2023

Yeah, Jay, I'm still looking at that chart. Kinda has me stumped. My serial is a 6 digit 287,xxx number. In the VP chart, the fords in 47 and 48 were all 7 digit, or they were much lower than mine. But I checked another website (classicford) and they list the serial range on the 48 to be 7 digits, but on the 47 they were 6 digit and mine fit within their range. But considering 2 different sites have conflicting data, I have no idea what to believe. On top of that, I know that in post-war Ford, they were thrifty and commonly made variations based on what parts they had lying around.

Working on the car has been a breeze, who knew deciphering the serial number would be the kicker.

Thanks for the help

Model B

05-11-2023 @ 4:55 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 90
Joined: Oct 2009

According the Van Pelt's serial number chart...I'm leaning towards the chassis being a '46 six cylinder chassis. A lot of things happen to our cars over the years, especially when they have been modified. Just a guess!

Stay Safe!
Pat

gunbunny119

05-11-2023 @ 11:58 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 7
Joined: May 2023

Updated info...So I have 2 stamped serial numbers to work with...mid body and tail section. On the mid body, the beginning of the serial number is no longer there because the frame pitted at that location. On the tail section, with enough scr*ping, we discovered that I do indeed have a 7 digit serial number. 2,087,xxx. Based on the charts, that makes more sense and that number fits into the early 1948 serial range.

It appears to be a 48 from what I'm seeing.

Admittedly, this has been a bit of a fun project to do with my kids.

I appreciate the insight, gentlemen.

ford38v8

05-11-2023 @ 4:40 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 2764
Joined: Oct 2009

Well son of a gun, it’s a pleasure to read a question from someone who has already researched more than most guys ever considered doing. Glad you got your info, and hope you’ll stick around to provide answers to some of our own questions!

Alan

gunbunny119

05-11-2023 @ 6:22 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 7
Joined: May 2023

"Well son of a gun, it’s a pleasure to read a question from someone who has already researched more than most guys ever considered doing"

Well I try my best. I've been on forums for decades and I know the frustration of seeing a new guy ask a question that is answered 50 times in the forum and another 500 on google. My wife drives a jeep and on her forums they have a game for every time a new member asks "Whats the largest tires I can have with stock suspension?" .

woodiewagon46

05-12-2023 @ 10:00 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 704
Joined: Nov 2012

The V-8 Club sell's a 1941-1948 Ford book that is loaded with the information you will need. If the glass is original you can check the date on the "Bugs".

<< previous || next >>

NOTE: YOU MUST BE A REGISTERED USER AND BE LOGGED IN TO POST (and reply to) messages in this forum. If you are a first time user, please click the CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT in the masthead above to register and Log In. After that, all you do is LOG IN to enjoy using this site.

DISCLAIMER: The V-8 Club does no independent testing of any of the opinions, thoughts or suggestions presented in the website on the Forum, in the Tech Tips section, or any section. A reader should consider the website to be a forum wherein differing solutions to a particular set of circumstances may be discussed. Ultimately, the selection of an item for an individual's vehicle must be based upon the independent study of the vehicle owner in consultation with people in the hobby and restoration experts.

Early Ford V-8 Club Forum

Merchandise Questions

Membership Questions