Got my 52 Ford F1 only to discover the frame is stamped with an F4 s/n. #ad

 

does the tittle match the cab serial number?

 

Does the frame look like it's been shortened? Looks like you have the right stud count on your wheels for a F-1.

 

Yeah, I just saw this section was F1,F2, and F3. lol I think I might a bit of all of them. I crawled up under the truck last night and discovered the frame has been cut right behind the cab and a F1 rear frame welded on. Now they did a bang up job. It will break somewhere else before it breaks at the splice but...........now I planned to make a restomod anyway. So, should I continue and just use this frame, try to find a F1 frame and roll under it, or maybe try and put a Ranger frame under it? My plan right now is to just get it safe to drive for fun for a while but I want to start looking for a deal on other frames if that is path I take.

 

If you can drive it the way it is and it's titled to you why change anything, especially if the work on it was done well. From what I see of it in the picture it looks like a pretty good ride.

 

Well, I am a planner. So, if I can look far enough ahead it gives me time to look for good deals and gather parts. If I knew I was going to do a frame swap instead of after market IFS, I might find a deal on one. Current plan is just to fix the brakes. The single reservoir doesn't work. Bought a dual and will make my own adapter. Next will probably be to get rid of the granny gear four speed and put in either a C4 or C6 depending on what I find.

 

I would make that one safe to drive, and have fun with it!
Buy another frame, and build it while you drive that truck
Later, you can pull the body and bed off that truck, and put it on the new frame.

That way you get to enjoy your new toy while you work on it

 

I'd say focus on the cab and bed. You are worried about a bastardized frame - another frame may come along, but as you said it is rigid and works.

Work with what you got, and bank some cash.

But if you do some driving around, you never know where you might find a truck that has a ruined cab and bed but a sound frame under it that someone just wants taken away

The TITLE of a pickup is based on the cab itself. That is where the VIN or serial number is found

The cab of the truck - IS the truck.


WORD

 

Yeah, I have just about decided to make this one safe and forget the frame for now. Pulled the old master cylinder last night and plan to start making an adapter for a dual reservoir tonight. Brakes are pretty important. lol

 

Sorry, but that is not correct. The (only) legal ID on the early Ford trucks is the the number stamped into the frame. If you change/remove/replace any or all the rest of the parts except the frame it's still the same truck. If you replace only the frame it is a different truck. The tag on the cab is called the rating plate, and has no legal bearing.

 

Do you have a title in your hand that has the same ID number that is stamped into the frame?

 

No but I do have a title that has a North Carolina assigned VIN on it. The truck was investigated and cleared for NC to assign a VIN. There are no S/n's on the truck other than the frame.

 

Here in Texas they go by the number that is easiest to see, being the one on the glove compartment door, and mine matches what was on the Arkansas title that I transferred. At least that is what happened to me. I also have a 54 Panel that sits on a 56 F100 frame. I am hoping that I won't have a problem with that one either. We will see, maybe a few years down the road... I need to hurry up and retire so that I can work on trucks and woodies only...