1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

I think i know the answer to this but would appreciate any thoughtful responses from those guys with pickup knowledge.

Here goes:
Did 1940 pickup trucks with factory installed four speed transmissions have an "altered" serial number applied"?
Case in point (example) a prefix of "BB".

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

Not saying I have the knowledge but would that lettering be say for a 3/4 or bigger truck? I remember seeing a 3/4 40 truck that looked like the same frame just heavier duty suspension .... was it made up or factory I do not know but it did have a 4-speed with a granny first gear ...

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

Check here for info:
http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/f...sID_3speed.htm
http://www.fordgarage.com/pages/Beng...ntsupports.htm

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

I had a 1941 4 cylinder pick up with a factory 4 speed, the serial number was 11T---strange but true, I have access to the engine/trans, we put this into a stripdown Model A to run around at the farm shows, parades, etc

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

Kube
The serial number prefix on my 40 Tonner with a 4 speed transmission was "B." You raise an interesting question. Does the prefix on the serial number tell us anything about the truck, something about its transmission or nothing in particular?
Les Williams

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

For the 1940 60HP commercial there was only one transmission available 01-C
For the 85Hp commercial there were two 01-Y and 01-YS-A the 01-YS-A is the four speed.
Either way, 3 or 4 speed they are 85 HP pick up with the 01C-83 body & 112" wheelbase.
My best guess is *18- for both of the 85HP.

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

Hey Terry,
This truck, a 1940 1/2 ton has the factory stamped number in the frame. No question about that and it does match the title. The frame is very nice.
I've never seen anything like this and like you, have special interest in figuring out these type of oddities.
You and I both realize Ford did some odd things. I had a factory equipped (Mercury engine) in a '40 Ford coupe with a serial number starting with "PC". That carried throughout the frame , transmission and title.
Yep, this one has me puzzled...

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

A 1940 1/2 Ton 112" WB pick-up was considered Commercial and not Truck. Number stamped in one place or three? Do the other places have the prefix? Same identical number font in the other locations? It's good that the same number is affixed to the title! Mac VanPelts book is a fast reference. His book has a footnote regarding serial numbers. "The serialization applied to trucks and commercial vehicles using these Ford engines. They MAY HAVE DIFFERENT SERIAL PREFIXES......" In Dave Rehor's book on the 32 Ford, he indicates several different prefix as well as changes to the prefix just in 32 production. Dave also mentions changes to the early 33 Ford prefix. Nearly all of the Ford Club restoration books stay away from the Commercial and Truck production. I believe they wanted to simplify their subject as much as possible. In Les's posting above his tonner is stamped B. The BB18 is what it is and I see no problem with it, since, it would appear, the Ford factory put the letters in place.

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

BB usually indicated something larger than a 1/2 ton commercial. It may have been due to the 4-speed transmission installation since most commercials had the 3-speed.

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

Terry/Kube
"My best guess is *18- for both of the 85HP." That agrees with the serialization on the tonner which has a "B18" prefix and an 85HP engine. Are these serial numbers supposed to coincide with actual production figures? Comparing the serial number on Kube's frame (5651912) to the tonner's serial number (5458922) there is a difference of 192,990. Does that sound right for a production figure in 1940? I have a WA state Vehicle Inspection document that shows it being checked in April 1940 which would indicate that it must have been licensed around that time frame. When did the manufacturers switch over their production lines? In the fall of the prior year or sometime after that? I'm trying to get a handle on when the tonner might have come off the production line.

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

Ford could build some interesting vehicles. We screwed together a bunch of cab and chassis Rangers with big Firestone tires and wheels, and it was rated as a one ton. In place of the cat converter was a mouse trap. They all went to Mexico.

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

I owned a 1940 Ford 1/2 Ton Pickup with a 4 Speed Tranny, a 85 Hp V8 & a 60 MPH Speedometer with shift range indicators on it's face & 4/11 Rear, from 1990 to 2009. The serial # was BB185884101 .; It may now reside in Boyton Beach Florida. I have been told the Mfg # for 4 Speed was in the 400+ range & were referred to as "FARM VERSION"

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

I think maybe I know too Kube. But just for fun, howabout you go first.

Lonnie

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

Mike:
If the post by ken bull is correct it would appear to confirm your theory of the "altered" frame numbers. So now what do you do when showing this truck with a three speed trans and a four speed vin in a v8 club concourse? Another thing strange about the use of the bb is that designation was given to the bigger ford trucks in the 1932 era.
Larry

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

I don't know. I was only willing to offer a guess that it was due to the 4-speed transmission.

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

Larry, There is no call out for a serial number confirmation on the V8 Club Concourse.

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

That's okay. I really don't know either. I was just calling your bluff.

Lonnie

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

My 40 p/u is stamped BB then serial # both title and frame it had a 4 speed in it.

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

BB Better Box

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

Hi all, new guy here my name is Jeff and joined up recently. Was reading this post and I just purchased a 38 pickup with a 59 flattie and 4 speed tranny it also starts out with bb .

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

Hi all, don't wan to intrude on this thread but can you guys guide me to threads for swapping out 4 speed to a 3 speed or better yet a modern 5 speed. Much appreciated!

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

BB denotes 60hp motor for 1940 serial number started with BB54-506501 85hp denoted by 18

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

I'll add some more to the 'BB' mystery. I have a 1940 01 pickup that I purchased from the original owner. The original title came with it. I've attached a photo of the top portion of the original Nebraska title that shows the "Motor No." starting with 'BB'.
Note: I blurred the last few numbers from the Motor No. in a photo editor just because I'm not sure how prudent it is to post a photo of the unedited title.
The numbers stamped on the frame and the bell housing are identical to the number on the title but do not have the 'BB' prefix. It's just *18562XXXX* (I've omitted that last 4 digits).
The truck has the original V8 engine and original 3-speed trans.
Does this help clarify what the 'BB' prefix means? It doesn't seem to match up with the suggestion that BB means a 4-speed trans. Since the 'BB' prefix doesn't appear on the frame, it must have been copied from the Mfr Cert.
Any ideas how to interpret the meaning of the 'BB' in my situation?

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

I have a 1939 4 cyl industrial power unit on an Ashpeth "orange"
belt drive machine with an in/out clutch. This was used to power
the early brush chipper. There were three uses for the 9 N engine,
tractors, industrial and the Ford P/U. Each type had different type
of serial numbers. I looked years ago and could find nobody in the
world that had a list of the industrial serial numbers. The trucks
and tractors are well documented. I when to New Holland Farm
Equipment Co and met with 3 or 4 engineers in the lobby about
20 years ago. The company had been sold 3 or 4 times and these
were all fairly new people. One that was there a little longer said
the old guy that kept the records retired and the company had no
interest in keeping the old records and gave them to him. I tried
but was never able to find him. Maybe someone from another
company that used these engines may have info on them. I'm in
Penna. for a few more weeks but when I get back to Fl. I'll post
the serial number of my engine. Mine has a Twin Disc Co. clutch
with the serial number of the clutch, I called them and they had
records that showed my unit was sent back to the factory in 1950
and was rebuilt. The engine was also rebuilt in 1950 but apparently
installed by a helper and he never got it running. I guess it was put
in some corner and became obsolete and sold for scrape. It wound
up a place that cuts up old cars. They had a few 1947 Ford convertible
cowl units that I bought some part from. Every time I went there for
the next few years the guy would say it was a Model A engine and try
to sell it to me. Finally said I'll give you $15.00 for it and he said it"s
yours. The valve covers were off so I guess they thought there was a
valve problem. I found a set of valve covers and discovered two spark
plug wires were crossed on the cap. It is the best, smoothest running
4 cyl engine I ever heard. I made new sheet metal for it and a grill
similar to a Ford tractor and painted it Ford tractor gray. G.M.

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

Actually the "54" denotes the 60HP. The "BB" per my research does in fact indicate the four speed transmission.

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

BB went onto large trucks for years, BB18 for 221, BB54 for 60, just BB in the early years with B engine. The serial is the ENGINE number, actually engine/trans assembly, and 4 speed truck units got the BB prefix regardless of what they went into. This sort of thing applied to all combos...for instance, in '39-42, a small number of special order Ford cars got Mercury 239 engines. These all got the 99 serial numbers that went with the power units.
Trans swap...just get a passenger trans with right clutch lever and rear mount for your year AND a Ujoint from a 3 speed.

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

For what its worth: My info states that the 4 speed was an option for 112" wheel base (commercial cars) vehicles so it wouldn't need to be a "truck".

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

I Have a 1940 1/2 ton pickup with a 221 v8 and 4 speed. the number on the frame and bell housing appears to be 9C 2040 I have not found any reference to 9C does this seem correct?

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

9C means your truck was originally a 4 cylinder, look at the floor around/behind the gas pedal and see if it has be altered/patched to cover the original "hole" for the 4 cylinder starter.

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

Thank you for the reply. I wondered if being a 4 cylinder was the answer. Was the "hole" a clearance provision or a starter button? I'm pretty sure the cab on mine was changed (it had framed door glass). It was an unfinished restoration project that I bought on an estate auction years 23 years ago. There were parts from other trucks on the same auction.

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

That appears to be a Model B 4 cylinder number started at 5000000 and up

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

Sorry, missed the 18 should be a big truck 1 1/2 ton denoted by the BB but a v-8

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

the hole was for the starter Bendix, on tractor engines the starter was up high

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

Would this 4 cylinder serial number make my truck a 41 instead of a 40. Most I read 4 cylinder started in 41.

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

yes 40 trucks had the 60 hp v8

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

Thanks for all of your help.

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

The 4 cyl trucks had the 11T serial numbers. The same engine in the
8 or 9N tractors have tractor serial numbers that there are records of.
The same engines used on industrial equipment had their own serial
sequence but I haven't been able to find anyone who has any records
on these engines. G.M.

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

Following

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

the 41 1/2 ton pick up equipped with 3 spd trans used 9C-------, 4 speed used 9T I have owned one of each

Re: 1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?
 

Trucks & commercials are hard to find information about since they used various different engine and trans combinations. In some previous threads about this, there seemed to be prefix changes any time there was engine type (V8, V8-60, G6, & 9N), engine CID (221 or 239 V8), or whether it had a light duty 3-speed, 4-speed, or 4-speed big truck trans.

9C is the prefix that most folks mention about the 9N engined vehicles. It should have been 9NC but that would have made too much sense. I don't think they made very many 4-banger vehicles in 1942. The sales were dismal and the war brought a stop to all sales by April of 1942 anyway. Don't you know that the poor Ford dealers had to pull there belt up tighter than a drum for the war years. All they could sell was service & parts and any old used cars they could patch up good enough to move out. Even the 2N tractor was spartan with no starter or electrics and a magneto for ignition.