1940 Pickup w / 4 speed serial number?

[Kube]

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".

[TomT/Williamsburg]

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 ...

[Capn John]

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

[alanwoodieman]

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

[expavr]

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

[Terry,OH]

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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.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by Terry,OH

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.

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...

[Terry,OH]

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.

[rotorwrench]

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.

[expavr]

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.

[Ole Don]

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.

[Ken Bull]

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"

[Binx]

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

Lonnie

[40larry]

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

[Kube]

Originally Posted by Binx

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

Lonnie

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

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by 40larry

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

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

[Binx]

Originally Posted by Kube

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

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

Lonnie

[JonC]

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

[GSCOV]

BB Better Box

[38 steel header]

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 .