FC Dash question

docsurf

Gear Grinder
Jul 29, 2017
11
Liberty Lake, WA
First Name
Mike
Willys Model
  1. Pickup
Willys Year:
  1. 1951
What is the rectangular plate screwed on the dash to the right of the steering wheel...held on by two screws? Could it possibly have the serial number or any kind of identifying numbers on it? The normal tag on the floor has been removed.

Doc
 
Hey Mike
It's a "radio delete" cover.

It's strangle. While Willys made accommodations to ease radio installation, Other than in the parts list, I've never seen a picture of an FC dash with a radio installed. Not much room behind that plate.

(The two 2 1/16" gauge cutouts - one with the ammeter shown in it, and one where a mechanical oil gauge goes - were added by a previous owner.)

Dash 2.jpg

Radio Delete Cover.jpg
 
The last 5 digits of the serial number is also stamped on the top side of the passenger side frame rail just forward of the rear axle.

DSC00047.jpg


The full serial number includes a six-digit model designation.

Here's what the data plate looks like:

Serial Number Plate.jpg

From National Service Data:

NRD.jpg


NRD 1.jpg


You can use the information above, along with the production serial number tables at
http://thefcconnection.com/forward_control_production_numbers.htm
, http://www.public.asu.edu/~grover/willys/serial.html and https://www.kaiserwillys.com/willys_jeep_serial_numbers to figure out the vehicle year.


The model designation, the first 5 digits on the data plate, on my truck is 61568.

That decodes as an FC-170 (the "61")
The third digit is the body style. "5" for the FC is either a "Cab and Chassis" or a "Pick-Up". (Ed: or "Stake" or "Platform".)
The fourth digit is the engine type. "6" is a "6 cylinder 226 cu. in. "L" Head."
The fifth digit, "8", indicates "4 Wheel Drive - LHD"

My cab and my chassis are not "matching numbers" (yet another "Frankinjeep")

If the serial number plate is original to the cab, I've got a 1960 cab, and probably a 1962 or 1963 frame.

(I can't quite make out the third digit of my frame number...)

 

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I have a 59 FC170 and the serial number is stamped on top of the frame over the passenger side front axle. The frame number matched the plate in my case, no frankinjeep.Mark C
 
Here's my serial number. It is actually over the support for the radiator, the round frame connector
 

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