I am in the process of pulling the cab off my 55 F100 (the project is linked in my signature) and found a mystery. Thought I'd put to the attention of the group to see if any one else has run across this.

My frame has a proper VIN stamp F10V5D11687. I attach a photo of the VIN on the frame. By my understanding, the V code shows this truck was shipped with a 239ci V8. It now has a 292ci motor from 1956-59. This is a fairly common engine swap. But look at the images of the front engine mount. The chassis looks to have been factory-equipped with a 6cyl bracket, which can be seen riveted to the main from cross member. But we also see a V8 mount cross member. This V8 mount cross member is bolted ( not riveted) to the frame rail. Yet the VIN stamped in the frame is a V code. Let's try to ignore the odd way the the existing 292 motor has been bridged over onto the 6cyl bracket. That is just part of the colorful past. What I am interested in is what happened at the factory. How does a V-code VIN frame come to look like this? Has anyone else seen this?

 

Seeing that front frame section reminded me of 1975 when I traded a motorcycle to my buddy for a 55 F100 with a 1973 Buick 455 TH 400 stock rear end setup.Under max acceleration it would pull hard to the left and try to take the steering wheel out of your hands.After babying it down the strip a few times we managed some 12.20s at 110. On snow tires! Deciding to quit and not risk any more my friend and I drove back to my dads house to have him look at it.He found that when the owner previous to my friend put the 455 in it he had cutout the entire front crossmember to put side mounts to the buick. The only thing holding the frame together was the front bumper. Holy Moly. Dad put together a 1/4 wall 2x3 dropped crossmember roughly where the original was and that made it rock solid. Went back to Portland International Raceway the next Sunday with Sonic Maxima L60x15s on the back,more ignition advance and ran 11.99 at 115 on a time trial. Got kicked out for no rollbar. Great fun though.