simularities with 1941 and 1946 ford pickup?

it seems to me atleast from looking on pictures that
the cab is the same, is that right? but the frame cant be the same ? basing that from seeing adds for newmade frames
that often says (40-41 pickup) for the -> 1940 ford frames, i mean they would say 40-46 pickup) if the frames was the same or?, havent had the opertunity to see 2 side by side only had pictures to look at,
anyhow a friend got a 46 pickup just curious i mean if the frame and cab is the same it would be an easy swap with 40-41 pickup sheet metal front clip,

 

The 46-47 frames are 'ladder' type, the 35 to 41 pickup used an X center. The 46-7 has parallel leaf springs front and rear. The 46-7 frame is longer to the front. 40 sheetmetal bolts to the cab but does not fit over the longer frame. I have seen it suggested that the frame can be trimmed so the 40 sheetmetal will fit.

 

aha ok, thanx

btw is the 46-47 pickup frame only for pickups or was it ever used on the personal cars aswell? 41-48?

 

The truck frame was only used on the trucks. Another difference is the mounting position of the front fenders. The bolt holes do not line up. if you're trying to run 40/41 fenders on a 42-46 you have to drill new holes (in either the cab or the fenders). And the front track width of the 42-46 trucks is wider than the 40-41 trucks as well.

Here is a photo of my 42.

 

This is an OLD post but I'm lookin at a '46 pickup and man, the front ends are ugly! Anyone know any more specifics about all that would have to be done to get the 41 sheetmetal on the truck? Would the running boards line up with the front fenders of the 41? It has a MustangII front end, is the frame width the same on the 41 compared to the 46? Is it the same hood? I was thinkin the same thing about the '40-'41 front end mounting and it sounds "possible" but was wondering if anyone had any ideas for something else. Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks

Mootz

 

With a little creativity you could massage the front end into something cool. Maybe open up the grille area and put a '48 style grille in.

 

There's one here in LB that has the grill changed so it's a bunck of about 3/8" square bars laid out horizontal about the same distance apart instead of the verticle slots. They have a slight bend in the center too if i remember right.
Makes it look purrrty almost!

 

Does anybody know how much of the frame has to be cut? Just a couple inches off the front or a major restructuring?

Mootz

 

Aint nothing will make those years purty! My 43 is still sitting because I wont build it until I find a 40-1 nose. Ive also seen a glass flip 38 Deluxe/39 Standard car nose on one and it really looks nice; dont know how much work was involved.

 

It has been a while since we did this, the 40-41 sheetmetal is hard to find.
If I remember right (you have to do your own checking);
46 came with a parallel leaf dropped front axle.
We used a 46 frame and added a universal mustang II kit, and had move the centerline back.
I think there are truck only fenders, but a 40 standard grille (car) will work.
The 46 hood won't work, cool latch tho.
The running boards were different. We reworked the glass set from fairlane fiberglass. (they came with the truck)
Speedway makes glass fenders, wescott makes a hood ($1100...ouch)
I don't think the truck ever got a hood. We ended up making the rad support, inner fenderwells and brackets. Sorry I don't have the pics or notes..

Hope it helps

 

I smacked the shit out of a 47 Ford pick up for a friend of mine back in the 70's and we got to lookin' at it and decided that the 47 front clip was about as ugly as a truck could get.So we drove over to Crescent Ok and bought a 40 Ford cab and front clip for $75.Brought it back and bolted it to the 47 directly.Every bolt but one on each side was a direct fit.
So long story short I don't know spit for certain about the frame but the front clip is definitely a fit.
T.OUT

 

Sorry to bring up such an old thread but I too am also working on my 46 ford pu and concur with the majority that the front end is hideous... I was looking into options when I ran across this thread and was wonderin if any one has more input on this subject as some conflicts are evident in it as in most forums... I am considering just welding a box to the front end and paint it like a paper bag... soooo please if you have any input on the fitting a 40-41 front end on a 46....

 

Didn,t truckin magazine do series of articles on this swap a few years back?

 

The box and tailgate is 46" wide on a 40-41. A jailbar is 49". The runningboards won't work. It can be done but it is a lot of work. Check out www.scottshotrods.com and look at the projects. The kool thing about this ugly truck is not many of them have been built.

 

A guy here in Long Beach put a horizontal small square tube grill in one and it made it almost pretty!

It's the verticle David Letterman gap teeth that make it homely.

 

Dr.J. did you realize you said the same thing in this post two years ago??

Brian

 

I did this to mine.
The 40-1 front clip was too expensive.

I still need to fit the hood to the cowl , but you get the idea.

 

Uuuummm.....UGLY is a trucks best feature !

You dont complain that your lady's tits are TOO BIG do ya????

Honestly,...after looking at every truck I could for the last 10 years, I'd rather have a Jailbar than a 53-56.....some frnching and smoothing helps a lot though!

 

Nope.
Didn't see it.
I think some of these threads are skipping posts on my puter lately

 

i love the front on these trucks,just dont fit the grills,the yellow one has ali grills fitted in the gaps,,bob

 

anyone have the frame and cab dimensions on the 46-47's? I'd like to do some planning...

 

What do you want to know? I have my '46 blown apart and can measure almost anything. I am currently obtaining parts to put the '40 front sheetmetal on mine with the '46 frame.
So far I have found that:
The frame will need to be trimmed about 5" or so off the front. This ends up going right through the front crossmember. Not a big deal if you reinforce it.
Big deal - from my measurements, the parallel leaves in the front no longer fit because the front perches just got chopped off. Now your options are Mustang II or a '40 style front susp. The costs were kinda close (if you build the MII crossmember yourself) but for me, it came down to the trad. style. I have not started on any of this yet, it is all speculation.
The plan is to use a '40 front crossmember. It mounts the engine and the front spring. It is about 2" narrower than the '46 frame, but I think it has enough meat to still weld in there.
That is about how far I have gotten with the planning. I will try to document how I do everythign when I start on it to post here.

Oh yeah, what was it you wanted measurements on?

 

So, searching out if I could put a '40 front clip on a '46 body, I ran across this thread, old, and current... I imagine that those of us working on one are taking their time at it...
I recently purchased a '46 Ford Panel... and so far, the only thing original that's going back in is the body, no numbers, just a nice body. I've tossed the whole frame, as I'm putting a '93 Thunderbird rear suspension on it, and an AeroStar front end on it. It just works out cheaper, and easier to build a whole new frame for the new suspension.

I've been looking at the '40-41 cabs and did notice the remarkable resemblance to the '46.

I've always liked the looks of the '40 Ford truck, and as I now find that the cowl fits good, and the frame aterations and body mount points don't make any difference either, to me, it sounds like a go!

I just wonder, with a '46 cab (title last signed off in '63), new frame, a '40 front end, '93 suspension, and a '99 Northstar..... what year do you think the State Police will assign to it when I get it inspected?

 

...me an a few others out here actually like these 42-47 Ford trucks.

 

I think I'd just find a 35-40 frame and go from there. You've got enough work ahead of you without dinkin' around with that frame. Whew, been there done that.

 

In my case, I have to widen the frame 2" front and rear to accommodate the new front and rear suspensions. 38" wide at the rear, and 34" in the front. It truly did turn out that it was cheaper and easier to just build the frame. And, yes, it is a pain.

I'm building this truck in response to Detroit's (GM) refusal to build me a vehicle that I wanted to buy. I won't go into details, but I wasn't asking much... Just a little 'ole HHR Panel SS. Needless to say, I wanted a panel.... I don't care what "year" it is referred to, I'm building a "vehicle" like I would like... with cruise control, AC, ABS disk brakes, tilt steering wheel, 6 way seats, and a nice ride, along with a bit of GO!

The first time I saw this truck, sitting in a "yard" outside a decrepit looking building with a for sale sign on it, I thought "Cool, a panel truck for sale!" , but looking at it, with the front grill sitting on the ground in front of the fenders, the hood cocked off to one side, I thought "what an ugly f***ing face on it". After I got it to my place, pressure washed years of "Orygun" mung off of it, set everything on it right, and took some pictures, it didn't look that bad! I actually kinda like it myself....

But still, I've ALWAYS liked the looks of the '40 Ford trucks, and cars. It's just such a classic look. As I'm building the "car" of MY dreams, and I have an "easy" shot at having a "1940 Ford Panel Truck" (at least in appearance!) I think I'm gonna take it.

So, If anybody is interested, I have a original (straight to 1/8") frame and suspension for a 1/2 ton '46 truck 107" WB (some assembly required!) and 2 nice fenders, 1 grill, and 2 (semi) complete hoods for a '46.

 

I was just headed out to pick up a 46-47 cab and frame so I did a serach to see if there was any remedy to the ugliness and found this long running thread. Now I am eyeballing that 38 Standard seedan front end thinking hmmm.. Good thing it is already sold, the 38 that is, I don't need a project that ambitious.

 

Add me to that list. Style is a matter of perspective. Folks used to call the 37 car "Henry's ugly duckling". Strange how time changes the definition of what looks good and what does not.

 

Just finished my 41 truck. I used a 47 cab.You have to grind the brackets that hold the fenders off cowl. You'll need two angle brackets for 40 41. Drake sells these. Must use frame from 35-40 passenger or 40 41 truck. If you use passenger frame you need to cut outside pads off. Try to use 40 41 bed. I used 47 bed and had to narrow it 3 inches. Had to move fenders forward 3 inches. 40 41 fenders have the recess for the spare on the passenger side and 46 47 on drivers. Have to use 40 41 running boards. Others are not even close.

 

I have always thought that the 47 Ford trucks were cool,,,but kinda ugly at the same time,,,,

There is one about 3 miles from my house and I have stoped by this guys place several times over the past few years got the ol' white spoke rims like they used on jeeps back in the 70's,,ugh!

And,,nope,,,It ain't for sale,,, he's gonna fix it up some day!,,,,HRP