HELP: '41 Ford PICKUP SUSPENSION??? Chassis SWAP??

OK, I have the opportunity to get a pretty nice '41 Ford pickup for fairly cheap. The catch? It has no suspension...at all. It's basically a body and a frame.

I have never had one before so I was wondering what's out there in the way of aftermarket suspension parts for them? Or is there a more modern ch***is that fits them nicely?

Also, is a '42 the same ch***is-wise? I have a line on one too.

What do you think??

 

Kirk!

It's all available & most of it is a bolt on operation. Ch***is Engineering has everything you'd need. VAPHEAD is a dealer.

http://www.ch***isengineeringinc.com/

http://www.riley-auto.com/

JH

 

Family connections: Pickups THROUGH 1941 are basically early Ford p***enger car ch***is with a box and stiffer spring...the 1941 is actually based on '40 type ch***is. Think of these as kinda like Rancheros, and of course everything made for early Fords fits.
Ford pickups from 1942 up are pretty much trucks, with oxcart suspension good for hauling heavy stuff and not much else. Totally different head.

 

not trying to hijack your thread Kirk, But are the spindles from a 46 Ford truck with a parallel leaf front the same as earlier Ford spindles

 

Same spindle '42-8 Ford, '42-7 pickup.

 

Don't want to hijack Kirk's thread, but want to know about the heavier axles. We have a 1-1/2 ton 47 Ford and I am curious if the spindles are the same as the lighter trucks. If not, is there is a straight-forward conversion to good modern brakes on the 1-1/2 ton spindles.

Thank you.

 

All ch***is stuff is different on over-1/2 ton ch***is. Don'tnow much about them, but I do think basic backing plate bolt pattern is same, so conversions MIGHT be possible with early Ford kit stuff supplemented by either different bearings or truck sourced rotors and hubs to compensate for bigger spindle pins...

 

Fat Man MII clip and airbags.

Fix your modified.

 

get a CE's catalog and you can build your complete 41 frame. good produts, good fit

 

Kirk, You are getting a lot of good advice. The '41 pickup uses the same frame as '35-'40 p***enger cars and '35-'41 1/2 ton trucks. I am in the process of building a '41 Ford pickup. As far as suspension, I am using the original front axle with a Posies reverse eye spring. I wanted a more traditional look. In the rear, I'm using a Ch***is Engineering rear leaf kit. It is a really sweet setup that is very easy to install. I'm also using CE front shock kit and steering gear adapter plate. CE also has a bolt in IFS front suspension based on the Mustang II. Since the truck you are considering has no suspension, I would highly recommend the CE components. I have used their products in other applications and they are high quality and fit!
If you have any questions please contact me. I'll help point you to people who can help.

 

Kirk get a hold of Eric (VAPHEAD) over at Riley is who I got my front spring from. it is a reversed eye mono-leaf. It dropped the front of my car down more than I thought it would. I never had to get a dropped axle

 

Bruce thanks for the info. I really appreciate it.

 

I put a posies axle and spring under my 41 truck. Rides and handles fine. Got a few 40 41 parts left over if you need something.





"I like you Stuart, your not like the other kids in the trailer park"

 

"Everybody knows that a Burrow Owl...lives...in a hole...in the ground! Why the hell do you think they call it a Burrow Owl anyway?!"

 

I've seen a 41 on a later ch***is. It didn't look right. The track may have been wider and the frame itself at the front was wider. You may be able to make it work with a Mustang II and pinching the front of the frame.

I think the cabs are the same up to 46. So it should bolt on.

There have been guys that have done the S-10 route but I haven't done it personally.
Clark

 

Virtually unlimited choices available. Mine has a dropped axle and split bones up front, ancient SAC ladder bars, transverse leaf spring, and panhard bar aft. A friend of mine used Mustang II on front, with parallel leaves out back. Either will work fine for the way most hot rod pickups are used; if you want to tow or haul much, make sure you have enough brake. I personally think axles at both ends is good, especially for a truck.

 

I have found that the backing plates and brake shoes, etc, are the same for 41 half ton and 1ton trucks. I have a 1 ton with 17 inch wheels, all the same stuff. I have a 2 ton, or 1 11/2 ton, 20 inch wheels, very different.

I have not stripped down a 1 ton yet, but I bought alot of 1 ton stuff from a guy at the swap, and he had what looked like the standard round spindles in his pile. I did not want to buy all the rest of the front end stuff just to get them. But later he sold them seperately to another guy..

Oh well.. I would think the kingpins might be bigger, but how the backing plate bolts on is the same.

 

Sounds like the it could be the makings of a G***er style truck. Theres all ways Muletstange II. That way you can be differant like every one else...