So this story starts about 5 years ago with the purchase of a 36 5 window coupe. Purchased and brought it home to make a hotrod out of it. Had some friends look at it when I got home and came to a decision not to touch it, the thirty six was all original, interior, paint, and drive train. Moving on to a 30 model A, brought it home and it was to nice to chop and hop up. Mean time, I really wanted a pickup, 1940 to be exact. A 1941 would work but a 40 was the one. So I had one not far from where I lived but it was a little to much to work with. I really wanted something with good sheetmetal to speed up the project. I guess I spent to long thinking about it so it went to someone else. Some adds on this site were interesting but just did not fit the bill, mostly to far to go look at. Well I saw this ad for a 40 here on this site and decided to go look at it. Good sheetmetal, rolling and a frame not all cut up, perfect. I called a friend of mine that worked here in New Orleans but got transferred to Denver, CO. I was describing this truck to him with the zip code and he said that he was an hour away from the truck. But he's looking on his computer and describes a totally different truck than what was advertised here. The truck he was looking at was advertised on Facebook Marketplace. I never thought to look there under another city besides mine. I gave this some thought and decided to do a marathon drive from Long Beach, MS to Denver CO. Three days all out drive to look at two trucks. Only stopping for gas and sleeping. I started out and the person with the truck advertised on this site, cancelled out, wasn't ready to sell his truck. It's for sale but not selling?? I stayed on course and was able to look at the forty on Facebook. I'm glad that everything went good or great on my end. I was able to purchase the forty that really fit my needs and price and did the whole trip in three days. I had more fun talking to the family about the truck than anything. I purchased the truck from the owners daughter because the owner has had a stroke and he could not finish his project. I felt sad and honored at the same time. Sad that he did not have the ability to do the work. Honored that I was able to restart this project. It took us four hours to load up my trailer and get back on the road. You see this guy that owned this truck and started the restoration is Otto Rhome. He's a little famous in the hotrod world, I would say! My plans, real soon, is to go thru a ton of parts and see what is missing and locate any parts. I will have a lot of questions and advise. I plan on doing a stock body with an updated chassis with a merc flathead and five speed trans. You guys will see photos from the start to finish, first time doing this but I should be able to do this in honor of Otto. Sorry for the long post, but what else are you guys doing for Christmas break, LOL.
I finished going thru all the parts. Some I don't know where they would go and some I think I might be missing. Does anyone know if Henry put out an assembly manual? Anything to help in reassembling this forty! Parts that I know I will need: Glove box door, Grill side panel, damaged while transporting, hood hinges, the ones I have don't look to good. My plan is to assemble the forty and rough in body work. That would help with the parts issue. I have these brackets that were made up, maybe for the supports for the bed.? Also no bed sides or a good tailgate and front panel, I guess I need a bed but have these brackets, just an issue to work out. Photos coming, project 40, 36 ford and 30 model A. Thanks for the help.
Otto Rhodes? https://public.fotki.com/Rikster/11...cars/ford_custom_pick_up/otto-rhodes-mountai/ That's a very good start and like the '59 Elco in the background.
The hood hinges are reproduced....many aftermarket suppliers for many of the parts for these trucks. As @Bandit Billy stated the use of '46/'47 fenders work on these trucks, which don't have the spare tire relief. If using the '46/'47 rear fenders they make a replacement panel for the area where the running board mates up, allowing proper fit with the earlier running boards. The "brackets" shown don't appear to be for that truck. Keep posting, a lot of fans of these pickups here.
I have hammered out the spare tire dent in a chevy fender before. Takes time and a lot of hammer and dolly work but very doable.
Nice looking cab. If you have 4 steel fenders to go with the cab, you're in great shape. Nice score. You can buy bed kits. I got mine from Midwest Early Ford and Macks in St. Louis has all the parts to build one.
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