http://auto-rv.com/default.asp?area=browsedetail&adname=CI1240186 I just ran across this tonight and was wondering if anyone could share some light on the differences in the 40 and 41 pickups. Just by looking I cant see any significant differences. I have always been fascinated by 40 Ford trucks and this one looks pretty clean..... Anyone offer any help. One more question, what is the room like in the cab of a forty??? Thanks
I believe the front cross memeber on the 41 is deeper and squarer in anticipation of fitting the GA series inline 6. The GA series Inline 6 came out in 41. Makes it easier to do engine transplants too.
I suppose the biggest difference is the grille and the hood trim differences. The 41 grille is a lot busier looking with several different width bars. The center of the 41 hood-front has the wide "waterfall" trim while the 40 trim is a lot narrower. I drove my buddy's 41 pickup from Omaha to St Paul for back-to-the-fiftys 2 years ago. He had installed little Grand-Am buckets and the leg room was "ok" but not great for my 5'9" frame. If you're a 6 footer, it's gonna be tight.
another small difference is the 40 has a script"ford" on the dash and hood sides, 41 has a chrome rectangle with Ford on it, in the same locations
Very late 41's have an open drive line which makes life a lot easier for clutch work or swaps. At around 2800 lbs empty even the little 221 V8 moves them right along but the rear ratios arent great for the highway. Im still trying to find a 40-41 nose for my 43.
Yea, It's mostly in the nose trim on the hood. 40's just have the single strip going up the hood and 41's have the "feathered" wider chrome piece on the front of the hood. ~Monkey~
'41's were only available for special circumstances (farm, commercial; with special permission) in the US because of the war. The main difference of '40/'41 was the nose trim "water fall" piece at the front of the hood, grill center piece, side hood badge and dash badge. Other than that, they were identical. In Canada the production of the '41's carried on until '42. The story goes Canada was using left over '40 cabs, fenders, boxes and frames (same for all models) BUT Canada never produced 6 cylinder versions of the truck, so the frames were all the same and could be interchanged without any problem. My Canadian built '41 actually is on a Canadian '40 truck frame, and I used '39 chrome grill center and grill pieces. ('39 Deluxe car) To have a look... http://www.nesstronics.com
The dash is actually different in 40/41's. The 40 has a raised area in the center that the ford script is mounted, where the 41 dash is flat in the center with a larger ford badge, the same as on the hoodsides. The tailgates were also different. The 40 had Ford V-8 stamped, where the 41 was just a Ford script because of the 4 and 6 cyl's also available. BTW, that doesn't look like a Ford bed and rear fenders on that truck for sale. Neal
[ QUOTE ] You have a 43? Show us a picture never seen or heard of one. [/ QUOTE ] My dad had a 43. It was a military truck, with a Marmon-Harrington 4WD conversion. It looked like all the other 42-47 trucks, but the hood sides were smooth, it did not have holes for the chrome Ford badge like the 42's used and it did not have the Ford script stamped into it like the 46-47's did. Neal
[ QUOTE ] The dash is actually different in 40/41's. The 40 has a raised area in the center that the ford script is mounted, where the 41 dash is flat in the center with a larger ford badge, the same as on the hoodsides. [/ QUOTE ] You are probably right about the "raised area." But I haven't been in a '40 for a long time so I don't remember. [ QUOTE ] The tailgates were also different. The 40 had Ford V-8 stamped, where the 41 was just a Ford script because of the 4 and 6 cyl's also available. BTW, that doesn't look like a Ford bed and rear fenders on that truck for sale. Neal [/ QUOTE ] When I found my '41 the rear fenders were gone, the box was really "bashed" up and the tailgate had a "grain door" cut in the middle, so never noticed the difference. But I have seen a couple of '41's with the V8 tailgate up in this part of the woods. BUT remember Canada didn't install 4 or 6 cylinder engines; only V8's . Plus the fact repo tailgates (as far as I remember; this was 20 years ago!) all came with the V8 symbol. My truck was on the road for almost two years before I finally gave up; trying to find a good box and fenders, so I made the "stake bed" box.
You have a 43? Show us a picture never seen or heard of one. It was built in 43 for the B&M Railroad. Looks like a 42 except it has a complete (with a 41 serial # on the*******)41 driveline. Lots of critical industries vehicles (mostly trucks) got built from a bunch of leftover civilian parts. Mine is complete but needing a total rebuild, sat under a rotting tarp for 30 or so years. I hate the 42-47 nose and want to do it as a 40-1. Then it gets a 303/324 Olds. I also know of several 43 1/2 tons that made it into civilian hands while researching the origins of mine. '41's were only available for special circumstances (farm, commercial; with special permission) in the US because of the war. Incorrect, 41 was a full production year. It was the 42 model that got stopped after Pearl Harbor. That blue paint under the black is the original B&M colors.
See if this works. It's a 1941 ad that came out in 1940. Go it from an old timer because of my truck. ~Monkey~
I'm having a hard time seeing the rear of the fenders and bed to compare and see if it is original. Any other opinions if this is an original bed or something else. Assuming this thing is not a rust bucket and does run and drive does the price seem reasonable. I might go take a look at it this weekend. I will be in more trouble than Rocky if I drag this thing home.
I still have a 41 panel truck and stored a 42 pickup for a friend and another important difference was the total absence of chrome in the 42. War effort did not allow use of some metals for something as frivolous as a truck bumper.The ride was much improved in the 42 IMHO.
While you are talking about trim diff's between '40 and '41, the red '40 that was previously posted on the first page has at least one alteration that wasn't pointed out-- it has '39 Passenger Deluxe flush-mount teardrop headlights. The '40 actually came with the same sealed-beam setup with the big bezels like what was pictured on the '41. Thought I'd point that out.
41 parking lights and surrounding bezel is also a bit different, layers a bit like the hood latch piece.
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