Customs 1938/39 car front clip on truck cab

I am looking for pictures of a ford truck that has late 30s ford car front clip. My 39 coupe body is shot but I have a nice front clip and frame.

 

Damn!
That's perfect.
What can you tell me about it?

 

My buddy, Jim Thompson, bought it from a guy at the NSRA Mid Am Nats, several years ago. I don't know a whole lot about it, other than he sold it to a guy who has since passed away. I took that shot back in 2011.

If I remember, correctly, the guy that built it did another one with a '37 Passenger clip on on the front, a year or so later.

 

nice!

 

Other examples

 

I like that look.
Thanks

 

What Ford didn't build that I will never know,,I love Forty's but I think I like this better. HRP

 

That's the same grey primer truck that I had started the posts off with. It's definitely a cool truck, and it looks pretty "natural" compared to some of the other passenger/truck conversions that I've seen.

I posted the photo of the one with the '37 front end, since I had mentioned it. I prefer the 38/39 front end on the truck. My understanding is that they were both built buy the same guy.

 

this is why they never built it

 

Here's mine, not sure if this is what youre looking for or not: '39 Deluxe car sheetmetal on a '40 pickup. It was done back in the early 50s by the original owner. The car fenders are not a bolt-on deal with the trucks, so you'll have to do some mods to get it all to work right.

 

We have a couple done here in Oz. one of the guys that used a 38 car front clip told me he took four inches of the bottom of the cab, and that made it an easier job, proportions looked good. Johnny

 

The first two trucks really look nice with the belt moulding bead matching the cab. Bob

 

Saw this in York this year..........................

 

I think it is an improvement on the 38-39 trucks.
Thanks

 

I don't think there is any trick to this at all. Just bolt on the '39 Headlights and grille and your done. The leading sections of the hood and the pickup fenders are shaped the same as '39/'40 passenger models. The difference in the fender is in the flange where they lay against the cowl and the contour of the lower rear 'skirt' where it attaches to the running board.

This is NOT a criticism in any way, your truck looks good with the passenger grille/headlights......but it is a bolt on mod, which is a good thing.

By the way, I have seen the gray pickup, posted by bchrismer, a few times going back several years, both in St. Louis, MO and in Springfield, MO. I think it was built by a St. Louis area rodder but I do not know his name.

Ray

 

Ray,

I had always thought the two primered trucks were built down here in Springfield, but I may be wrong. I know that Jim bought the truck at the MidAm Nats, down here, when he was really wanting a '40 truck. He had it for a while, and got an offer he couldn't refuse. Jim lives in St Charles County, and sold it to a guy in the StL area. His wife had driven it to a breakfast event that I attend, up there, in July.

As you guys have noted, the extending of the belt molding, up onto the hoods, is the key to making the transplant look like it is supposed to be there.

 

Perhaps I have it backwards. I remember seeing the truck for the first time at The Model T Club of St. Louis Annual Swap Meet at Earth City at least 7 or 8 years ago. I later saw it at Springfield, MO.

Wherever it originated, it is well done and a treat to see in person as well as photos.

 

wow! what a difference. amazing transformation.

 

The two primered ones , look like factory..if a guy didn't know any better.
Great looking pair!

 

Looking at the different pictures it looks like the first ones used 1930s cab and the green one is a 1940s cab.
Would that be right?
What would be the difference at the cowl between the 2 different cabs?
Is a 46 cab too new?

 

The 40-47 Ford cabs are essentially the same.

BTW, here's my 1936 Ford Super Deluxe pickup

 

Here's one, I don't know anything about it. Just saved the pic a long time ago.

 

Man that's classy looking truck.

 

Any ideas?

 

If I didn't have a cab, I would prefer the 40-47 cab but others might prefer the earlier cab. It's just in what you like. The cabs are essentially the same 40-47 for pickups AND the larger trucks as well so there are many potential sources. One of the best it to get a cab off a big truck that was used at a farm or business only at particular times in the year and was stored in some kind of shelter the rest of the time.

As to the cowl differences, there can't be but so much difference as all the cabs bolted to the same frame from 1935 to 1940 cars and pickups and the 41 pickup frame as well.

Good luck but be prepared to test your metal working skills.

 

This is K-boy truck he's restoring back to the way it was built in the late 40's early 50's

later kb

 

I asked Jim Thompson about the grey primered truck. He said the truck was sold and it is now down south, he believes in Alabama.

 

I would like to bump this back up.
Maybe there are some more pictures out there
so far I have rounded up for this project
46 cab
35 frame
39 front axles
46 backing plates
46 open truck rear
wide fives and 39 drums
38 dlx front fenders and inner panels and buckets
38 dlx hood sides
need
hood, grill, box rear fenders
I have a 283 but i have a line on a couple of flatheads
The hunt is the best fun