Projects Poll: Project choice: 40-41 Ford pickup or 40-41 Willys pickup?

Willys. Could care less what they’re worth down the road, they make awesome little hot rods.


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More Temptations...
g-willys

 

I would take a Willys as i am a Willys guy and have had them for 42 years. I do also like 40-41 Ford P/Ups a lot. JW

 

Look at my avatar. My middle name is 40 Ford !! Later Bill

 

The fact that the Willys is smaller is what makes it cooler than the Ford. True, one needs to be hobbit sized to be comfortable in it, I am fortunate enough to have that covered.....

 

I like the willys but prefer the ford.

 

This was mine...put about 13 K miles on it...found slim bucket seats from a Subaru...it was quite comfortable.
Ford made millions...Willys?...very few cars were made...even fewer pickups. And as for the guy who said 'doesn't sell well'...if you find one, you will also find many who are still looking, and would gladly take it off your hands. I only sold mine because I found a coupe, and found also that I couldn't drive both, and after 5 years with both, pickup went West. g-willys

 

LOOKS AWESOME, JEFF

 

I have had both. As I said above I prefer the Ford for the room. To the guys saying the Ford is worth more, I bet you never tried to buy a Willys. For equal builds I think the money will be very close. The Willys guys are usually much firmer on the price than the Ford owners.

 

I am just going off experience, with weird models that most aren't familiar with they do not sell for what they "should" be worth. I also find the Willys hideous so this skews my opinion of them slightly.

 

I built a 41 Willys SBC powered pick up back in the mid nineties. Thought it looked good but way too small. Bumps came quick with the short wheel base. The seat was the back seat out of a Ford Escort station wagon. Also had a tremendous amount of air noise over the top of the windshield and cab roof at highway speeds. I doubt the truck was ever designed to travel at 70 MPH plus.

 

I think we all give up a little something when we build a street rod (unless its something like a '33 Buick)...anyway I've always considered a Willys one of the most unique designs ever made. They were cheap, not powerful, and yes they were small, but if you build one the right way, they are fun and comfortable to drive. I have heard of building a tunnel like floorboard set up( like some of the European sports cars) so you have more leg room, mostly in a pickup...there is decent room in my coupe. With streetrods you can get creative, but we seldom build a street rod that is perfect in every way. Coupes are so cool...but full of blind spots...that was one plus about my pickup...good sight lines for driving. Don't take all of this so seriously, we all have cars we love more than others...have fun and drive 'em! g-willys

 

I love the '40, '41 Ford p/u's, I've had five. I built this current one approx. 9 yrs. ago, also anxious to start my next one..a '41 with a '50 Olds 303.

 

Love the color!!!

 

Im big fan of green trucks

 

when I cant decide I usually buy one of each !

 

First, are we comparing a hypothetical '40-'41 Ford and hypothetical Willys of the same vintage, or are we comparing actual trucks that are for sale in your price range that you have the opportunity to buy? If we're talking about hypotheticals, I'd go with the Ford mainly because I'm 6'5" and 260 pounds. Although it's a different cab, the '40-'47 cab has the same inside dimensions as my '38, roughly the same amount of room as an early Ford Ranger (used to have a '90 Ranger). In the real world, comparing actual trucks, I'd pick a more solid Willys over a rough/rusty Ford, likewise the more complete vehicle over one missing a lot of hard to find parts. Some things to check if you're buying the Ford: the '35-'40 car and '35-'41 pickup frame is prone to rusting where the back legs of the X member attach to the side rails, just ahead of the arch over the rear end. If not too far gone, Precision Coachworks makes repair sections. I have seen these frames break due to rust, and I've found a lot of them in junkyards with the frame rusted in two on one or both sides. If I remember right, the Willys has a straight ladder frame, so you don't have that problem. The Willys frame is lighter and weaker than the Ford frame and will probably need to be boxed if you're putting much power in it. The Ford crossmembers, especially fronts, are bad about cracking in the center where the spring is seated. If all the pieces are there, just weld it. If not, you're looking for a crossmember. The '41 pickup crossmember is unique, having a deeper dip than the other '35-'40 crossmembers because Ford offered their first 6 cylinder in '41. The Ford steering box mount is prone to cracking and may need to have cracks welded or be replaced. Remember that these old trucks got slammed around on rough, rutted dirt roads, used on farms, etc. Few of them just got driven around town on paved roads. Consider what drivetrain you will be using--the ladder frame of the Willys may make things easier than the X-member frame of the Ford.

 

I haven't read any of the above replies, but picked the 1940-41 Ford, the bed and rear fenders on the Willys just look like the design staff left for the week and someone else designed them. Bob

 

I'm a member of the 40 Ford camp,my pal Greg's pickup. HRP

 

I think this says it all

 

Well , lets go measure how much less room there actually is...

Who can measure their 40-47 Ford cab, back of cab to dash, and back of cab to vertical firewall?

The Willys is approx. 53" back of cab to firewall at the steering wheel, and approx. 37" back of cab to dash.

 

If the 38-39 Ford cab is the same inside my gutted '39 has 53 3/4" and 41". Bob

 

Willys hands down.... And this is coming from a Ford guy....

 

Thanks, is that the farthest out portion of the firewall? It jogs out on that style of cab.

 

That 53 3/4 is to the center foot wells may be 1 1/2 further forward, I'll check that tomorrow. Bob

 

What front suspension and rear axle are in your pickup? Sits real nice!

 

It's got to be the Willy's......just spotted this in a old magazine I was flipping through....it's got to be a sign........

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So the 40-47 Ford cab measures approx. 55" back of cab to firewall.

 

oldrelics,

It could be inferred from the way you titled your post that you either have, or have access to, both of the suggested models of pickup.

Soooooo...if that is truly the case ol' buddy, ol' pal...can I have the one you decide not to use?!

 

I could never afford the Willys, so I went Ford by opportunity (old pic)