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Projects 1939 Ford Panel Truck Project

Discussion in 'Traditional Customs' started by livertucky, Nov 21, 2018.

  1. livertucky
    Joined: Jul 25, 2013
    Posts: 41

    livertucky
    Member

    Just rescued this one from storage in northern Ohio and hope to get her running again. Original 24 bolt flathead with 29k miles when parked in garage 30 yrs ago.
    Straight body an minimal rust.
    I've heard only 250-350 produced in 39 but can't confirm. If anyone has production details I would like to know. I'll post pics as I go along.
    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  2. Papas32
    Joined: Feb 18, 2009
    Posts: 164

    Papas32
    Member
    from No.Ia.

    nice truck!
     
    bigheadbaxter likes this.
  3. patsurf
    Joined: Jan 18, 2018
    Posts: 1,025

    patsurf

    THAT is NOT a project!!-that is a driver survivor-the grail people always talk of!!
     
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  4. harpo1313
    Joined: Jan 4, 2008
    Posts: 2,584

    harpo1313
    Member
    from wareham,ma

    sweet,love that interior shot from the rear.
     
    Stogy and livertucky like this.

  5. ...neat truck fer sure, I like those tailites, they gotta be old stored away that long,...any idea what they are from?...maybe 49-50 Stude?
     
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  6. livertucky
    Joined: Jul 25, 2013
    Posts: 41

    livertucky
    Member

    Thanks guys! Yes patsurf you're right. I was in the right place at the right time and jumped on it.
    Yes Rusty old Studebakeer lights. Not sure what I'm going to replace them with yet. Maybe 39 sedans.
     
  7. exterminator
    Joined: Apr 21, 2006
    Posts: 1,695

    exterminator
    Member

    Kind of like those tail lights on the truck. Nice to see something different.
     
    Stogy, Kan Kustom and livertucky like this.
  8. ...if it were mine, I'd keep those tailites, they look rite and are bigger than 39 Fords...
     
  9. I wouldn't change a thing cosmetically. Not even the tail lights. Give it s Hot rod rake. Souped up flathead. Done.

    Sent from my SM-G965U using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  10. Chrisbcritter
    Joined: Sep 11, 2011
    Posts: 1,970

    Chrisbcritter
    Member

    Great solid truck - do you have the history of how it got so little use?
    Not Studebaker; those had three crossbars. The lights you have are 1951-53 junior series Packard:
    51 packard.jpg
    (Image from curbsideclassics.com)
     
  11. footbrake
    Joined: Sep 3, 2009
    Posts: 148

    footbrake
    Member

    Wow! that's just perfect like it is
     
    livertucky likes this.
  12. scotts52
    Joined: Apr 7, 2008
    Posts: 2,725

    scotts52
    Member

    I've always liked 38/39 trucks from the first time I saw one. She's a real beauty!
     
    livertucky likes this.
  13. OahuEli
    Joined: Dec 27, 2008
    Posts: 5,243

    OahuEli
    Member
    from Hawaii

    Nice score! What are your plans for it?
     
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  14. manyolcars
    Joined: Mar 30, 2001
    Posts: 9,176

    manyolcars

    I was waiting for a traffic light to turn green when a 39 Ford panel went thru the light in front of me. This was on Highway 65 near the Missouri/Arkansas border and I was driving my 39 Ford pickup so I caught up and waved for him to stop. He told me he bought it in St Louis and was on his way home to Goldonna Louisana. I have driven my 39 daily thru four states for 17 years and that's the only 39 panel I have seen.
     
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  15. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,625

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    The only other '39 panel I ever saw was the black one owned/operated by Navlet's Florist, in San Jose, CA. They also had a '38 3/4 ton panel, with the big 7.00 X 16s on it.
    A friend of mine bought the '38 in '84, then sold it to a former 'buyer' for Harrah's...
    $7500, final price.
    Yours is pristine...Friends of mine used to find '34s up to '40s, in Santa Clara, CA in this condition: no rust, low mileage stockers that had paint that would come back with wash, polish and wax.
    I thought we'd seen the last of them...Great find! Must be a story...
     
    Last edited: Nov 22, 2018
  16. slim38
    Joined: Dec 27, 2015
    Posts: 619

    slim38
    Member
    from Sudan TX
    1. H.A.M.B. Chapel

    It's a beautiful truck for sure. I love it. It has so much potential and its great the way it is.
     
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  17. sawbuck
    Joined: Oct 14, 2006
    Posts: 1,909

    sawbuck
    Member
    from 06492 ct

    wow that rear interior floors and wood was not abused at all ..must have hauled marshmallows !
     
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  18. dorf
    Joined: Dec 5, 2008
    Posts: 1,087

    dorf
    Member
    from ohio

    nice truck. wrong headlights takes away from the looks of the truck. and like the man said packard tail lights. good luck
     
    livertucky likes this.
  19. Looks like they originally came with only one stoplight mounted to the left rear door.
    [​IMG]
     
  20. livertucky
    Joined: Jul 25, 2013
    Posts: 41

    livertucky
    Member

    Yes, looks like Packard lights for sure. Guy told me they were Studebaker but he also listed it as 38 sedan delivery so obviously didnt know what he had.
    I was heading to Ohio to get parts for my 50 panel and decided to check craigslist in the surrounding areas and saw the post. His dad bought it for him in High School, they had it running then he broke the rear leafspring. Parked the truck in the garage and thete it Sat for 30 yrs. When they moved his dad out he put it in his garage the last 5 yrs and finally moved it to a storage unit and posted it to CL as he put it in to see if any interest. 3 weeks later I was able to see it and make a deal.
    I plan to keep her as original as possible and run that flatty. I did get Posies leafsprings to drop it a little but that's all I want to change.

    Sent from my LG-H872 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  21. livertucky
    Joined: Jul 25, 2013
    Posts: 41

    livertucky
    Member

    Hey dorf. Thanks. I know its missing the headlight stands but what else is wring with the headlights? Looks like they ran the wires through the old bolt hole so I agree they are not original.

    Sent from my LG-H872 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  22. The headlights on it now look like '35-'37 Ford truck. The correct headlights for '38-'39 truck are the same as '35 Ford car. You can see what they look like on my '38. I did use '36 car "bug eye" lenses and rings rather than the flatter lens that is correct for '35 car and '35-'39 truck ( the '36 car bucket is the same except for a shorter mounting stud, so the lenses will interchange). The headlight stands are different for the trucks. The correct headlight stands are the same for '38 and '39 trucks. You can also use the headlight stands from '40-'41 big truck and '40-'47 cabover truck that have the little oval parking lights in them. Those little parking lights are the same as '37-'40 car interior lights except with a glass lens rather than plastic. If you want sealed beams that look factory (because they are), '40-'41 big truck and '40-'47 cabover complete headlight assembly will bolt on to the '38-'39 fenders.
     
    Last edited: Nov 23, 2018
    dwollam and livertucky like this.
  23. Latigo
    Joined: Mar 24, 2014
    Posts: 739

    Latigo
    Member

    WOWZUR! Sweet truck! Love it when they turn up!
     
    Last edited: Nov 24, 2018
    livertucky likes this.
  24. yup, Packard lites, here's Stude's, they curve around on end...
    upload_2018-11-24_8-48-23.jpeg
     
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  25. livertucky
    Joined: Jul 25, 2013
    Posts: 41

    livertucky
    Member

    So today I replaced the busted rear leafspring and shackles with a Posies unit. Let me tell ya, those original shackles and bushings didn't want to come out, but some heat, drill and air hammer worked just fine! 20181124_155659.jpeg

    Sent from my LG-H872 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  26. 3340
    Joined: Jun 4, 2010
    Posts: 578

    3340
    Member

    Lites look like Packers?


    Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
     
  27. slim38
    Joined: Dec 27, 2015
    Posts: 619

    slim38
    Member
    from Sudan TX
    1. H.A.M.B. Chapel

    Did it lower it any?
     
  28. 1lucky1
    Joined: Apr 19, 2009
    Posts: 1,259

    1lucky1
    Member
    from Morgan NJ

    Great find,I like the smaller headlights,The body looks damn straight for a delivery,Will be watching,Good luck with it
     
    livertucky likes this.
  29. s55mercury66
    Joined: Jul 6, 2009
    Posts: 4,335

    s55mercury66
    Member
    from SW Wyoming

    I had a coworker about 20 years ago, who installed the headlights from a '37 LaSalle on his, on the Ford stands. Nice find, especially coming from Northern Ohio, officially jealous here!
     
    Stogy and livertucky like this.

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