Technical Is this correct 38 ford

Hi anyone who reads this . I’m in the process of taking apart my panel truck to fully see how much work is needed on the body and tonight came across this ...
On one side of the body the metal work runs on top of the wooden cross member at the back and on the other side it runs below. Is this meant to be like this please ? The body sits well on the chassis and the wooden bed that was inside the panel truck also sat well .

Thanks Ben

 

Never seen that, wish I could help.... someone knows and hopefully reads this.. good luck. BigO

 

The right side looks correct...the left looks bent. Maybe it was replaced at some time?

 

So you think it should be sitting underneath the timber ?

 

This is the bed before I took it out , was very rotten and weak , but was the original bed as it had the bed strips , 2 access plates in the center and also by the wheel arches

 

@Pete Eastwood

... if anyone else doesn't chime in, this man ^^^ has likely laid an eyeball on your answer at some point .. in his world.

 

thanks , I will use message him if nothing else comes up

 

I'm thinking this through with the eyes of 40+ years in restoration. 1st thing I'd look for is a commercial chassis of some kind like a pickup or flat bed. How does that frame look? If they too have that extra kick to the left for something (like fuel tank, or other production needs) there's no other way possible to build a level bed back there except with that over/under wood approach. My search would be for Ford Commercial frame pics. This tickled my curious single nerve enough to look for myself. Clever those dadgum Ford guys...

I looked at your pics a lot closer and that is indeed the body subrails, yes? I'm assuming that's so and the next question is where does the petrol tank normally go?

 

The chassis for these are the same as the 35- 40 car chassis . But slowly taking this apart I’m absolutely amazed with the way the wood is used on the bed , it’s such a shame I couldn’t save it

 

I did a google image search for 1938 Ford panel truck. It seems the gas tank fills through the fender much like the cars (I have a 39 std sedan). That being the case I'm gonna be in the line that says it's correct. They would need room for the petrol filler pipe and hose, right? Yes, looks like my frame in many ways too and my tank rides back there as well. As to the use of wood you should welcome that. Easier to cut wood than fab steel. You gonna make me search your stuff or post a pic of the whole truck?

 

Thanks for the info .

 

You have a really nice looking truck there. Good luck with it.

 

The car sheet metal on the front is a natural. I've seen it on pickups too and really, REALLY like that look. Way kool...

 

well for anyone that wants to know the rails on my truck body are correct and thehighlander was correct it’s shaped this way for the fuel filler neck to go under .

 

For what it's worth, the gas tank is the same for all '38-'40 Ford car and '38-'41 1/2 ton pickups and panels (112" wheelbase) except sedan delivery. You have a panel truck, not a sedan delivery, so no problem. The filler pipe is different from cars but is the same for all 1/2 ton (112" wheelbase )'38-'41 pickup and panel.

 

I suggest you go to www.fordbarn.com which is a sister site to this.There are members there that have restored these panel trucks.You might get more info there.

 

Did the Panel truck have parallel elliptical springs ? if it did, I just learnt something new.

 

the chassis has been modified many years ago before i purchased it with a Chevy 10bolt rear , so after market I have to say.

 

I would suggest that the strap follows the floor on both sides, the timber supports for the floor would have been bolted to the chassis through the strap and timber and chassis, more than likely with blind bolts with a square locator similar to a gutter bolt, I had a 39 Coupe Utility years ago and the wooden floor had a similar arrangement, although worlds apart Ford did use similar manufacturing processes world wide.