40 front sheetmetal to a 47 pickup cab

TJ

TJ

Well-known member
How easy (or difficult) would it be to mate '40 standard front sheetmetal to a 42-47 pickup cab? I know the cabs from 40-47 are very similiar and was thinking about making a '47 pickup into a '40.
 
I believe this is very do-able, however the 47 's gas filler is on the pass side of the cab, whereas the 40 has the tank at the rear. Apart from that small detail, I think everything lines up. Brian
 
I believe you will be needing 40 - 41 pickup sheet metal not 40 standard……the pass car hood is very different at the beltline.
 
The only thing that is the same between a 40 p-up and a 40 std car nose is the grille and innner fender panels - everything else is different, the biggest being the hood and 40-41 steel p-up hoods are tough to come by that are nice. You might be able to use a std hood to "help" a damaged p-up one, though ....

Now, that isn't to say that without enough time and effort it could not be done. But, I think selling your std nose and finding a p-up one is the more practical thing to do, IMHO.
 
I believe if everything else is 40, you can make the cab work. here are some differences, but pretty sure you could overcome them.
 
I think you're going to have some problems with putting the 40 pkp sheetmetal on the 47 chassis as it is very different from the 40-41 pkp chassis. I'll be one of the last guys to say it CAN'T be done but it would be much easier with the earlier chassis.
JMO. Good luck, Al
 
Both Hamtown Al, myself, and many others have used the later styled cabs (with gas tank under the seat) with earlier, 40-41, front p-up sheetmetal. However, as Al says, a 40-41 frame will be much easier to do this vs using the later styled frame. This goes above and beyond using 40 std car front sheetmetal.

Perhaps laying out what you have in parts and what you are trying to accomplish would be helpful.
 
Both Al and Tom are trying to be too nice.

While the cabs are very similar 1940-41 and 1942-47 and the later cab can easily be used on an earlier chassis, trying to put 40 PU sheetmetal on a 42-47 chassis is a very bad idea.

First, the wheelbase is different 114" on the 1942-47 vs 112" on the 1940. This is mostly in the front sheet metal, so the front axle will have to be moved back (or the cab forward).

Second, the track width is about 3" wider on the 1942-47 than the 1940. With a stock axle (and why if you are changing things would you want to keep the parallel leaf straight axle) the tires are going to try to be outside the fenders. Note that the bed is also 3" wider than the 1940-41.

Third, the frame has a totally different profile so inner fenders, radiators, etc simply will not fit without modification.

Forth, the running boards are lower on a 1942-47 than a 1940, and use an apron as part of the board, so major modifications will be needed to make all that work.

The best advice is to either put the cab on a 1940-41 chassis with a 1940-41 bed, or keep the whole truck as a 1942-47.

If you are thinking about using a 1940 standard passenger hood, don't. The Pickup needs a hood 2" taller than the passenger and a different length and shape to fit the cowl.
 
It's nice to hear from the FRONT of the horse (Karl Wescott) instead of back there where I'm usually located. I had my doubts about the later chassis but didn't know/remember about the longer wheelbase. Thanks Karl for improving my understanding of the proposed change. I know the hood won't work but failed to mention it. I HAVE successfully, in my view!, put 39 Ford deluxe car fenders and inner fenders on a 40 pkp. Some of you may remember 'ol Bullet that's now running the roads down in Alabama with the new owner. Thanks again for the much more complete summary. Al
 
Hamtown Al said:
It's nice to hear from the FRONT of the horse (Karl Wescott) instead of back there where I'm usually located. I had my doubts about the later chassis but didn't know/remember about the longer wheelbase. Thanks Karl for improving my understanding of the proposed change. I know the hood won't work but failed to mention it. I HAVE successfully, in my view!, put 39 Ford deluxe car fenders and inner fenders on a 40 pkp. Some of you may remember 'ol Bullet that's now running the roads down in Alabama with the new owner. Thanks again for the much more complete summary. Al
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Ditto on the clarification, Karl!
 
Karl, thanks for the info. You have given me enough info that will deter me from buying a 42-47 pickup and attempting to add the 40-41 sheetmental.
 
Yeah, talk about putting the pin through the bubble, but Karl Wescott is absolutely right, it was so much little tinkering finding out I had a standard car front fender and truck fender and bolting them up to the cowl of my truck, 39 delux grille, and running boards... Not that big of deal per say, bu the axle width, is the killer. Good Luck TJ, I believe "Anderson Cool" I blieve his name is Jim Anderson up in Northern Cal, above Sacramento somewhere has plenty of 40-41 Truck Frames and cabs... Hangs out in here and the Hamb
 
Since we are on this subject of differences of the 40-47 Ford trucks, i understand their is 3 different seats they used in these trucks. 40/41 1/2 ton is different than a 3/4 ton and that a 42 -47 seat will not work ina 40 1/2 ton cab all because of the 40 gas tank. The seat riser is smaller on a 40 is different. Can you please clarify all you 40 Ford owners. Reson being, i'm getting a 40 and i have a mint 47 seat.Something about the brackets with the pins that hold the seat back and the way that the bottom mounts on the riser. Just want to know if it will fit. Thanks Ken
 
A 40-41 3/4-1 ton is different yet.You never see them,they have their own hood,fenders,and grille.I wonder how close they would fit onto a 42-47.I think they're good looking and different.
 
Milt/Las Vegas said:
A 40-41 3/4-1 ton is different yet.You never see them,they have their own hood,fenders,and grille.I wonder how close they would fit onto a 42-47.I think they're good looking and different.
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Yeah they are different but the same ones used for the 1 1/2 ton and up trucks, I know I have a 41 3/4 ton stake bed almost ready for the road. Yes they are pretty cool looking!!
 
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