1941 ford front sheet metal change?

R

Ron Emerson

Junior Member
I was wondering if a 1942-1948 complete front sheet metal would fit on a 1941 ford. If it will what changes would need to be done. I am looking at a 1941 ford but I like the 1942 thru 1948 front sheet metal. And if it does interchange is there any front sheet metal available from you guys.
Thanks Ron. My email is remerson35fordgmail.com
 
The basic 41 body shell is the same as the 42-48. Here's what I think you will need to make it happen, Hood(and latch mechanisms), front fenders, inner fender panels, radiator support, grille, front splash pan, bumpers(front and back), the correct parking lights, and all the appropriate stainless trim. The problem could be getting the '41 running boards to match up with the later front fenders. In the real world it's a lot of wasted energy as there are plenty of 42-48 projects out there that would make you job a lot easier.
 
I would think the money and effort involved would make it unfeasible. Plus it would end up devaluing the 41. Why not just start with a later model?
 
Hey, the front styling of the '41 is way cooler looking than the '42 -48! Especially the early model year, without that chrome mustache.
 
The Henry Ford Museum used to display Mr. Ford’s sedan. The Rouge plant did a refit of the front sheet metal in order to make it resemble a postwar car. I believe that was a ‘41 as well.
 
The 41 has a completely different radiator & fan so keep that in mind when you think about an alteration like this. The cowl will likely be a bit different.
 
I think I have read or heard that the frame on the 41 is narrower in the front than the 42-48. I have a 42 -48 chassis I need to sell and have been ask if it would work under a 41 and have been told the frame is different in the front.
 
To my knowledge the only difference between the frames is the center crossmember. The early frames have a welded center crossmember and the later ones have the riveted crossmember. I have never heard that the '41 frame was narrower in the front vs the 42-48 frames. The 41 does use a narrower axle in the front , but that is due to the narrow front fenders. The basic body shell on the '41 is the same as the '42-'48. If you have the '41-48 Ford book put out by the Early Ford V-8 Club you will find the 41-48 frames explained on page 4-2. Basically they are the same frame except for a hole or two drilled in a different location. The convertible/sportsman frame had some extra welding and some extra holes for body mounts. Dimensionally all 41-48 frames were the same.
 
The front frame horns on the 41 passenger cars have the brackets for the low mount radiator. That part is a one year only but it may be easily adaptable. The 42/48 has a front radiator support that is a light duty cross member. There are a few subtle fitting differences but they aren't all that big a deal. Some of the early 41 frames have a slightly different mounting frame for the steering gear box but the later ones are the same.
 
If you can get a copy of the July/August issue of the V-8 Times there is an article by Fred Killian the 1941/1942 Advisor, that lists the changes from '41 to '42 that might be helpful to you. As you might know the 1941 Ford is a "one year only" car. As for the styling likes and dislikes for the '41, most people think the '41 was a huge disappointment. Remember, it followed the 1940 Ford, which was one of the most beautiful cars Ford ever produced.
 
Seems like there would be a real decrease in the value of the car going from a one year only unique model to a fairly common model. But then I guess it would also depend on the relative value of a original 41 compared to original 46-48s.
 
It's hard to follow a succession of years like 1939 and 1940. My Pop bought a 41 Tudor after he got back from Europe after the war and be liked the car. I wish he had kept it but at least I have his old 51 Mercury still. I love the 41 dash. Clean & simple. Pop had a 35 Tudor before the war and he liked all the extra room he had in the 41. I don't think Ford could have made any new model in 41 that could have outshined the 1940. The 1941 commercial pickup was the last of that classic frontal design and then it went jail bar in 42. What a let down. It was a sign of the times though. Folks didn't worry about cars much in 1942.


In my era, the big let down was 1970. All the cars made in 69 were something else. All the MFRs made nice cars that year.
 
fortyonerag said:
Surely you jest. :)
Click to expand...

Serious.....but it is always a treat to see a 41 in NZ because being a Commonwealth country we went to war in 1939 and FOMOCO NZ had converted to war production so we missed 40 -42. I will say the 41 dash is better though because all our 46-48s carried a RH drive version of the US 41 dash ( see my pics )
I still like 41s but I like my "happy" grill.

regards
GB
 
No offence taken mate, to each their own!

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