38'-39' panel frames
- Thread starter 55 dude
- Start date
oldandtired
Well-known member
If you are writing about the panel delivery for sale on the auctionsite, it is a 1-ton. I talked to the guy about buying it the last time it was listed for sale. He has sold all of the supension and drive train out from under it, making it difficult to move. The body in the rear sits below the frame, so it would have to be put up on blocks of some type after loading on a trailer to avoid damaging the bottom sheetmetal. If it is the same one, it is a good deal. He has a lot of NOS sheetmetal for it and it appears to have a couple of nice grilles and already painted hood. His original asking price (reserve) was only $3000 and he has a title. No, I am not him, just relaying what I know about the one on the auction site.
55 dude
Senior Member
i stumbled across that panel for sale in texas and wondered why the frame was different as i was pretty sure all 35'-40' 1/2 ton and under were the same. his info didn't mention 1 ton and thats what started me thinking. cool panel but i need it like a hole in the head! just glad it's where its at so it brings the "don't need factor" way up.
George/Maine
Well-known member
If you have the same wheel base as a pu or car I think you can use a smaller frame,if its also the same size body.
A friend had a 41 with a car frame,but maybe the fenders front maybe larger.
A friend had a 41 with a car frame,but maybe the fenders front maybe larger.
Lamar Wadsworth
Senior Member
The 1/2 ton panel shares the same basic chassis with cars and 1/2 ton pickups. Ford designated them "commercial cars" rather than trucks because they were on a car chassis. Ford saved the "truck" designation for 1 ton and up ('38) and 3/4 ton and up ('39 and later) models. The 1 ton panel has a much longer body and rides on a longer wheelbase chassis. The car and "commercial car" chassis is 112" wheelbase, the one ton you're talking about has a 122" wheelbase.
Gary in Mozarks
Senior Member
Rowdy and 55, I have a panel frame for sale, here in Missouri, Its out from under the car. It has one small crack on the passenger side inner, and a broken ear on the front wishbone ball. Both fairly straight forward repairs. It seems to be square.
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Frank The Plumber
Well-known member
Thats very repairable, and you can tig in a boxing plate on both sides at that spot to make it extra strong, Gary hows your other frame looking?
oldandtired
Well-known member
The panel deliver for sale in Texas will not fit on a 1/2 ton frame. It has a longer wheelbase than teh 1/2 ton.
Gary in Mozarks
Senior Member
Frank, I have the frame ready to sandblast. The pickup frame actually has more rust in the left rear dogleg, and it is in the outer frame instead of the inner, but its fairly easy to get at. I intend to cut a 4x5 patch and weld it in. I guess the real reason I am using it is the drivetrain is already installed in it and I am eager to get it running. If for any reason it doesn't work out, (Like I find some major problem in the drive train), I will probably switch frames, unless this one sells. I need the money to pay for rear fenders.
Frank The Plumber
Well-known member
If you have any troubles dont be ashamed to box the repair sites on each side of the frame, we put a lot more power to these things now, the boxing adds a lot of strength.