'39 pickup questions

fourspeedwagon

fourspeedwagon

Member
1: I've been looking around but don't see anyone selling repro trim for the grill- is it out there or strictly swap meet stuff?
2: My 39 doesn't have a bed but I have access to a bed that is said to have come off a 40. Is it the same, similar or ?

Thanks- Greg
 
Welcome to the FORDBARN ! I to have a 39 truck. There is a gentleman in Vermont that is in the process of making beutiful center grill trim strips for the 39 truck . As you have figured out ,this is a very tough part to find in ANY condition. I recently held one of these reproductions in my hands and was VERY IMPRESSED ! They are very very nice ! ! The surround piece is another matter . it took me 6 years to find one of those for my truck they are not being re-produced either . The center trim is a one year only part ,as is the 1938 truck . the surround trim is the same on both ..somtimes you have to buy the whole grill ,just to get that one part,,,and then send it out to a pro ,to be fixed up/straightend. As these trucks gain in popularity you might see the big boys start to re-do some of these parts ,but I woudn,t hold my breath. As far as the bed goes I,m not sure on that and will leave that to sombody more knowledgible on the subject good luck MP
 
While it may not be concourse grade - I made a pretty nice placeholder to use until you find one.
I have the original one, but it needs a lot of massaging to get it straight.

This one's just polished aluminum bar stock from HD. I had a fellow weld aluminum studs on it and I bolted it right on. He drilled right through the stock to get enough bite, but the aluminum weld and aluminum studs polished to a single surface:

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I gaot lucky with the center strip on my '39 and got one that needed a lot of work. Fortunately I have the skills to repair the molding. The beds are the same from 1938 to 1941. The tailgates are the same also except the '41 does not have "V8" on it. In 41 you could get a 4, 6 or 8 cylinder truck. Mack in Missouri makes a decent bed and a former owner fitted one to my truck.
They cost in the neighborhood of $5,000.
 
A 40s bed should work out just fine. Rear fenders are the same. 38-41

Northern classic makes a perfect bed replacement and the individual bed parts for the 38-39 and more. Top shelf stuff.

The grill is another thing. Just keep your head up and fingers crossed they are out there. May take years or a day. May it be easy on you.




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Ok, thank you all for the replies. I'm think the rehashed dump trailer is more likely than a new 5k unit..
Jr, looks like you should be the one going into production of grills.
The search continues--
Thanks again , Greg
 
Mike in Mass said:
Welcome to the FORDBARN ! I to have a 39 truck. There is a gentleman in Vermont that is in the process of making beutiful center grill trim strips for the 39 truck . As you have figured out ,this is a very tough part to find in ANY condition. I recently held one of these reproductions in my hands and was VERY IMPRESSED ! They are very very nice ! ! The surround piece is another matter . it took me 6 years to find one of those for my truck they are not being re-produced either . The center trim is a one year only part ,as is the 1938 truck . the surround trim is the same on both ..somtimes you have to buy the whole grill ,just to get that one part,,,and then send it out to a pro ,to be fixed up/straightend. As these trucks gain in popularity you might see the big boys start to re-do some of these parts ,but I woudn,t hold my breath. As far as the bed goes I,m not sure on that and will leave that to sombody more knowledgible on the subject good luck MP
Click to expand...

Mike, can you give me more information on the gentleman in Vermont that is making or going to make a reproduction center stainless?
 
Fourspeedwagon, you have quite the interesting avatar. Does it have significance or did you just like it.
 
Hi Shu47- My wife found that picture somewhere and knew that I would enjoy it. She was right. I laughed for days after I saw it and tried to imagine some situation in which this would've been appropriate.

ps- I refuse to use "lol", but I was laughing audibly as I wrote the reply and thinking of that boy, his smoke and prized rooster.
 
That's a big chicken even to today's hormone injected standards. Something to be proud of really. Cig is another matter... ha. great picture. I have a pict of my granddads praised/prize roster. Different world.
 
You won't go wrong with Northern Classic Trucks. His stuff fits and is exact with the details. I recently bought all of the floor panels for my 46' panel truck.
 
Here's a couple pictures of the box I've been offered. I didn't have a tape measure with me so I'm not sure of the width. Looks like the bottoms of the fenders have been bobbed for clearance..
 

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A couple 3 years ago a vendor had a 39 grille at Hershey. @ $1200 I passed. My old truck would not know what to do with a new horse collar.
 
The 1200 dollar unit must've been a real special one! I've seen 2 decent ones listed on craigslist in my state in the couple years I've been casually looking for one of these trucks. Asking was 150 and 200. A week or so ago there was a big truck listed, then the ad changed and said the grill had sold but the truck was still for sale. I think the price dropped 200 so that's probably what they got I imagine.

Were 1 ton beds wider in these years? This trailer/bed seems bigger than 46 or 49"
 
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