I hate to revive a well expired thread, but I just bought a '41 pickup and it has the column shift in it. The truck was one owner, and had been parked since the late '60's. The owner is deceased (got the truck from family) but the owners brother says that the column shift was how the truck was purchased. I'll try to get pics on here if anyone is interested.
40-47 half ton pickup column shifter?
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Kube
Super Moderator
He said they were rare and he was correct. Primarily because Ford never built one - at least not through 1940. No way, nope...
It was VERY simple to install a column and the related parts from a passenger car. I'd seen that done a number of times.
Kube
Super Moderator
What would that indicate?
skidmarks
Well-known member
Its a 1941 thing. Something harder to find then the column drop, is the panel around the clutch brake pedals.
The floor and bottom edge of the firewall is notched for the shifter arms. The removable panel is stepped
The column tube and shifter is the same as the 1940 car, not the 1941 car .
Grey one is a floor shift panel
How many 42 to 47 pickups were built with a column shift?
Howard Townes 40 41 pickup book has a lot of great information. Helped us with a 1941 6cyl pickup.
I still need a 41 6 cyl battery tray if anyone has one
The floor and bottom edge of the firewall is notched for the shifter arms. The removable panel is stepped
The column tube and shifter is the same as the 1940 car, not the 1941 car .
Grey one is a floor shift panel
How many 42 to 47 pickups were built with a column shift?
Howard Townes 40 41 pickup book has a lot of great information. Helped us with a 1941 6cyl pickup.
I still need a 41 6 cyl battery tray if anyone has one
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Bob NH
Well-known member
Out of curiosity I went down and looked at column drop I have had on the shelf for many years now. I'll describe it and if anyone is interested, I can take a picture and send it to your email if you like ? Two elongated slots where it mounts under the dash, 1 1/2" for column tube, 7/8" hole just above it, about 5" overall length and 4 1/2 " wide where it mounts under dash. I thought it came from a 53 -56 pickup but not sure.
skidmarks
Well-known member
Stamped sheetmetal construction or a heavy cast piece?
rotorwrench
Well-known member
From unsubstantiated information I've read since this thread was first posted, it seems that Ford decided to make it an option in 1941 since there were two new engine introductions that year for commercial vehicles (pickups). The first was the 9N 4-cylinder engine to replace the V8-60 that was discontinued and second was the G series 6-cylinder engine. The G engine was delayed since the frame needed a change to the front cross member to fit the 6 and maybe the 4. I'm sure they wanted a new transmission option due to all this which would include the remote control shift light duty car type transmission.
Since the 4 cylinder 8N was a dismal failure, it didn't stay in production very long. The 6 cylinder G engine was an exception. It gave a lower price option.
The 1942 Commercials were completely redesigned with nothing being the same plus the production for civilian use was cut short in February of 42 so the numbers were very low. The 42 used the open ladder frame and had the first open drive shaft so it wouldn't work with the transmission that they started out with. After the war, Ford got back into production and basically forgot about the remote control shift for Commercial pickups since it had never been fully incorporated into the 1942 models.
Since the 4 cylinder 8N was a dismal failure, it didn't stay in production very long. The 6 cylinder G engine was an exception. It gave a lower price option.
The 1942 Commercials were completely redesigned with nothing being the same plus the production for civilian use was cut short in February of 42 so the numbers were very low. The 42 used the open ladder frame and had the first open drive shaft so it wouldn't work with the transmission that they started out with. After the war, Ford got back into production and basically forgot about the remote control shift for Commercial pickups since it had never been fully incorporated into the 1942 models.
Column shift available in 1941 as an option, per dealer showroom brochure. also visual sighting and acknowledged as rare. This is from Howard Towne's pickup book. He knows his stuff and is the only place where you can find out how to correctly mount tail lights with a bumper. (Pet peeve of mine for those done wrong).
skidmarks
Well-known member
Its later then 47, could be a 48 to 52 or like you said 53 to 60 style