Bumper interchangeability

Fibber Mcgee

Fibber Mcgee

Well-known member
My avatar car doesn't have 41 bumpers (or at least they don't look it). The front is fine but the chrome is very bad on the rear. I think they might be 40 bumpers but I'm not sure. I'm okay with the look and since 41 bumpers are not very common I thought of trying to get a bumper to match the front for the rear. My questions are , are 40 and 41 interchangeable size wise and is there an easy way to identify what year they could be?
 
Do you have the "Green Bible"? It gives you a sketch of the 40 and 41 bumpers. The 40 bumpers and arms have the 01A prefix whereas the 41 bumpers and arms have the 011 prefix. But since the frame widths are the same, I would guess that they are interchangeable. As far as looks, the 41 passenger super deluxe had a crease in the center with the bottom ends slightly slanted inwards. The 40 and the other 41s look like their ends were rounded. That is all I could dig up.
 
FM,
I seem to recall the very base '41 passenger cars used '40 bumpers. The
unique '41 bumpers were used on all passenger cars except the base line models.
I think the base models were referred to as SPECIALS, the others were DELUXE and SUPER DELUXE.
Charlie ny
 
I don't have the green bible (maybe it's time for the investment ) my car is the deluxe but if the special bumpers are 40s I'm okay with that . I could get mine replated but that would probably be more than just buying another.
 
If the '40 & '41 bumpers are not interchangeable then I assume the bumper irons, bumper guards will also have to be changed. May be easier to rechrome or buy repros.
 
1940-1941 bumpers are not interchangeable the 1941 Ford body is wider then the 1940 body. They may look the same but they are different. You will have to rechrome your 1941 bumpers. Fred
 
42fred said:
1940-1941 bumpers are not interchangeable the 1941 Ford body is wider then the 1940 body. They may look the same but they are different. You will have to rechrome your 1941 bumpers. Fred
Click to expand...

100% correct :)
 
Okay, so is it just the super deluxe that has the ridges? I was thinking that all bumpers were the same on 41 cars but from the green bible pictures (thanks waterboychuck) the deluxe and special bumpers are the same style as the 40 bumpers which means mine should be 41 bumpers. Now I'm looking for a 41 rear bumper I guess.
 
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I know that Fibber Mcgee is talking about the Bumpers on his 1941 Ford, but it is interesting to note that Ford also "mixed" the Bumpers on the 1942 Ford. If you look at this 1942 Ford Deluxe, you would think that it was fitted with 1941 Ford Super Deluxe Bumpers. While they may look the same, they will not interchange. I asked this question last year and this is the reply that I received from Barner Bryan:-
A stock 41 Ford Super Deluxe bumper has the two holes for the license plate mounting bracket and the factory bolt holes are 15 3/4" approximately apart centre to centre.
The 42 Deluxe bumper does not have the two license plate mount holes and the factory bolt holes are 13 1/16" apart approximately centre to centre.
Ford apparently used the 41 bumper core and simply re-stamped the holes to provide for the different grille arrangement in 1942. Simply put they spread the bumper guards wider off centre on the 42 application.
Now, I went back last night and looked at the blue 42 Ford you have pictured an did has the license mounting bracket so it could be a correct 41 Super Deluxe bumper but if that is the case I don't know what bumper irons may have been used.
I hope I have not confused you. If you are looking at bumper core for 1942 Deluxe you need the measurements and the understanding it did not have the two holes for the license plate mounting bracket.
While they look the same, the Bumpers will not interchange between the 41 & 42 Fords.
 
Those Bumpers are definitely not 1946. They are either 1941 Ford Super Deluxe or 1942 Ford Deluxe, depending where the Bolt Holes are situated. Refer to my Post above for details.
 
Anyone have measurements on the 40 , 41, or 42 bumpers. My bumper has the bolt holes 4 1/2 inches from the outside for the first hole 201/4 for the second and 23 1/2 between the two. That's measured on the inside of the bumper. I'm trying to see what I have on there now. Thanks
 
Someone posted these Scans from the Ford Bible. Hope that this helps?
 

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I'm sure mine isn't original so there aren't any part numbers on it . I was hoping to get measurements so I can compare the three years.
 
A caution on using the "green bible", often replacement part numbers are shown and the superseded number not given... Note the 1941 rear bumper bars listed with a "21A-" prefix, which is a 1942 part. While the 1942 bar may fit just fine there may be a different 1941 part out there. A 1941 chassis parts book would be a better guide.
 
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