Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

friends, I have what I believe is a pretty untouched 41 tonner. As you'd expect, the original owner, Pfister Feeds out of Colorado, did some things to the truck over the years. I am looking for someone who has a 40/41 tonner that is as original as one could expect, that I could ask for some pictures of specific areas to understand what I'm missing, or how something was originally built. I have devoured the 'net looking for photos, without luck, Appreciate any pointers!
Chris

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

Chris, jump on over to the EFV8CA website and go to their online store. For a mere $10, you’ll find a book “Two Great Trucks”. It might not answer all your questions, but is a good start.

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

Pictures of your tonner, please.

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

There is a member here that goes by 'expaver' who has done a beautiful restoration of a 40-41 Tonner Express. Hopefully he shows up. I have a '46 here and there are quite a few areas that are very similar. It is a solid driver, and not 'molested', but has been pieced together from 3 trucks. I would get some dimensions or pics if that helps. There is a '41 tonner express currently listed on Facebook Marketplace in Stanwood Wa. There are quite a few pics in the ad. It's quite rough, but straight off a ranch in Montana and appears original, except for the rear fenders cut back for unloading grain . Hate it when they do that. And yes, pictures please.

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

X2 on expaver's truck

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

This is a great book, but it only covers 1/2 ton pickups.

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

I have what is left of two of those. No beds. What do you want see?

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

Attached are photos of an unmolested 1940 Tonner as bought and as restored. Its been a while since I visited the photo archive of this restoration, but I have photos of the Tonner as it was being torn down and the restoration process that might be helpful. If I can help with specifics don't hesitate to ask.

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

Gary - Thanks for your thoughts on the Tonner. One of these days I hope to get up to Orcas and visit the famous Jailbar Ranch. Les Williams

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

Would love to see you Les!

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1734326133

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1734326133

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1734326133

Before & After shots of expavr's 1940 Ford Tonner. Very Nice

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

Hello Chris. It might help if you were able to post pictures of the areas you are unsure about. Then people can comment or know where to take a pic of their truck.
Mart.

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1734347697

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1734347709

Notice the flush sides on the Australian 1940 Ford Tonner.

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

Mercman - Interesting truck! I wonder if that Tonner was sold as a chassis including the frame, drivetrain, front fenders and cowl with the driver’s compartment and bed being installed by an aftermarket supplier? The 1940 Ford Salesman Manual shows the availability of that configuration, but only for the 134” wheelbase and larger trucks. I can’t make out what the writing on the door says, but that might offer a clue as to its use.

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

Australia, like many countries, had laws on vehicles sold in country requiring locally built parts. This typically resulted in locally built bodies on commercial vehicles, as seen above. Usually these locally built bodies share few to no parts with vehicles built outside their home country.


At the risk of drifting the conversation, that Australian truck is interesting. It has the newer front sheet metal, but the older 38-39 three ribs on the belt line of the doors, and the three ribs are continued down the side. Is this made from a cut down tonner panel truck with later hood and grill swapped on?

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

Expavr. that is one beautiful truck! . I like the Hall back up lamp you have. Is that the one that says FORD on it? What did you use as a switch for it? I have two of those on my bumper as well. Show us some pictures of your dash if you can please? What other accessories do you have on the truck?

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1735265150

Illustrations in the Australian 1940 Ford V8 Trucks Book

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1735267750

Another Illustration from the Australian 1940 Ford V8 Light Trucks Book

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

Mercman, are the trucks in post 18 a 3/4 ton variant? The hubcaps are smaller like maybe a wide 5 type wheel.

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1735272642

Close-up shot of 1940 Open Cab Light Truck
I would have taken this photo over 50 years ago.
Unfortunately, I have never sighted this open top Light Truck since that time.

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1735272910

1940 Ford Trucks as illustrated in the original Australian Sales Brochure

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1735273227

Close-up picture of wheel on 1940 Ford.
It appears to have Wide Five Wheels

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1735273583

Close-up picture of wheel on 1940 Ford.
This one appears to have 17 Inch Wheels

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

The open cab thread will go down as one of the top five threads I've seen here. And yes, I think I recall the 3/4 tons had a one piece 16" wheel, even though they were on a similar 122" chassis. I also think a 3/4 ton jailbar was available in '42, but not after. Thanks for all the great pics merc (and expaver!)

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1735277814

How rare is this Non V8 Wide Five Ford Truck Hubcap?
I believe that it was fitted to 4 Cylinder Ford Light Duty Trucks.
Can anyone confirm the exact years they were used?
i have not seen any others like this.

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

Yup, looks like one of those 'unicorn' hubcaps.

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

To answer your question about accessories I took some liberties with the Tonner that don't exactly fall into the definition of an accessory, but they made operating it a whole lot more usable and roadworthy.

The backup light is a "Yankee" found at a swap meet.
Its triggered by a switch mounted on a bracket that holds an early 4 speed trans shift tower mounted on a 49 Merc O/D transmission which I'm using in the Tonner. (photos 1 and 2)

The dash light and Southwind heater were accessories on the truck when I bought it. Both work. The Southwind heater too well... (photos 3 and 4)

After running the truck for a couple of years on the Firestone polyester tires I had a set of OEM 17" rims modified and installed 16" Michelin all weather radials. The spare is a 7:50 - 17 Firestone which was the OEM tire. (photo 5)

The bed wood is Apiton a hardwood like teak that gets a Tung oil wipe down annually. When the disassembled plywood bed liner is in place the Tonner becomes a hauler again. (photo 6 and 7)


How its being used now is a far cry from 1940 when it hauled 50# bags of wheat seed on a wheat ranch in Eastern Washington, but its not a trailer queen either and gets put to use as the need arises.

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

These illustrations answer the question. Thanks Mercman.

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...p;d=1735281550

Looking good

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

You made a top loader shifter fit a side load box? Incredible!!!

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

That is a fine-looking truck.

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

These hubcaps were used on all 41 and 42 Ford 3/4 ton trucks. Ford used the "wide five" type wheels on the 3/4 tons from their introduction in 1939 through 1942. The V8 logo was switched to the Ford script when the 4 cylinder and 6 cylinder engines were introduced in 1941. I see these listed occasionally online, typically as a single hubcap from a wall hanger collection.

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...0&d=1735279336

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...9&d=1735279336

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

Very clever back up light switch too! Gonna steal that one for my avatar truck.

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

Trying to post photos like expavr, but seems I can only add a "URL"? I can't see anyone's pictures, like Mercman's last 'close up' photo, but I can see expavr thumbnails. Any idea what's wrong here?

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

I would like to see how the rear fenders are reinforced? I believe there's a brace that goes from the frame to the fender, but not exactly sure how/where. Also, looking for what the rear looked like, if it had a bumper, and how attached.

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

how were the rear fenders reinforced? were there braces that attached to frame, and if so, where and how did they attach to frame and fender? the rear bumper, same question, and close ups of the tail lights and how attached? Thanks!

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

EXPAVR: While there are a few "mods" to your truck, it is a fantastic example of taking something and adapting it to fit your needs - in a really clever way. I love the transmission setup - Nicely done!

Re: Unmolested 40/41 1 Ton pickup?
 

Here's a rather crude sketch from memory of Ford's rear fender brace for 122" express and panel from '38-'47. The ford part # is 81T 16341-A. I have owned four tonner express trucks and one tonner panel. All were purchased in an 'as found' condition. I don't recall ever finding one of these intact. Firstly they are directly in the path of the mudstream off the rear tire. They are stamped from light gauge steel. The tab at each end for a bolt has both legs of trhe channel removed, so is effectively a piece of flat strap. They crack off at the unreinforced bend close to the bolt hole. Mine have all been too rusty to weld back together. Lineman friends have let me scrounge 1/4" x 1 1/4" galvanized cross arm braces from junk poles in the yard starting in the 80's with my 38 tonner. Not sure if the best part is they are galvanized or the fact that they are the right length and pre-drilled. Gotta be cherry red to bend the 90 degree bend at the frame so galvey goes away there. Sorry for bad sketch, pencil very dull and I have never saved a stock brace for a photo. Hope this helps.