The Ford Barn

Mart · 06-24-2014, 05:25 PM

Could you guys clue me in as to what the differences are?

I know the wheelbase is longer. I know the wheels are wide 5's, and 16's.

Any differences at the front axle? How about the rear? Were they open drive? What gears came in the back end?

Parallel rear springs or transverse?

Heavy duty gearbox (with the external reverse release)?

How about the frame? X-member or ladder?

Gotta turn in now, will looks forward to reading some replies in the morning.

Thanks.

Mart.

NealinCA · 06-24-2014, 10:17 PM

Mart - Many differences between the two.

The front axle, spindles and brakes are the same. 3/4 ton uses a different wishbone. The rear is closed drive on parallel leaf springs. The rear is a full floater, like the tonner. Wheels are 16x5 or 16x5.5 wide five, without scallops. They are a desirable hot rod wheel...it's what I ran on the back of my 32 RPU.

The frame is a ladder frame, like the tonner as well. Cab and hood would be the same, but fenders, running boards and bed are all of the larger variety.

Neal

Tinker · 06-24-2014, 10:23 PM

Wait. Are we talking the tonner as a 3/4? I didn't think there was a true 3/4 in 39. 1/2, tonner (1ton commercial) and the 1 ton industrial. Interested to know the responses too.

NealinCA · 06-24-2014, 11:04 PM

1938 was 1/2 ton and tonner only, then the 3/4 ton was introduced in 39 and was built from 39-41.

Mart · 06-25-2014, 02:55 AM

Thanks guys.

The floater rear axles - what gears did they come with? I have googled the heck out of it but keep coming up dry.

I'm thinking they will have pretty low gears - 4.11's being the tallest? Very much a guess.

Any info gratefully received.

Mart.

Mart.

1952henry · 06-25-2014, 05:20 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

4.86:1 me thinks.

rotorwrench · 06-25-2014, 10:56 AM

All of the 38/39 122" wheelbase trucks shared the same rear axle and ratios available. The 60 HP would have used the 6.66:1 and the others could have had 4.87:1 or 4.11:1 depending on owner preference. Higher ratios were available for 1-ton or larger after 1940 but most had the longer wheelbase and different rear axles.

The 4.11 would have been prefered with the 95 HP V8 in 1939 unless the customer wanted to haul a 1-ton load with 3/4-ton springs.

06-24-2014, 05:25 PM	#1
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 9,088	differences between the 1939 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton pickups. Could you guys clue me in as to what the differences are? I know the wheelbase is longer. I know the wheels are wide 5's, and 16's. Any differences at the front axle? How about the rear? Were they open drive? What gears came in the back end? Parallel rear springs or transverse? Heavy duty gearbox (with the external reverse release)? How about the frame? X-member or ladder? Gotta turn in now, will looks forward to reading some replies in the morning. Thanks. Mart.

06-24-2014, 10:17 PM	#2
NealinCA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central Coast, Calif. Posts: 868	Re: differences between the 1939 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton pickups. Mart - Many differences between the two. The front axle, spindles and brakes are the same. 3/4 ton uses a different wishbone. The rear is closed drive on parallel leaf springs. The rear is a full floater, like the tonner. Wheels are 16x5 or 16x5.5 wide five, without scallops. They are a desirable hot rod wheel...it's what I ran on the back of my 32 RPU. The frame is a ladder frame, like the tonner as well. Cab and hood would be the same, but fenders, running boards and bed are all of the larger variety. Neal

06-24-2014, 10:23 PM	#3
Tinker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: MN Posts: 7,063	Re: differences between the 1939 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton pickups. Wait. Are we talking the tonner as a 3/4? I didn't think there was a true 3/4 in 39. 1/2, tonner (1ton commercial) and the 1 ton industrial. Interested to know the responses too.

06-24-2014, 11:04 PM	#4
NealinCA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central Coast, Calif. Posts: 868	Re: differences between the 1939 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton pickups. 1938 was 1/2 ton and tonner only, then the 3/4 ton was introduced in 39 and was built from 39-41.

06-25-2014, 02:55 AM	#5
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 9,088	Re: differences between the 1939 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton pickups. Thanks guys. The floater rear axles - what gears did they come with? I have googled the heck out of it but keep coming up dry. I'm thinking they will have pretty low gears - 4.11's being the tallest? Very much a guess. Any info gratefully received. Mart. Mart.

06-25-2014, 05:20 AM	#6
1952henry Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: North Dakota Posts: 1,787	Re: differences between the 1939 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton pickups. Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) 4.86:1 me thinks. __________________ I dig coal, which provides motivation for EVs.

06-25-2014, 10:56 AM	#7
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 17,411	Re: differences between the 1939 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton pickups. All of the 38/39 122" wheelbase trucks shared the same rear axle and ratios available. The 60 HP would have used the 6.66:1 and the others could have had 4.87:1 or 4.11:1 depending on owner preference. Higher ratios were available for 1-ton or larger after 1940 but most had the longer wheelbase and different rear axles. The 4.11 would have been prefered with the 95 HP V8 in 1939 unless the customer wanted to haul a 1-ton load with 3/4-ton springs.