1940 Sedan Delivery/Panel truck

[FIEND42]

My buddy just got a sedan delivery and we have some questions about a few things. My knowledge of 39/40 trucks is limited since I have had and still own a coupe. The truck has 40 seal beam headlights, a 40 firewall, 39 crankout windshield and a 39 std. dash. The roof is not one solid piece, it appears to have a insert in the middle as if to replace the wood slat/tar factory set-up. Was this a factory insert? I know of Henry's skinflint ways of using old parts till they ran out, so I guess this is normal? We haven't found the serial no. in the frame location but it might be covered by thick paint. The truck is far from complete and/or original. Lots of butchered work over the many years of too many fingers in the pie. Anyone have info? Thanks, John.

[alanwoodieman]

what does the grill look like--oval? could be a 39 standard with the headlight conversion to seal beams

[JSeery]

Photos are always nice

[nospartsman]

First determine if it is Panel or Delivery, single rear door it's Delivery, two rear doors it's Panel truck. Look at the firewall if there is a factory battery box cut into the firewall, it is a 1937 thru 1939, 1935-36 has the battery under the front floor. The 1940, both Delivery and panel had a battery tray on the right frame rail and a flat firewall for panel and a typical 1940 passenger car firewall for Delivery. The Delivery bodies 35-39 are nearly the same (firewall differences and cowl fender mounting configuration differences). 1935-39 Deliveries take the same rear fenders, looking face on at mounted rear 1935-39 Delivery rear fenders they look like 1935 passenger car rear fenders. 1935 Sedan rear fenders can be modified to fit delivery, slice them lengthwise.

[FIEND42]

Ok this much I am sure of. It is a S.D. with single rear door. Title says 40. Firewall is 40, no batt. tray. Grille is 39 Deluxe or 40 Std. Windshield cranks out ala 39. Dash is 39 Std. based on windshield crank location. Headlights are 40 seal beams, not a conversion. I own a 39 Std. coupe now and had a 40 Deluxe before so some comparisons can be made. I am really interested in the Ford Co. factory whys and mishmosh of parts. The roof insert is odd. I thought the machinery was in place for one piece turret roofs after 1936. Maybe trucks were different. Front fenders are 39 Deluxe or 40 whatever model. Of course who in Gods name can tell what has happened to the truck in the last 75 years.

[sidevalve8ba]

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This is a '40 panel truck. The panel trucks also had the spare tire sunken into an indentation on the passenger side to the rear of the side door. Deliveries did not.

[38bill]

My info says: 1940 SD is based on the '40 Deluxe passenger car. The windshield opened. Spare tire was inside under the floor.

Title dates don't mean much as they were sometimes dated when the vehicle was sold, not by the model year. I don't have any answers about your roof. How about a photo?

[nospartsman]

The 1940 SD has a fuel tank behind the drivers door. The 1935-39 SD has a gas tank mounted in the rear of the frame. The 1940 SD does do not have an opening windshield, The cowl of a 1939 SD is the same as a 1939 Standard passenger car, 1939 DLX/40 front fenders will not bolt onto 1939 SD cowl. Look to see if someone "clipped" a 1939 DLX cowl onto the 1939 Delivery.

[41LjH]

Originally Posted by sidevalve8ba

This is a '40 panel truck. The panel trucks also had the spare tire sunken into an indentation on the passenger side to the rear of the side door. Deliveries did not.

Well the title might say 1940, but the hood is a 1941...

[Juergen]

Originally Posted by FIEND42

Ok this much I am sure of. It is a S.D. with single rear door. Title says 40. Firewall is 40, no batt. tray. Grille is 39 Deluxe or 40 Std. Windshield cranks out ala 39. Dash is 39 Std. based on windshield crank location. Headlights are 40 seal beams, not a conversion. I own a 39 Std. coupe now and had a 40 Deluxe before so some comparisons can be made. I am really interested in the Ford Co. factory whys and mishmosh of parts. The roof insert is odd. I thought the machinery was in place for one piece turret roofs after 1936. Maybe trucks were different. Front fenders are 39 Deluxe or 40 whatever model. Of course who in Gods name can tell what has happened to the truck in the last 75 years.

Sounds like you have a 37-39 Sedan Delivery body. These bodies were buildt by Briggs, which did not have the stamping capability to make a one piece steel top; or perhaps the cost to convert was too high for the low production volume. In 36 the top had the fabric insert. In 37 they tarred in a metal top insert to make it "all steel" which they kept til 39. In 1940, Ford built the sedan delivery bodies.