just bought myself a nice 1947 1 ton panel, can't be many of these left, its bigger than i expected, it has a sweet v8 flat head, with 4 on the floor, thinking it could do with a more modern 5 speed or maybe overdrive auto, taking it back to the uk, custom circus aged graphics on the side and back

 

Very nice! Are you leaving the patina?

 

yes, the patina is the best bit, apparently the motor is from a 53 ford of some kind, once i get the engine number i will see if someone can work out what size it is.

 

Wow, you have a neat truck! Please don't cut anything up to install a 5 speed or automatic. If you are not going to use it as a heavy hauler, give Chuck at Chuck's Trucks a call. He can set you up with the mount to install a Ford overdrive top shifted 4 speed and a re-gear for your low ratio rear axle.

 

it has an engine from a 53 and a 4 speed, would it originally been 4 speed or 3 speed, also it looks as though it has widow makers all round, is there an option to match the wheel size with a non widow maker wheels, what is the PCD

 

Great looking tonner, wish it was mine. The wheels on one ton 38 - 47 tonners are 17" two piece. There were two rim widths, 3.75" on early trucks and no doubt 4.33" on your 47. The rims are not "widow makers". They are a Firestone "RH" style that (in most communities) can still be serviced. The center disc has a 5 lug x 6 7/8" bolt pattern, which is unique to these trucks. No other vehicle used similar wheels. Stu

 

Wow! That is an amazing find. That;s the one I want to add to my collection! Don't confuse widowmakers with multi piece wheels. The ones on the panel are fine to work on and use today. There is a certain kind of wheel made by Firestone called a RH 5 degree that is the widowmaker. And ten extra bonus points from Orcas Island for keeping that cool patine! Welcome, we would love to follow this along. GB

 

You beat me Stu! What a handsome vehicle he just bought, huh?

 

i guess i will keep the wheels then, that good as they have new tires on them, its been converted to 12v with a painless loom and has one of the alternator in the dynamo set ups to keep it looking original, the only thing i would like as i said in an earlier post, is a 5 speed modern transmission

 

Did it come from the US? Where? And a '53 engine would be an 8ba flathead. While not original, some of us like them better because of the easy location of the distributor. I for one love the 12 volts with an alternator. When I find one and finish it, it will be just like yours!

 

i got it from Minneapolis, MN, and the guy i got it off originally got it from the northern part of the state, apparently most the front was missing when he got it so the front metal work is from a different truck,

here is an engine shot

 

Can't be sure from the photo of the engine but it appears to have narrow belts which means it probably has Mercury water pumps (although someone could have made a adapter bracket to allow the use of narrow belt car pumps like on the 8ba in my 39 p/u). The mounting pad height on Merc pumps is different than Ford 8rt truck pumps. They require a spacer between the pump mounting pad and the rubber engine mount. If it does have the Merc pumps they are not available aftermarket so you'll need to have the ones you have rebuilt if they leak. Its not an issue just means you can't order a set of new pumps from an early Ford parts supplier.

 

here is the engine from the other side

 

BEAUTIFUL!!

 

Why do you need a 5 speed? What is wrong with a 4 speed where 4th is overdrive?