My 40 panel

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Jan 11, 2015 | 05:48 PM

willowbilly3

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From: Black Hills of SD

My 40 panel

I put a want ad up on Fordbarn for doors and got a response and I'm waiting for the guy to get back to me.
I want this front sheetmetal.

http://www.kitfoster.com/images/2007...lWeb-Large.jpg

Jan 11, 2015 | 07:24 PM

GB SISSON

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From: Orcas Island Wa.

It's very cool and different and distinctive, but as you can tell, I have fallen pretty hard for the good ol' American jailbar grille style trucks. Nice to see a beautifully restored panel in stock configuration. Panels seem really sought after by the darksiders. It would be awesome if you got some doors. Keep us posted!

Jan 11, 2015 | 09:19 PM

willowbilly3

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From: Black Hills of SD

I also still have a set to try and chase down in ND. A lead given to me by the guy I got the panel from. One of the few preferences I do not share is the affinity for jailbars. I have just never been a huge fan. I don't hate them but I think they are kind of the red headed stepkid. It's like the 40-41 1/2 ton is cinderella and the 42-47 is her bucktoothed homely sister. I'm sure if I owned one I would feel different. Like the 59 Belair I had back in the 80s. I paid $50 for it and couldn't wait to get it's ugly butt home, pull the good 283 and push the rest in a ravine. The car grew on me, I fixed it up and it's still in the family and stored. And now 59 car is one of my favorite cheby's
Only slightly less homely than jailbars is the 40-41 truck, like mine, which seems to be a look borrowed from farmer Brown's 9n. I'm half tempted to graft a 35 front on it, I have a real nice chrome 35 commercial grill, a good 37 hood and a decent set of 36 truck fenders.

Jan 11, 2015 | 09:41 PM

GB SISSON

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From: Orcas Island Wa.

Well I guess we just have to enjoy the many things we like in common. For me the 40 ford pickup looks like a car. I like the 9n look of the bigger trucks. Years of tractor collecting have twisted my mind in that direction. If your fankenpanel comes out even half as nice as your roadster, them I'm all for it. It would be a big hit at the ATHS national meet next year...

Not sure if I ever posted a pic of this one I put a 302 in. The boy will be 21 in March, so this is a few years ago. Note the load of iron on the bed,

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Jan 12, 2015 | 10:31 AM

willowbilly3

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From: Black Hills of SD

Well, you have to love them all because they are Ford trucks! I just have some I like better than others. Keep in mind my daily driver is one of the buttugliest Fords ever maid, The Aerostar. (Insert barfing emoticon). Sadly there is just no other AWD van that can do half of what I do with it and get around on the winter roads.
I have been around tractors my whole life and have a 57 640. It is a love hate relationship, the darn thing will start in any weather but 1st gear is too fast for anything I really need it for like the sickle bar or brush hog mowers. And no live power makes it pretty much horrible for either task. I think they were made just so old guys who don't know what a good tractor is would have something to restore and drive in parades. Now a 60s 4000 is a whole different animal, had one once and would love to have it back.

Jan 12, 2015 | 09:08 PM

46fordtruck

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From: Orange County, CA

FYI, all the front sheet metal is the same as the Fords, except the Merc had a gravel pan between the bumper and the grille panel. Through the years I've managed to buy a complete trim set for a '46-'47 Mercury truck. The shipping was crazy to get the whole front grille panel shipped to Southern California from Canada, but very worth it.

Jan 12, 2015 | 09:30 PM

GB SISSON

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From: Orcas Island Wa.

Do you have this Canadian sheet metal mounted to a truck? It's ok if it isn't. I have known some really avid ford truck (and car) collectors who seem totally content to collect parts. They are really fun to search for and don't take up nearly as much room and don't need a title. The satisfaction of finding a rare or particularly nice specimen can be as great as finding a whole truck. Some of these guys enjoy restoring the parts. There's a guy in Seattle that's really good at restoring faux wood grain ford dashboards. He has them hung all over his shop. He also loves fenders and very skillfully pounds and taps them into like new condition. Then carefully stacks them up like cordwood. He is about 85 now and still at it in his one car garage. His daily driver is a well used 40 ford pickup. If your merc parts are on a truck that's ok too.