I have received a request for a picture of the 1942 that I have in pieces. Fortunately, I took one photo before removing parts. It was owned by two nurseries in the Portland area before I purchased it last summer; some of you may have seen it advertised on Craigslist for several weeks.

The body is in excellent shape---there is only one rust spot in the lower rear cab. The engine (59ab) is very strong. It has approximately 1,000 miles (and 14 years) on a complete rebuild. The recent owner had a shop foreman who kept meticulous records.

The first truck I drove on our farm was a 1946 Ford flatbed. The only difference between that and my latest project is the length of the bed and the fact that the 42 has the lever on the gearshift for reverse. With luck, I will be driving this one within a few months.

If no photo is attached, be patient with me and I will try again.

Norm

 

Nice looking tonner. Can you tell us how the p.o. did the DRW? Rear end swap, maybe adapters? Or did he find a set of rare Power Wagon/military dually wheels? Is there a Budd number stamped into the concave side rim lip of one of the duals? Stu

 

 

I checked the numbers on the duals. On the inside, I found 59340. On the outside, GY500R-17LW.

There is no record of the previous owner modifying the rear axles or wheels. Any changes would have been made by the original owner between December of 1941 and 1989.

Norm

 

That's a great looking truck! I have never seen a tonner with duals. You also have a factory stakebed which is a rare plus. I'm sure I'll be in your area sometime soon and it would be nice to meet you and see your project. I never did see that one on CL, but my fleet seems to be expanding nonetheless. Welcome to FTE!

 

Oh my, what have we found? Please bear with me as I describe what I hope we've come across.

The "Greatest Generation" lived through the Great Depression, then afterwards, for good measure, defeated global fascism. In the process they became true conservatives (small c). They conserved and made due where they could with what they had. One of their practices was the conversion of single rear wheels to dual rear wheels on their existing trucks to increase load capacity. Kits were sold to do this.

As the rim inscription tells us, the Budd 59340 is a 17" x 5" wheel having a Goodyear LW rim/ring design. It has a 5 lug x 8" bolt pattern. I know these wheels well because I have two sets for my M-Hs. I found one of my sets in KS as part of a DRW conversion kit as described above. My guess is that our original owner of this truck made it DRW by installing one of these kits. It makes more sense than him swapping the entire rear axle.

Below are a cross section diagram of adapter #AD-312, the chart showing it converting the stock tonner SRW 5 x 6 7/8" pattern to the 5 x 8" pattern, and pictures of a similar adapter but having different bolt pattern configurations. The AD-312 will be molded into the adapters. I'll also suggest that you will find there to be only right hand threads on both rear sides if these adapters are in fact fitted. But there will be left hand threads on the left side of the truck holding the adapter to the hub. Stu

 

Great detective work Stu! It looks like a true '42 truck as it has no raised ford script on the hoodsides. I think I know where some of the '42 type script hood emblems are....

 

Stu,

You are absolutely correct on the adapters. In addition to the "AD-312," the adapters have "Dayton Ohio" inscribed on them.

GB,

The hood is, indeed, an original 1942. The emblem mounting holes have been filled with weld from the inside. I have another 1942 hood still showing he emblem holes. Finding a pair of emblems was one of the eight items on my list at the recent Portland treasure hunt---I was not successful. If you know of some for sale, I would be an interested buyer.

Let me know when you might be on the mainland and perhaps I can have you and Capt. Sygo visit me on the farm and share a brew or two.

Norm

 

Yup, you have some rare bits. Now four sets known to have survived. If you ever don't want them, and the 59340s, please let us know. Stu

 

In a way I did buy a set of the emblems last week at Portland. The '47 tonner I bought comes with a spare hood "that for some reason has the 'ford' in a seperate metal script" . I will be meeting him at the half way point in Centralia in about 8 days. He is actually in Bandon Ore, about 4 hours south of Centralia. Our deal included him delivering it half way so I can do it in one day.

 

BTW Norm, I'd appreciate if you would post some close up pics of your adapters so I can save them for future discussions. Thanks. Stu

 

Stu,

I just replaced the adapters and inside duals after replacing grease seals, wheel cylinders, cleaning backing plates, etc. It should be a lot easier disassembling this time! I should have some photos for you tonight.

Thanks for the thorough explanation of the adapter history. Good research and good writing. I had no idea that my dual set-up was so rare---I just knew that I liked the way they looked.

Norm

 

Cool stuff, folks.
Norm - your truck is in amazing shape!
-Captain Sygo

 

Stu,

I have attached photos of the left side adapter. I started with the inner dual and progressed until I had removed the adapter. If you need different pictures or better resolution please let me know before I mount the tires again!

Thanks,

Norm

 

Wow this is like an episide of CSI with all the forensic documentation....Maybe we can get Stu back to the Pacific NW for another chapter.