The fender wheel openings are small on the 1/2 ton and the larger trucks had a couple of larger sizes:




Yes, The transmission and driveshaft are a later swap. Possibly the front fenders and hood are from a larger Mercury truck. The whole frame and suspension are different and heavy duty on the 1 ton and larger.

 

 

This looks like a 1 ton or larger fender. They only look correct if you have 35" tires. I am thinking that the pickup was in a collision at one time and had the hood and fenders and replaced with parts from a big truck.

 

[QUOTE=tacomacream;18232291]This looks like a 1 ton or larger fender. They only look correct if you have 35" tires. I am thinking that the pickup was in a collision at one time and had the hood and fenders and replaced with parts from a big truck.

So maybe I should be looking for new fenders then?
but I have noticed alot of the 47 trucks I look at don't have Ford stamped into the side where some do? The hood latch and everything says Ford .

 

Your truck looks good with the smooth hood side. Fenders from a 1/2 ton are needed for your build. There is a thread on here somewhere where a guy cut the wheel opening lip of the big truck away all the way around from the fender then added sheet metal all the way around to fill the rounded wedge shape gap. Does anyone remember who did that?

 

I believe hoods made after WWII have Ford stamped into the side of the hood. The hood on my 42 does not have ford stamped into the side. Also the running boards have hidden mounting bolts. After the war they have carriage bolts that mount thru the top of the boards.

As far as the paint job goes.. and this is just my 2 cents. Lightly sand the outside just to clean things up a little and knock down rust spots and then clear coat the whole thing. Sand blast the frame and underside of the cab,box and fenders and coat with por-15 or whatever. The truck is 75 years old? I think its safe to say at this point its never going to see any salt. Rarely if ever be driven in the rain. It will be another 50 years before any significant rust will develop that will cause any damage to speak of. Sure it has the usual rusty spots where the boards mount, probably some in the cab corners where all the dirt etc... collects. again just my 2 cents

 

I tend to agree .but we all answer to someone and I answer to the boss aka my wife. Like new build it is .

 

This is the thread that I am talking about, but the pics have now vaporized:

 

LOL.. I hear ya on that one !!

 

As far as differences between 1/2 and 1 ton, don't forget the 122" wb on the tonner and 5 lug on 6 7/8 17" split rims. Rear axle, bed, rear fenders., frame.....etc etc

 

Hey GB, A hood with CHAIN SAWS painted on it has to be a keeper!

 

I would think a 1 ton would have a 4 speed transmission too.

 

So alot of decisions have been made(finally)
parts have been ordered. Motor is being built and hopefully in the next three months or so I'll have the chassis rebuilt and be setting the cab,box and all the other stuff. Will update with pics as we proceed you were all very helpful. Cheers!