I am beginning research for a 46 pickup restoration. I may have access to a 47 parts truck and some assorted 45 parts--what are the differences between these years? It looks like the trucks are very similar. Can I swap major parts (cab, body panels, drivetrain, etc to build one great truck? If I put 47 frame and running gear under a 46 body, what do I have? Is the VIN posted to the body, frame, both? At what point do I violate the originality or run into problems?


thanks

RER

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 03-May-02 AT 01:48 PM (EST)]There are no differences between 45-47 Ford trucks. All sheetmetal is the same, trim is the same, as well as well as all running gear and chassis parts. In fact, I have a truck that has a '46 frame, '45 front fenders, '46 hood, '47 cab, and a '51 bed. The only differences I have ever seen in dealing w/ these trucks is that the 6 cylinder trucks had 2 different parts than 8 cyl did. Those parts are the panel that is behind the grille on the bottom and the panel where the hood latch locks to the body. The 6 cyl are shallower since the radiator is mounted a little further forward than an 8 cyl. The VIN is mounted in 3 places on these trucks. One is on the driver's side frome rail, on top, by the steering box, another is on the rating plate on the inside of the glove box door, although many times those paltes get lost, next would be on the bellhousing of the tranny. You can view that one by pulling up the trans cover on th floor, it's stamped on the upper part of the bellhousing. My truck that is made of various years parts will be registered as a '46 since the title is still good for the frame that i built it on, and the state knows the VIN goes to a '46 Ford. I will be calling it a '46 since the majority of the parts are '46. I hope some of this helps you out in answering soem of your questions. If you have any more feel free to email me directly, or post more here.

Gary
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1946 pickup-ongoing project
1946 pickup-waiting for resto.
1947 pickup-parts truck
1957 Ford FL 500 Town Victoria
1970 Mustang FB-daily driver
1972 Olds Vista Cruiser-4 sale
1988 Bronco II-for sale

 

Gary,
Thanks for your great reply. What is your e-mail address?

thanks

Bob
R_E_Ren(No Email Addresses In Posts!)

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 25-Aug-02 AT 10:56 PM (EST)]I see that you have a 47 parts truck. I was wondering if you had any decent running boards from this(mine are all rusted-out)
thnx
-Jason

P.S. my grille has 15 vertical bars(3 bigger than the others) that I got from Dennis Carpenter for like $120

 

Unfortunatly I don't have any extra running boards, at least not right now. The parts truck was actually a 1 ton flatbed that had the factory stubby running boards. Those are going to my dad's '46 1/2 ton since he wants to make his '46 1/2 ton a flatbed. Good luck in your search.

Gary
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1946 pickup-ongoing project
1947 pickup-waiting for resto.
1957 Ford FL 500 Town Victoria
1970 Mustang FB-daily driver