ya know, maybe this is because i'm tired , or having " flashbacks " but i had the urge to get that thing and build me my own version of the " grass van " from cheech and chongs up in smoke .................................

 

I was directed here from https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...d-truck-2.html. I am interested in the delivery van and if I can get some information if it might be available and from where. On the post cited above, I have included an image of other 'step vans' which are on Ford Chassis'. Any help/direction is appreciated.

 

The bread van in the first post is a Ward-bodied (the school bus people) Ford F-3 chassis with F-4 overload springs. They were used by Continental Bakeries/Wonder Bread/Hostess in the late 1940's and the early 1950's.

They used a flathead 6 for economy.

 

It's a Ford Vanette. Appears to be too long to be a milk truck. The bi-folding right side doors were designed for EZ exit for someone carrying a package. Could have been used by a bakery or UPS.

 

At least aluminum doesn't rust...

 

Sure as heck does corrode, oxidize though.

 

Big difference between the condition of the aluminum on the bread truck and the steel on that F1.

 

No argument there. No argument anywhere for that matter. Some folks, present company excluded, are unaware that aluminum will corrode.
A friend in FL used her boat exclusively in salt water and was surprised that the hull corroded through after several years usage. Same person could not quite figure out a sacrificial anode on the outboard motor.
My son has a cargo trailer that the skin has corroded through in a couple areas where water gets trapped.

 

I'm negotiating to buy this one. Looks like it will make a great project, doesn't it? It has a flathead six in it...but a flathead v8 should shoe horn right into it.

 

Lotus, that would make a cool truck. What are you going to use it for?

 

I have a new business going that supplies new music to radio stations. I thought I'd dress it up as an old radio station van/hot rod to promote the company.

I'd like to polish up all of that aluminum stripe it up like something that would have been done back when it was built. All kinds of impossibles!

 

Repolishing corroded aluminum sheetmetal is not for the faint of heart or weak of muscles! You might want to read up on it on a site like an airstream enthusiasts/restorers website.

 

I've never polished a aluminum truck...but I have polished quite a bit of aircraft aluminum. I figure it's gotta be easier than that. Probably the worst thing I've ever tried to polish the corrosion out of was a set of magnesium ailerons and ruddervators off of a friends Beechcraft Bonanza. That was a real nightmare! I must have worked on those things for a month...

 

Interesting Ward bodied van-ette. Ray pointed out it says FORD across it, I missed that, but what year does it say on the serial plate?

 

I believe it's a 1948. It has a strange serial number prefix, *9 8H J*, which I haven't been able to track down online. It also has a GVW of 7,800 lbs.