1939 Ford 3/4 Ton Upgrade
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Joined: May 2004
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1939 Ford 3/4 Ton Upgrade
Hello to the Group,
I have 2 1939 Ford 3/4 Ton trucks that I am upgrading to look original but want drive down the highway with a nice feel.
As Newbie, I would like to upgrade the suspension and add disc brakes to the front end. I do not need to go as far as a IFS but would like to add shocks. Also, I would like to upgrade the rear end so I would be able to do more than 55mph.
I have learned is that the 3/4 ton may not work with these kits out there for the 1/2 ton. Chasis Engineering did not know about the 3/4 ton since they do 1/2 tons.
Any thoughts from the experts?
Bruce from Dallas
I have 2 1939 Ford 3/4 Ton trucks that I am upgrading to look original but want drive down the highway with a nice feel.
As Newbie, I would like to upgrade the suspension and add disc brakes to the front end. I do not need to go as far as a IFS but would like to add shocks. Also, I would like to upgrade the rear end so I would be able to do more than 55mph.
I have learned is that the 3/4 ton may not work with these kits out there for the 1/2 ton. Chasis Engineering did not know about the 3/4 ton since they do 1/2 tons.
Any thoughts from the experts?
Bruce from Dallas
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 182
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From: Wild Wonderful WV
I put disc brakes on the front of my pickup, I used ECI (here's a link to their site):
http://www.ecihotrodbrakes.com/
There are several good brake conversion kit companies out there, but at the time I was looking, ECI was the only one I found that could handle the 5 X 5 1/2 bolt pattern of my '41.
http://www.ecihotrodbrakes.com/early...nversions.html
As for redoing your trucks rear end......not sure exactly what you have in mind....are you keeping your flathead ? are you wanting to go to an open drive shaft ? etc.
Pete and Jakes http://www.peteandjakes.com/ is another good resource as far as looking at the front end suspension since your apparently wanting to keep your front solid axle.
Hope this helps
http://www.ecihotrodbrakes.com/
There are several good brake conversion kit companies out there, but at the time I was looking, ECI was the only one I found that could handle the 5 X 5 1/2 bolt pattern of my '41.
http://www.ecihotrodbrakes.com/early...nversions.html
As for redoing your trucks rear end......not sure exactly what you have in mind....are you keeping your flathead ? are you wanting to go to an open drive shaft ? etc.
Pete and Jakes http://www.peteandjakes.com/ is another good resource as far as looking at the front end suspension since your apparently wanting to keep your front solid axle.
Hope this helps
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 948
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From: McAlester, OK
Welcome to FTE Bruce! I sure hope that we can help you out here.
Hmmm. So how are the leaf springs set up on the front of the 3/4 '39s? Are there 2 going the legnth of the frame or 1 set accross with the axel?
Is your rear end already and open drive unit?
Good luck!
Clayton
Hmmm. So how are the leaf springs set up on the front of the 3/4 '39s? Are there 2 going the legnth of the frame or 1 set accross with the axel?
Is your rear end already and open drive unit?
Good luck!
Clayton
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41 Clay and 41 in WV,
41 in WV do you have a 3/4 ton truck?
I will look into the ECI for the brake conversion kit. The flathead I have is a newly rebuilt when I bought the truck, but it is 1952 engine in a 1939 Truck which is fine with me. A flathead is still a flathead.
I don't mind using a open shaft.
The front leaf springs are across the front axle and the original rear end with a closed shaft.
Thanks
Bruce
41 in WV do you have a 3/4 ton truck?
I will look into the ECI for the brake conversion kit. The flathead I have is a newly rebuilt when I bought the truck, but it is 1952 engine in a 1939 Truck which is fine with me. A flathead is still a flathead.
I don't mind using a open shaft.
The front leaf springs are across the front axle and the original rear end with a closed shaft.
Thanks
Bruce
Tuned
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 268
Likes: 1
From: a little S/E of Nome
Bruce,
Give my user name a click and then click on my gallery pictures. Take a look at the rear end set up that I used on my '40 and see if that's what you had in mind. That's a nine inch rear with parallel leaf springs.
Give my user name a click and then click on my gallery pictures. Take a look at the rear end set up that I used on my '40 and see if that's what you had in mind. That's a nine inch rear with parallel leaf springs.
