Ford military trucks
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From: Orange County, CA
Ford military trucks
Anybody have any info on the WW II trucks Ford built for the military? Yesterday I picked up 3 42-47 front complete clips(fenders, grilles, hoods, innder panels, etc), and noticed that one of them is for a military big truck. The parking light holes are blanked out (never stamped) and there are light housings mounted on top, with a Ford script 'F'. The grille panel has a guard over each of the headlights. There are remains of olive drab on the fenders and the radiator supports. I was just curious if there are any records of how many of these military trucks were built, etc.
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I don't know any specs. However one of the coolest Ford military trucks was a '46/7 ish F?, looked like a "2 ton" type chassis. It was a 4x4 Marmon-Herrington, rotary snow plow!!! Had the usual flatty up front and one in the back to run the plow. That was way cool for me. This was 1980's at a resturant, "Lloyds" of Running Springs, CA. don't know if they still use it. They did back then. I begged numerous times to buy it. Hope it is in good hands. What a treasure, to me anyway!!! Now I live in the southeast. Somebody needs to check into it please.
Originally Posted by 46fordtruck
Anybody have any info on the WW II trucks Ford built for the military? Yesterday I picked up 3 42-47 front complete clips(fenders, grilles, hoods, innder panels, etc), and noticed that one of them is for a military big truck. The parking light holes are blanked out (never stamped) and there are light housings mounted on top, with a Ford script 'F'. The grille panel has a guard over each of the headlights. There are remains of olive drab on the fenders and the radiator supports. I was just curious if there are any records of how many of these military trucks were built, etc.
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From: Southern Oregon
I have seen a 42-47 Ford military Big Truck that matches some of your description Gary. Blanked out never stamped bosses for parking lights, protective grilles over headlights, and it had a tiltout hinged front window. The truck is sitting 18 miles away, in the same spot for reportedly 20 years.
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It's funny, in all the years I've researched the 42-47 Ford trucks, I have never looked much into the military thing. I know where there is one located in a small town about 120 miles north of me, it's rented out for moves, etc. It's too bad that one of the fenders I got is so trashed, I'll probably salvage the fender mounted light housings and the headlight guards and sell them. Pictures I have seen show that the "whiskers" on the side of the hood latch are not present on the military trucks, nor the hood spears, as this is non-functional trim, it's possible that they didn't have them. Can anybody confirm this?
Cetane...not sure if Lloyds is still there. Running Springs is about 65 miles from me.
Cetane...not sure if Lloyds is still there. Running Springs is about 65 miles from me.
Last edited by 46fordtruck; Feb 21, 2005 at 08:56 PM.
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From: Southern Oregon
I have to go into Grants Pass in the next few days and will stop and look at the WWII truck again, this time with pad and pen. One surprising thing about it was that the instrument cluster that is usual wasn't there, and never was. All of the instruments were 2 inch round individual gauges, like the common aftermarket gauges of today. They were not add ons or replacements.
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From: Mandan, ND
Hey 46 Yblock, where do you live? I live in Grants Pass. Are you referring to the Ford on Redwood Avenue?
My info comes from James K. Wagner: model G8T, no script on hood, no parking lamps, originally had a blackout light over left fender, six stud wheels, handlamp guard ( wire over headlight), towing hooks, push out windshield, 158 inch wb, and rated a 2 ton. They most likely had a military cargo body.
This is my own guess, but the dash gauges, 2 inch round type, were most likely a military item Ford installed, for sake of standardization.
The Klaur Sno-Go, someone alluded to, were M-H conversions usually powered by the flathead, the power unit for the plows originally was a IH or Continental inline six.
My info comes from James K. Wagner: model G8T, no script on hood, no parking lamps, originally had a blackout light over left fender, six stud wheels, handlamp guard ( wire over headlight), towing hooks, push out windshield, 158 inch wb, and rated a 2 ton. They most likely had a military cargo body.
This is my own guess, but the dash gauges, 2 inch round type, were most likely a military item Ford installed, for sake of standardization.
The Klaur Sno-Go, someone alluded to, were M-H conversions usually powered by the flathead, the power unit for the plows originally was a IH or Continental inline six.
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From: Southern Oregon
Hi 1952 Henry. Yes that is the truck I was talking about. It is a regular landmark with that big box on back and painted flourescent orange or pink. I am glad you confirmed the push out window. I have alluded to it before in another forum and got the impression readers didn't quite believe it.
I live in Williams. We ought to get together sometime.
Mike Weaver
I live in Williams. We ought to get together sometime.
Mike Weaver
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From: Mandan, ND
I live in town, off of Bridge. I have a 1942 IHC Marine Corp ambulance that is due to be re-released onto society. I also have a 1967 F250 4x4, very ugly. My pride and joy, although I may change my mind once I get it here and start on it, is my 1952 M-H F-3.
Are you referring to the old Sno-Go '42 off Diamond Lake Highway out of Roseburg?
Are you referring to the old Sno-Go '42 off Diamond Lake Highway out of Roseburg?
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From: Southern Oregon
I was talking about the 2 toner off of Redwood Avenue. I would like to see your 42 ambulance. Where is your '52 M-H F-3 coming from? If you get a chance take a drive and come out to see us. We are 4 miles south of Provolt on Williams Highway. 18 miles out of GP and a nice drive. I am almost always here working. Right now it is grape pruning time, with truck time as allowed. Phone number is in the book. Sorry Gary, no more diversions.
Mike
Mike
Last edited by 46yblock; Feb 22, 2005 at 11:40 PM.
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Yes it is only the '42-'47. Ford did it because the '42 was introduced as "truck designed and engineered". Basically Ford pointed out that the glass was metal framed to reduce the chance of breaking it, or at least chipping the edges. It also helped to make it seem more truck-like and rugged. Many times in brochures the cab is touted as being very strong, all welded, truck designed. Also remember, this "safety" glass wasn't tempered, so it was easier to chip or break, compared to modern tempered glass.
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From: Frizzen North
Thanks guys, that clears that up. These must be interesting to re-glass when using the metal. I'm going to convert the bottom carrier to regular glass because my '40 truck is using a '46 cab. Everything else is '40 stuff.