Well, now I have a bit of a dilemma... Only I can decide for sure what to do, but I'm interested in comments, too.

I bought this truck sight unseen because it was going to be a hassle to get a title for the truck I'm working on. I have never liked the front of this truck as it always seemed disproportionately large. However, on the bigger trucks, I am starting to kinda like it. Now, here's the dilemma... I know a lot of these older trucks never get brought back to life, either rotting away, parted out, or dropped on a pickup chassis. This truck is complete. The floor is rotted and there is some damage to the body, but it's all there. I haven't checked to be sure, but I think it's even the original motor and trans. So, now instead of using this for parts and a title and getting rid of the rest, I'm thinking it would make a nice second project. If I decide to do anything with it, I think it will be a restoration, with the exception of maybe brakes. Then again, I'm not sure with the flathead 8 in it now that I'd need more than a foot out the door to stop. J/K!

Anyway, what do y'all think? I have seen a few 1.5 and bigger trucks on here, and I've seen lots of 1/2 tons all over the web, but was the 1 ton common? As a restoration would it have any real value? (Not that the money thing interests me... more of a rarity thing...)

Ideas? Comments?

Dave

 

I'll try again this coming weekend to get a pic of it, but the guy I bought it from said that the gearshift **** indicated it had a 5 speed transmission. I guess I would be surprised by that, but he thought it looked like it belonged there. I'm sure the **** could have been replaced somewhere along the way, but did Ford use a 5 speed transmission back then?

Dave

 

No 5 speeds, what he might see is the 5 different positions on the ****, 4 forward speeds and one reverse. All one tons used the 4 speed trans. However the first gear is so low that usually you just start in 2nd, unless pulling a load or lugging up a hill from a dead stop.

One tons aren't extremely valuable compared to the half tons, as I'm sure you are aware. Seems that you will find more half tons or 1.5 ton and bigger models than one tons.

 

Thanks. Yeah, I have noticed that there aren't really a lot of 1 tons. I guess that is what I was hoping would make it seem more of a jewel, or something. Regardless, I think I am going to do something with it. It seems too good of a truck to let it rot or cut it up.

I think Dad tried to play with it a little bit when we were loading it up, but couldn't really determine much. I'll be up there on Sunday for Father's Day. I want to see if the motor is seized up or not. I'll be up that way on Saturday, too. If I have time, I want to go out to his place and shoot some oil into the cylinders and let it soak overnight. Bearing in mind that I know almost nothing about the old flatheads, what can I get ahold of to try to turn it over? On newer motors, I'd grab the damper bold, but I don't recall that being an option on these old motors...

I am going to be spending some time studying up on the motor because I would kinda like to get it running again, but for this weekend, what do I need to know?

Dave

 

If you are lucky the crank handle might be kicking around, if not the crank ratchet bolt on my '42 is 1 5/16'' AF .
If the truck is original it'll be 6volt +earth,
I have o'hauled my Flathead but I won't start it until I'm ready to drive, it's now 12v -earth.

Good luck, Steve.

 

One thing I've done before with a stuck engine is try pulling it in gear, either by using the clutch to get it rolling and then dump the clutch, or just drag it in gear. Some times it works and some times it doesn't. The last vehicle I bought was supposedly seized, turned out just the water pump was seized.

 

Well, the motor did not respond to my 2' breaker bar and a 1-1/4" socket. So, I will pull it when I get a chance and pull the heads, then figure out where to go.

I did get some pictures of the dash and the gearshift ****. The **** indicates a 5 + R. So, it was apparently pulled from something later. I couldn't really tell if it was 3 or 4 speed though. The gear shift kept rotating so I couldn't tell if I was moving stuff or just twisting it. I'll play with that some more too.

Dave

 

So, I found the following information on the motor and trans. The heads are cast with "59A-B" in them and the only thing I've found cast into the transmission is "59". Seems like I've seen pics of other trucks' transmissions here that had more info, so maybe I just couldn't reach up far enough under the floor to get to them.





Dave

edit: I just found a pic of another trans. Looks like it was right under my nose. Just didn't clear enough of the gunk away. I'll be back there tomorrow and will check again.

 

I have a few switches and ***** that I am not sure about. I'll do more research, but in the mean time, here they are...

Not sure what "T" and "L" stand for, nor do I know what the bracket below the dash is for.


I can identify a place to stick a key. What is the switch in the steering column bracket? And any idea what the toggle switch hanging from below the dash is?


Here's the gearshift ****.


Dave

 

Yeah, that shifter **** is not the stock ****, probably added when the original broke or something. The toggle switch on the far side is not original, was added later, for what, who knows? The T **** is the throttle ****, the L is the lights. The paddle switch on the column drop is part of the starting system for the truck. It went like this, insert the key and turn, flip the paddle to On (which closes ignition circuit) and then push starter button to crank the engine. To turn the truck off you would flip the paddle switch to Off and turn key and remove. Ford called it Conincidal Ignition, IIRC.

 

Now that you mention it, Gary, I don't think I saw a starter button anywhere... On Dad's ol' '49 GMC, it has the starter button next to the gas pedal. This truck has what looks like just a footrest to make it easier to modulate the speed.

Here is the dash of the truck. Let me know if I've missed something. I am just guessing that the pushbutton at the left is a horn button, but it could be something else. Like the transmission stamping, it could be right under my nose.


Dave

 

The little chrome button is the starter button. Fords, since the late 30's, used a dash mounted starter button instead of GM and Chrysler's floor mounted switches. FYI, the little hole in the dash, right above the gauge cluster is where the high beam jewel was mounted, a little red lens that lit up when the highbeams were one. The switch at the top of the dash is the wiper switch. The horn button is right in the middle of the steering wheel.

 

Gary, thanks again. I talked to Dad today while we were all there for Father's day and we're going to pull the motor one of these weekends and take it in the shop. Then he can get it torn apart and work on getting it unfrozen. The trans ID matches the one on the frame rail. I don't see anything that jumps out and says the motor has ever been replaced, though the carb is from a rebuilder. This looks like it'll be a fun restoration, though it is going to be tough deciding which 47 to work on.

Dave