The Ford Barn

rusty12 · 04-15-2016, 04:46 PM

I just ran across a real nice, stock 1932 Model B pickup chassis. Unfortunately, the body and bed were removed for a street rod years back. The chassis is complete with all the mechanicals as well as the hood, grill, fenders, etc.
My questions is: Will a stock 1932 passenger car body fit on this chassis? Thank you in advance.

deuce lover · 04-15-2016, 04:50 PM

Yes.Commercial grill is different.

DavidG · 04-15-2016, 06:59 PM

Unless it was one of the hyper-rare deluxe pickups.

The rear spring will have more leaves in it than any used for passenger cars so you'll need to either replace it or remove some of the leaves.

GSCOV · 04-15-2016, 08:04 PM

more leaves than a station wagon?

DavidG · 04-15-2016, 10:22 PM

Ford classified the station wagon as a commercial vehicle, not as a passenger car. Early '32 commercial vehicles had 12-leaf springs and later versions had 13-leaf springs. The most in a passenger car chassis was 11 leaves for the Fordor sedan.

my4dv8 · 04-16-2016, 05:23 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Well you lucky son of a gun. Get it and start a new project. If you don't need it send it our way.

jerseyboy · 04-18-2016, 12:55 PM

Dave,

Will the steering column angle need to be adjusted?

Keep V-8ing and 4-banging!

DavidG · 04-18-2016, 01:31 PM

Great catch, Scott! Depending on the vintage of the steering gear, the sector housing and the sector arm will have to be replaced for passenger car use. If it is a late chassis, only the sector arm will require replacement.

Another difference is that while the front fenders are common with passenger car fenders, the rear fenders on a pickup are not shared with any other '32 body type.

Kahuna · 04-19-2016, 02:44 PM

Hi David
Not knowing much about the pickups, what is different about the steering?
Thanks
Jim

Bruce Lancaster · 04-19-2016, 03:13 PM

Steering column is closer to vertical, because pickup cowl is shorter than passenger and so distance from firewall to dash is shorter. Early in the year pickups had different sector housing castings with holes placed to tilt up the column, later in year some genius thought to make holes in frame slotted so same steering box castings could be used in both!

DavidG · 04-19-2016, 03:59 PM

As Bruce says. The late change left only the sector arm different between the two versions.

Bubsyouruncle · 04-19-2016, 07:21 PM

And much of the difference is explained in the reprint of the 32 service manuals, available from many vendors.

04-15-2016, 04:46 PM	#1
rusty12 Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 89	Is a 1932 Pickup Chassis the same as a passenger car? I just ran across a real nice, stock 1932 Model B pickup chassis. Unfortunately, the body and bed were removed for a street rod years back. The chassis is complete with all the mechanicals as well as the hood, grill, fenders, etc. My questions is: Will a stock 1932 passenger car body fit on this chassis? Thank you in advance.

04-15-2016, 04:50 PM	#2
deuce lover Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern France Posts: 5,307	Re: Is a 1932 Pickup Chassis the same as a passenger car? Yes.Commercial grill is different.

04-15-2016, 06:59 PM	#3
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,102	Re: Is a 1932 Pickup Chassis the same as a passenger car? Unless it was one of the hyper-rare deluxe pickups. The rear spring will have more leaves in it than any used for passenger cars so you'll need to either replace it or remove some of the leaves.

04-15-2016, 08:04 PM	#4
GSCOV Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Connecticut Posts: 960	Re: Is a 1932 Pickup Chassis the same as a passenger car? more leaves than a station wagon?

04-15-2016, 10:22 PM	#5
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,102	Re: Is a 1932 Pickup Chassis the same as a passenger car? Ford classified the station wagon as a commercial vehicle, not as a passenger car. Early '32 commercial vehicles had 12-leaf springs and later versions had 13-leaf springs. The most in a passenger car chassis was 11 leaves for the Fordor sedan.

04-16-2016, 05:23 AM	#6
my4dv8 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,112	Re: Is a 1932 Pickup Chassis the same as a passenger car? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Well you lucky son of a gun. Get it and start a new project. If you don't need it send it our way.

04-18-2016, 12:55 PM	#7
jerseyboy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northwest CT Posts: 503	Re: Is a 1932 Pickup Chassis the same as a passenger car? Dave, Will the steering column angle need to be adjusted? Keep V-8ing and 4-banging! __________________ She just don't have the appetite For gas somehow, And Dad, I got four carburetors Hooked up on it now. I tried to hook another To see if I'd do a little good, But ain't no place to put it 'Less I perforate the hood. Wanted, lower side sections of 32 radiator cowl.

04-18-2016, 01:31 PM	#8
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,102	Re: Is a 1932 Pickup Chassis the same as a passenger car? Great catch, Scott! Depending on the vintage of the steering gear, the sector housing and the sector arm will have to be replaced for passenger car use. If it is a late chassis, only the sector arm will require replacement. Another difference is that while the front fenders are common with passenger car fenders, the rear fenders on a pickup are not shared with any other '32 body type.

04-19-2016, 02:44 PM	#9
Kahuna Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,617	Re: Is a 1932 Pickup Chassis the same as a passenger car? Hi David Not knowing much about the pickups, what is different about the steering? Thanks Jim

04-19-2016, 03:13 PM	#10
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: Is a 1932 Pickup Chassis the same as a passenger car? Steering column is closer to vertical, because pickup cowl is shorter than passenger and so distance from firewall to dash is shorter. Early in the year pickups had different sector housing castings with holes placed to tilt up the column, later in year some genius thought to make holes in frame slotted so same steering box castings could be used in both!

04-19-2016, 03:59 PM	#11
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,102	Re: Is a 1932 Pickup Chassis the same as a passenger car? As Bruce says. The late change left only the sector arm different between the two versions.

04-19-2016, 07:21 PM	#12
Bubsyouruncle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Gurnee, Illinois Posts: 270	Re: Is a 1932 Pickup Chassis the same as a passenger car? And much of the difference is explained in the reprint of the 32 service manuals, available from many vendors.