1940 P/U WOC1 - Project
 

This is my take on a 40 p/u military project

At the beginning of WW2, Britain was in desperate need of vehicles to support the British Expeditionary Force fighting in France. Ford's plant in England, Dagenham came up with a prototype 8cwt (800 wt), 4 x 2 truck based on a modified American commercial model OC1, 112" 1/2 ton chassis, Desiginated WOC1 ('WO' for War Office, 'C' for commercial and '1' for first type), it had something of a split personality from the bulkhead forwards, it was virtually the same as the 1940 truck but the cab was of an open, military type, and the rear body, with a removable tilt intended to double as a tent.

Component parts were either manufactured at Dengenham or imported via Ford Canada (my CDN connection), it was right-hand drive and fitted with a 4 spd gearbox. There was no time to embark upon lengthy trails and the prototype was approved within two weeks, with the first order being placed in 1939 for 1000 vehicles. This was followed by another order (1000 Vehicles) a month later. Production commenced on Dec 20 1939 and all vehicles were delivered by 24 July 1940.

The 8 cwt class of vehicle was gradually superseded by the 15cwt class and remaining vehicles were declared obsolescent in 1945. It is not thought that any WOC1's served beyond WW2, with any remaining disposed of pretty quickly.

The only original one that survived as a partial body/chassis, was purchased in 1946 at a military disposal sale by a Mr Chance from the Worcester area who removed the rear body and cab with the intention of fitting a station wagon type wooden body. It lay in the Garden right up to 1984 when a UK enthusiast John Worthing spotted it and began the restoration and completed it in 1984.

My version will not be historically accurate but will carry the same theme.

A few pics of the inspiration.

Re: 1940 P/U WOC1 - Project
 

I knew that I need to find an untouched, original (not Rat Roded) truck so that I could start with a complete chassis and all parts in their original locations. As we all know its the missing or small parts that kill a project.

Diligently monitoring Kijiji (our Craigslist) was not producing any leads.

I finally found a 1940 Ford 1/2 ton truck on a farm auction site that was going up at the end of summer of 2017, I put reserve bid and won the auction, lucky me got to drive to Ponteix Saskatchewan (not much in Ponteix except flat prairie grain fields), a quick 9 hour one way drive south of Swift Current. One good thing about the location is that the truck is in amazing original condition for a 77yr old vehicle. The front sheet metal is all solid and only one cab corner was rusted thru. The farmer said they had a whole 1/2" of rain that year.

The original motor, transmission, rear axle, gauges etc etc was still in the truck,. It was originally purchased by the farmers great Aunt, and had been in the family since new. The last time it had a plate on it was 1958.

Re: 1940 P/U WOC1 - Project
 

I had reservations about cutting the cab from the firewall back and replacing with all custom made up panels on the original cab. The flapping of a canvas top at any speed can be quite annoying, so I followed the direction of another truck that was made just at the beginning of WW2, it is the Dodge T212, these were made in Canada and sent mostly to Africa, based on the Dodge 4x4 chassis but with the British specified box and tool boxes, these boxes were designated FFW (fitted for radio).

This way I could keep the 40 Ford front end and cab with the British spec. FFW box.

Re: 1940 P/U WOC1 - Project
 

I started by making the box up first, With the help of the MV community I was able to gather up the info and detailed pictures to make drawings of the rear box and tool boxes. Lots of help from a couple of guys in England and Australia.

I did these drawings on a real simple IPAD program and had the pieces made up.

Getting the wood correct was a challange, I needed a finished 1" thick actual dimension, also I wanted a rough sawed looked to the wood as these boxes would have been made quickly and certainly not furniture quality. I scored big with rough fir, actual 1" thick dimension. The original would have been 1" thick tongue and groove material. THe millwork shop made up the panels and put a glued joint on each piece and then simulated the beveled edge of the T&G boards. Stronger than the orignal boards, yet look like the same.

Re: 1940 P/U WOC1 - Project
 

Was heading down the road of rebuilding a motor for the truck when I found a ad on line for a motor already built, unfortunately it was located just outside of Montreal. We made a deal and was able to ship out west, all done on faith and goodwill. The seller was true to his word and not only shipped as promised but included a ton of extra parts and pieces. Built a engine stand to start up the motor. Sounds wicked. Runs sweet.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4mD...ature=youtu.be

Re: 1940 P/U WOC1 - Project
 

That is an interesting project good luck with it.

Re: 1940 P/U WOC1 - Project
 

Great project, keep up the pictures, it bring us on the journey with you.

Re: 1940 P/U WOC1 - Project
 

does not look like an army truck engine!, seriously the only problem you will have putting this engine in a 40 will be fan clearance. there has been a post on modifying an original 40 fan mount to work on this year engine.

Re: 1940 P/U WOC1 - Project
 

Keep the pictures coming, I have a soft spot for military vehicles.

Re: 1940 P/U WOC1 - Project
 

Thanks for introducing us to your project with all the background information, looks like an interesting project. I look forward to seeing your updates.

Re: 1940 P/U WOC1 - Project
 

Keep up the good work. I'm all ears on this one!

Re: 1940 P/U WOC1 - Project
 

looks like a great project.

Re: 1940 P/U WOC1 - Project
 

Yes, I still need to figure that part out, I will be reaching out a little later as I still can’t come up with right combo of parts and pieces.

Re: 1940 P/U WOC1 - Project
 

It’s now November 2018, I disassembled the truck and realized the original doors had about 50 lbs of prairie top soil in them. The bottoms were rusted and i did not have the skills to replace the metal straight. Locally a fellow had a really good cab with solid doors on line for sale the cab came from a 47 or so big truck 2 ton farm truck, it came with hood and fenders which proved invaluable for parts and cut offs. It probably had been shedded for years during its life time. This fellow was buying old trucks across the prairies and filling containers, shipping to Denmark for collectors in Europe.

The doors were solid, and the patina was a good match for the rest of the 40 cab.

Frame was sandblasted and the missing or damaged pieces were replaced or fabricated.

Re: 1940 P/U WOC1 - Project
 

Great project; wish the V8 times would look at the WW2 world Ford production. Newc CMP F60S here

Re: 1940 P/U WOC1 - Project
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=206955

I wanted a 5spd trans and was following the “FINALLY…T5 WITH Torque Tube in a ‘35-’40 Ford...The WHOLE STORY!” thread.
Keeping the geometry of the original engineering and design made sense, so with no realization jumped fully in, sourcing a Camaro T5 and the Jeep T5 plus all the parts from CRANIUM. Following along the excellent instructions from V8COOPMAN I was able to fit the trans to the frame.

Re: 1940 P/U WOC1 - Project
 

Just before I started this project I had completed a 1942 Ford F15A CMP, it was interesting but what a bear to drive. The non synchromesh trans and double clutching was not for me. Plus the height and not being able to keep in the garage, I cut it lose real quick after finishing it. It went to Ontario in the end. Lots of unappreciated history of the CMP trucks they were really the workhorses of most of the Commonwealth countries during WW2.

Re: 1940 P/U WOC1 - Project
 

This was the F15A mentioned previously.

Re: 1940 P/U WOC1 - Project
 

It’s now November 2019, T5 fitted, made the trip down to Hot Rod Works and purchased one of their rear ends with the axle conversion kits and rebuilt centre section. Fitted the parts and sent off to get painted.

Re: 1940 P/U WOC1 - Project
 

It’s now November 2020, this has become my COVID project. I brought the cab in and started the rust repair, realized the floor need to be replaced, locally our antique car store had a floor in stock, it was one of the pieces that Northern Classic produced, excellent quality, cut the old one out and fitted the new floor, the toe boards came from the extra cab as they were still solid. The firewall had rips from where the old heater had been butcher in, repaired that with some pieces again from the donor cab.