1938 Ford Farm Truck Barn Find

[cas3]

Nice old truck. Does the motor turn over?

[MacsWoods]

A couple more shots including one on the "Tow" home. No shipping costs!

[MacsWoods]

I can turn it over by hand with the crank that goes through the grill. I did a lot of emptying and soaking so far but haven't got to physically starting it. It did have oil in both the pan and the breather that I drained and soaked it briefly in diesel fuel. (Heard that somewhere) I have to drain the gas tank that smells like varnish and check out a lot of other stuff including figuring out if it is 6v or 12v. When I turn the manual crank everything moves. Rebuilt carb and fuel pump. Lots to do.

[51504bat]

Should be 6 volts positive ground unless changed over to 12. Is there a battery in it or is it long gone?

[GB SISSON]

Welcome to the Fordbarn, I'm one of those big truck enthusiasts that was hinted at earlier. Your truck and your 'restoration' plan are both spot on in my book. My first FH V8 vehicle was a '38 one ton pickup. Somehow getting it back up and running consumed me for two years. Then it became more like an obsession and it quickly progressed from there. Wouldn't change a thing. I will add that it's refreshing to see a barn find these days that someone actually found in a barn!
(and dragged home on a chain, no less)
GB Sisson

[Model51]

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Welcome to Fordbarn. I'm one of those few big truck guys. There were a lot of changes from my specialty years of 1935-1936 to 1938 but the basics are the same.
I've probably got some good 1938 style big truck wheels if you need some.

Consider joining the Early Ford V-8 Club of America www.earlyfordv8.org . The focus is mainly on cars, but the people are great and there is lots of collected wisdom of the members and possibly parts and technical help. There is a local chapter in Webster, NY which looks to be about on hour from you.

[sugarmaker]

Macs,
Another big truck owner checking in. Yes I have a earlier one but there just are not many of these big old Ford work trucks left out there. There is a nice one near buy me that is similar to yours same grill style. It is running and driving. It took me a couple years to get our 32 moving. I would not recommend trying to start it without some serious inspection, These can be very worn. Sounds like you have a plan! This is the place!

Your pictures are good, and you are responding just fine! Great thread! We will be watching!
The new side covers look perfect! You have been hunting for and finding parts already!
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl

[fortyfords]

Welcome to the Ford Barn, what year glass is installed?

[NCSUDucker]

Very cool. Owner of a 39 1 ton here that I drive at least several times per week to and from work. The Fordbarn crew is great and I've learned quite a bit just reading and following threads. Not to mention the knowledgeable members when a question arises.

[rkmiller]

Looks like an interesting project for sure!


I am knee deep in 1938-39 1 ton stuff now and there are a lot of shared parts with 1-1/2 ton and a lot with the 1/2 ton on these.


Have you checked compression yet on the cylinders? You probably have and I missed that. Also a radiator servicing couldn't hurt.

[KDL]

Another big truck owner here. You have one fine looking truck there!

[Steve S.]

You have a great old truck and a good plan. The truck was lucky to find you. You have made an excellent connection with Ford folks here. I would suggest you consider looking into the Antique Truck Club of America (ATCA) where you can meet die hard truck folks, too. Between the Ford experts and the truck experts, you can learn a lot in a hurry. There will be an ATCA show in Whitney Point NY this September. I don't mean to be a wise guy, because I know it depends on your perspective, but calling these "big trucks" is really a bit of a misnomer.

[pistonbroke]

Great find. I have always liked big domestic trucks from 47 on back. I'm currently working on a 45 GMC 2 ton. Whats wrong with the wheels? Is the engine stuck? My 41 pickup was a barn find and the 1950 V8 was the worst hack job transplant I had EVER seen . It ran and drove for years after a solid month of work and corrections. One of the funnest hard jobs I ever did. Keep us posted on you progress. Tim

[GB SISSON]

Originally Posted by Steve S.

You have a great old truck and a good plan. The truck was lucky to find you. You have made an excellent connection with Ford folks here. I would suggest you consider looking into the Antique Truck Club of America (ATCA) where you can meet die hard truck folks, too. Between the Ford experts and the truck experts, you can learn a lot in a hurry. There will be an ATCA show in Whitney Point NY this September. I don't mean to be a wise guy, because I know it depends on your perspective, but calling these "big trucks" is really a bit of a misnomer.

I think that since we are all here to discuss Fords from the flathead era, we use the term 'big trucks' to differentiate between Ford's half tons and their higher capacity brothers, the one tons, 1 1/2 tons and two tons.

[GB SISSON]

Not sure what made me post this....

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by GB SISSON

Not sure what made me post this....

[pistonbroke]

Mac, If you truely think this coud be a good runner I recomend pulling the pan a and cleaning it out along with the oil pickup screen. Leaded gas , parifin base oils and hot old flatheads can genorate a lot of gunk down there that you dont want going through your bearings. Tim

[1952henry]

Nice find! Hope you post a video of it running. Agree with the above about cleaning some sludge out of the oil pan and pickup.

[tubman]

If you do clean it out, use detergent oil from then on to keep it that way.