My’40 PU is a ‘42 w a ‘40 front clip.

[AnthonyG]

Hi guys, some have seen pics of my ‘40 PU. Old ones in my album. Fir this conversation Ignore wheels & stance as I’ve changed both but have no good pics. Overall it’s a great ride but I always knew was a bit of a Frankenstein ! Been cleaning moving changing stuff & fially can see the first couple of chassis #’s look like 21C. From what I’ve researched that looks like a 1942 prefix? Also w the bed having the spare tire holder on the driver side I’m convinced it’s a ‘42 which I kinda assumed before from config. Now seeing the 21C I know. Now that makes me think because other research indicated a ‘42 cab will mate w a ‘40 front clip & thinking cab is Probly a ‘42 too. It’s a reconstruction title so wondering what the potential of if even possible to get retitled correctly & find a ‘42 front clip or if value might increase enough even to consider?

[40cpe]

Considering originality is pretty much a thing of the past with that truck, I would think MOST people would like the '40 styling better.

[Mart]

Two questions.

Does it have parallel leaves on the front suspension?

Is the rear axle some sort of quickchange or is it just a dummy cover?

[34pickup]

A "jail bar" 42 is considered an "ugly duckling" by most people I know.

A 40 front end would make it a lot more valuable in my opinion. I would leave it as is.

[GB SISSON]

Originally Posted by 34pickup

A "jail bar" 42 is considered an "ugly duckling" by most people I know.

A 40 front end would make it a lot more valuable in my opinion. I would leave it as is.

Hey, careful there.... but, actually I get it. I have bought really nice dry western examples of jailbar trucks for pennies on the dollar. I could never have ventured into all my old V8 truck projects if I was looking for '40-'41 truck$. Besides, I like my trucks to look like a truck, and not a car so I'm lucky. Real truck-type leaf springs and open driveline has stood the test of time. Here's a question on yours, since I thought I needed 40 sheet metal on my latest frankentruck. The track width of the 42- is 2 1/2" wider than the earlier ones. I got past that with wheel offset, but the wheelbase is 112" on the 40 and 114" on the 42. That got my wheels way off from centering in the wheel well. How did your truck overcome that hurdle?

[AnthonyG]

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It does Mart

[AnthonyG]

Not sure GB? Came this way. Would only b guessing. Looks pretty close to centered. I never noticed? The spring shackles front & rear r mounted on what looks to be factory mounts.

[AnthonyG]

Mart, truck has a Mopar engine Tranny & rear. Fake Aluminum quick change look cover. Removed. As said pics r old from when I originally bought it. Drive train wouldn’t have been my choice but it ran well & was in it when I bought it cheap. As said knew it was a Frankenstein but very nice sheet metal, very solid.

[tub1]

don't listen to people who have bad comment re your truck looks great to me

[GB SISSON]

Just figured out how to look at your album and it sure is a nice straight truck! I see the extra width of the 42's wider track. Different offset wheels would fix that if you ever wanted to. The wheelbase difference doesn't really seem to matter. I would keep all the drivetrain mods, sounds like a blast to drive, but kinda go 'sleeper' and run some old fashioned painted steel wheels. Something about 'Ol Grandad in his farm truck blowing some kid in a honda's doors off at the light.

[GB SISSON]

Originally Posted by AnthonyG

Not sure GB? Came this way. Would only b guessing. Looks pretty close to centered. I never noticed? The spring shackles front & rear r mounted on what looks to be factory mounts.

That being the case, longitudinal front springs etc, you still have a 114" wb?

[AnthonyG]

General consensus sounds like leave the ‘40 front clip on it!

[Cecil/WV]

It has a '41 hood!

[JSeery]

That looks like a 41 hood & grill to me.

[AnthonyG]

Agreed J, always thought Chrome pretty obviously ‘41. Truck has a reconstruction Title as a ‘40 but as indicated while I think it’s a pretty one, is still a Frankenstein . My point was from when I bought it I was able to tell it was a ‘42-‘47 Chassis but as a result of the non stock Mopar Stuff & odd steering arrangement the Frame #’s where impossible to see until now that I’ve been cleaning & rearranging stuff I was able to see the prefix #’s for a ‘42 chassis. That combined w the bed size & spare on drivers side, I am convinced it started as a ‘42 truck & builder put the ‘40 or ‘41 or combo front clip on it & was able in Ky. where built to get reconstruction title & said it was a ‘40 on that. Started thread to question whether it’s be worth getting a ‘42 front clip to make it correct for chassis. But consensus as it’s a reconstruction Title anyway, Probly not!