Jailbar Fender Extensions

[RalphG]

Just perusing Kijiji classic ads as I do every day and I see this 3 ton jailbar Ford advertised. Seller mentions the factory installed fender extensions for the wide 3 ton axle. I didn't realize this was different on the big trucks compared to the pickups. Or is it?
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars...ationFlag=true

[Rod47]

I've had a '47 Ford 1/2 ton and I currently have a '47 Merc 1/2 ton now. I used to see a lot of 3 tons on farm yard in Alberta and they all had the extensions which my Dad said were factory installed. They'd look a little odd installed on the 1/2 ton.

[Ross F-1]

On the later 48-52 trucks, F-1's thru F-6 used the same width fenders, F-7 and F-8's had wider grilles and fenders. An F-7 or F-8 would be about the equivalent of a 3-ton.

[RalphG]

I've looked at various pictures on the net showing pickups and big trucks. Really the only difference I can see is the size of the wheel openings to accommodate the bigger 20 inch wheels. Looking from head on they all look the same.

[RalphM]

So are these two the same front clips?

[rotorwrench]

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All of the jail bar conventional trucks had the extended look so I guess you could say it was done at the factory. As was already mentioned, the wheel openings are a lot larger on the trucks with the larger diameter wheels. There are other differences that can only be seen when removing the front. Ford always used the same basic design cab but there are minor differences in them too, especially with the cab overs.

[Tienmac]

My '46 Mercury truck brochure states the 9.00-20 tire option comes with a wider front axle and front fender extensions.

[mhsprecher]

RalphM, that pickup appears to have wide five wheels, or am I losing my sight? Odd.

[sunshine]

That sure is a wide five , some changes made there ,out of need I suppose. SUNSHine.

[GB SISSON]

There was only one year of jailbar trucks with the wide 5 pattern. This was 1942 and the last time until '48 that ford offered a 3/4 ton truck. I have seen 3 of these unusual 3/4 tonners over the last ten years or so. They had the same 122" wheelbase as the tonner and shared the larger truck front fenders. The tires are 16" instead of 17". In the shot with the 3/4 ton and the 1 1/2 or 2 ton, yes it's the same front clip. There were fender extensions factory installed on the 3 tons with the wide front axle. Here are some on a mercury in Canada. I think that wider axle might have been six lug instead of five.

[RalphG]

Originally Posted by GB SISSON

There were fender extensions factory installed on the 3 tons with the wide front axle. Here are some on a mercury in Canada. I think that wider axle might have been six lug instead of five.

Interesting pic of the Merc truck. Those chrome bars and hood piece sure fancied up the old jailbar front end. I've never yet seen one with fender extensions but did find this picture. It shows 5 bolt wheels but no idea if its original.

[mercman from oz]

It is obvious that this Ford has had the centre grille section replaced at some stage from a smaller same year pickup. That is why it is not as wide as the larger Ford trucks. Notice the gaps each side.

[mercman from oz]

Take a look at this 1942 Ford Jail-Bar Truck. You will notice that it has the correct Grille centre Section fitted, with no "gaps" like the one in the previous picture. With Ford Trucks, as the Ratings go up, so does the wheel openings in the front fenders. You can not use a Pickup fender on a big truck, and vice versa. The same situation applies to the centre grills section on these models.

[RalphG]

Originally Posted by mercman from oz

It is obvious that this Ford has had the centre grille section replaced at some stage from a smaller same year pickup. That is why it is not as wide as the larger Ford trucks. Notice the gaps each side.

Those gaps are actually body coloured bars on mine. Then I have the 12 white painted bars (one missing).
I think that is all original. My 46 Ford has , or had, the same number of bars. And it was a big truck in it's day with 20 inch wheels. You can see it in this picture of my grille on the wall. It looks like they originally had 13 bars. Mine is missing the centre bar so it shows 12. That centre piece likely got broken out over time.
Its -18F here and I don't want to walk out to the shop to get my Ford catalogue that shows all the car and truck front ends from 1929 to 49.

[mercman from oz]

Miss-match Jail-Bar Grille Housing.

[mercman from oz]

The number of Grille Bars would be the same in the small and large Jail-Bar Fords. As you can see from the above picture, it is obvious that the Grille Housing is a mismatch for this truck, as you can see the gap at the ends. This Grille insert would have been from a smaller Jail Bar Ford, most likely a Pickup.

[RalphG]

G.B. Sisson's photo of the Mercury truck has the same setup that looks like a bit of extra flaring added to the fender top. My guess is that pickups and big trucks all had the same sized grille.

[GB SISSON]

They ALL had the same size grille. The 3/4 tons, the tonners and the 1 1/2 tons and two tons had larger wheel openings than the half ton pickups, but when you got to the three tons you got a really ugly mismatched fender extension that went past what it looked like to accommodate a wide front axle and 9.00 x 20 tires. It was about hauling more weight safely and at that point a farmer or logger made more money on each trip and didn't give a darn if his fenders had a step between the grille section and the fender. And every size jailbar truck ever built had 15 bars. Three fat ones in the center, flanked by six narrow ones each side.

[RalphG]

Originally Posted by mercman from oz

Take a look at this 1942 Ford Jail-Bar Truck. You will notice that it has the correct Grille centre Section fitted, with no "gaps" like the one in the previous picture.

My mistake. I thought the gaps you were referring to were the ones between the vertical bars, not the ones at the extreme outside of the grille.

[mercman from oz]

For more information on this topic, I contacted James Wagner, the Truck Carespondent for the Early ford V8 Club. here is what James had to say:-
"I dug out my well-worn (not by me) copy of the Canadian 1945 Ford Light & Heavy Trucks catalog (form number appears to be 501 but not clear).

On page 7 of this publication is a box at the bottom entitled: "9.00-20 Tire Option." In addition to showing a rear view of the chassis-cab model the following text appears:

"The 3-Ton 176-inch Wheelbase chassis is available with 9.00-20, 10-ply tires, front and rear at extra cost. Heavier, wider front axle has 62.26-inch tread and wider dual-ratio rear axle, 72.6-inch tread. Spacers are provided in front fenders and running boards to accommodate larger tire equipment. The option includes special driveline shafts and bearings, heavy-duty wheels and 6-stud hubs." Aside from the wheel stud count this seem to match the trucks you question.

Apparently these trucks with the "odd fitting" grilles mated up the the extended width fenders are unique to the 3 Ton Fords made in Canada.