A little light entertainment: 1939 Ford 1 ton Utility restoration

[jack neville]

One thing I only just learned is that these Australian utes have two different rear body lengths. The roadster cab have a rear body about 100 mm shorter than the rear body on the full cab. As this was a body from a full cab civilian version it is the longer one so I had to trim the floor strips down.

[jack neville]

The rear floor cross members are all done and sit level.
I added the internal corner brace and bolted up the reinforced corners. There is a folded steel piece that reinforces the tilt bow brackets that is screwed under the top rail. This was added as well.

[jack neville]

I then added the side panels. These after clamping in tight to the contour of the front corners are simply nailed to the corner post and nailed along the top rail. I will leave the top nails out for now till I have worked out the way to tackle the rear corners.
So far it is coming up level and square and lines up perfectly with the front cab lines.

[Keith Webb]

Excellent work Jack, I'm really enjoying watching your progress on a very challenging restoration.

[jack neville]

Thanks Keith. It still bemuses me how complicated the construction of these vehicles is. The crazy part is how after you nail sheetmetal to timber the finishing off requires welding of the corners over the timber and trying to stop the timber smouldering. Why weren’t they welded entirely in the first place? I guess cost must factor into it somehow.

[colin jones]

Wonderful work Jack, it will be a total credit to you once completed. I never realized just how much timber was used in these old vehicles. I guess it was in greater supply back then as was the experienced coach builders/workers of the day. One would hope that these restored vehicles will be around for many a year to come for all to see as you won't find them out in paddocks in 50 or so years time. Excellent job.

[jack neville]

Thanks Colin. Your blank canvas panels have been definitely worth the trouble and expense to produce. I’m very happy how it is slowly piecing together. These low production Aussie vehicles really have very little data available to follow and good examples to copy are just as hard to source.
But I’m not telling you anything you don’t know.