Thread: New Build-1946 Ford Tudor Build

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Good point on the tin and it's origin, Don. The state does use salt now, but didn't until the late 70's so a lot of the vintage struff around here is still quite nice...and as you get further west and north in the state (and throughout N. Dakota) the condition improves!!!!

Anyway, great condition for a '46! Starting with one that nice saves a bunch of time and $$$$$!!!!

Dave,
Interesting info. Salt certainly tears a car apart. I do feel lucky to have a solid start to be sure. Thanks. Don

The areas that do have some rust are pretty easy ones where it will be easy to put new sections in. The guy we bought it from said it was in a warehouse from 1970 on, and the license plate was last dated 1964, so that kinda bears that out. SInce we have always lived in areas where cars were rust buckets after 10 years, to us this one is a really good start.

There is a thread on another forum where a guy is bringing back a 47 that most people would have taken to the crusher. I mean, not one panel was without large holes in it, and yet he is still forging ahead and doing a great job on it, and is actually converting a sedan into a coupe by grafting on the entire rear section. People on that forum keep making comments that he certainly has more ambition than they do, and I agree. I bet he ha put a thousand miles of weld into it already. Gotta give him credit.

Don

I had a keys cruiser that was like a fred flintstone car, where you could put your feet right thru the floor onto the pavement. It was only 15 years old, but new stuff rusts down there in 6 months or less. I've never lived in such a corosive environment as Big Pine Key. I had a beautifull paint job on a 84 Jeep cj7 there, within 6 months, I had to buff it with a mild compound to get the oxidation off and the shine back. I owned that Jeep for 3 more years in California, never needing any of the same here.
I think the dakotas and Arizona are good places for tin, because it's to cold or too hot for them!

Stovens,
I think you are right. I have owned a few "Flintstone" mobiles myself. Dan and I had a VW beetle back in high school with nealy no floor pans in the back. As we were going to school our school books would shoot out the hole in the floor and onto the road!!! One day one of my moms plates from breakfast on the way to school shot out the floor hole!!! DONT TELL HER!!!

Don Jr.

Well ... floors are not bad at all. Perhaps not what mine are but for a '46 I'd say VERY WORKABLE.

As for the seats ... I dished mine off to someone without touching them .. + they had been redone at some point.

All & all I'd say you have a very good "base" to work with.

You've alreay inspired me. I need to get working.

REGS

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

You do know what Guano is don't you?

Seeing as no one else has answeredyou Uncle Bob...yes guano is bird poo...in fact there is a thriving market out there for it..
Mr Blue..that other one being rebuilt from a pile of rusty panels,is in Australia,isnt it??Seem to recall something about that myself..

Watching this tear down with interest- I may be following that same path in the Fall and would hope it's at least as solid as yours- picking mine up this Friday @ 2 PM-

Originally Posted by lamin8r

Seeing as no one else has answeredyou Uncle Bob...yes guano is bird poo...in fact there is a thriving market out there for it..
Mr Blue..that other one being rebuilt from a pile of rusty panels,is in Australia,isnt it??Seem to recall something about that myself..

Lamin8r,
What pile of rusty panels would you be talking about?? Please let me know!

Yes I knew Guano was bird poo. I figured Bob knew what we knew too!

2bubbas,
I am too exited to see your pics of your 41. That car looks very solid too be sure. I have looked at the pics you posted quite a few times and loved them. Please post some Friday night if you can
REGS,
Yes indeed I did not find the quality of floorpans you are sitting on with your wonderful coupe. You will get to it when you are ready and don't have 100 other project pulling you in 100 different directions. I have seen many "project" cars on Craigslist lately that I would like to have, but have decided to dedicate myself to this 46. Pops and I have been having a blast together when we can get together and pull some panels off of her.

Thanks to all for the comments and helping me out.

Don Jr.

Well progress has been slow due to a super busy schedule wth work, But I went to the shop and began pulling all the chrome trim off the drivers side of the car and stripping off the firewall. While I was working on that side I took the time to pull the running board off as well. After fussing with the bolts for a bit (rusty and rusted out nut inserts) it finally came free. I am going to need to install rocker boxes on the car as they are in need of some help. Still the body is super solid. A few pics of a little bit of progress....Looking to get to the shop tomorrow and get some more trim stripped off the car.
Don Jr.

Although a bit premature in the build I have been thinking about the front turn signals on the 46. The 46 Ford as you all may know had turn signals mounted high up on the front end. When I look at the front end I picture what they would look like if they were removed. The 47 and 48 Ford had a smooth area there as they moved the turn signal onto the lower part of the front fenders. I really like the clean appearance of the 47 and 48 Ford in this area. Your Thoughts?

I found a clean set of fender panels from a 47 Ford on Ebay this week and will see what they look like on the car for comparison. Here are some shots of both years and the panels I bought. I welcome your thoughts about how the turn signals look either way. I have been considering these 7 inch halogen conversions that do not look too modern in my opinion. When the blinker is off the LED turn signals are barely noticeable. Let me know what you think. Don Jr.

I like the turn signals in the headlight, gets some clutter off the front sheet metal. Always thought the grille looked a bit boxey and heavy, more like something for a pickup and not a car...... Stance is great on the grey car, needs to be shaved and smoothed with just some peep mirrors and a trimless 2 piece windshield!

Thanks for the response Dave. Thats what I was thinking. Don Jr.

Yeah Don, I like those integral turn signals and you're right about them being invisible when not lit. I used a pair of them, broke one during the build and ended up breaking the other lense out, bonding on standard sealed beam lenses, and adding an amber LED to the top part of the light for the parking lamps. They're unique, one of a kind three function lamps, until a rock goes through one.....

Ahhhhhhh progress ...... something I'm lacking right now.

I am making plans to change that problem.

Looking good Jr. No shame in that body & frame.

Ratty 46