Thread: '37 Dodge sedan

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Originally Posted by v8nutz

"Side note: a '37 Dodge sedan is 3ft 7.5in wide across the inside cowl. I've only sat inside it with another person once before, and I know it's tight, but that measurement really surprised me. Glad I'm using the automatic in this one, it's even narrower at the toe board and I like to stretch out!"
I was rather shocked when I put a seat in my stude and found out how little leg room there is. I ended up cutting and extending the floor a little to make more room with the pedals. Did people used to be smaller..?

I've wondered that myself. Either they were all just smaller than we are today, or the designers were too scared to suggest big changes to the market too quickly.

In the late 1930s John Deere hired a man to "style" their tractors. I believe his name was Dryefuss. They offered both styled and unstyled models for a couple years because they thought farmers would be less likely to buy dolled up tractors. A tractor is a purpose built piece of equipment, so why would a farmer, most of whom were living on a fairly low income, want to pay more for a prettier tractor?

I suspect the narrow front designs with large individual fenders was a product of similar thinking at the time. People were used to cars looking a certain way and a major change wouldn't have been well received, or make enough revenue to cover the design costs. Look at the Chrysler Airflows as an example: it was simply released before it's time. Too much change too fast. But, if you make gradual changes year after year, the concept eventually stops being the exception and becomes the rule instead. Modern cars are built with comfort as a leading design factor, 80 years ago function was much more important than comfort. But, in my opinion, that way of thinking made for a much more attractive looking car.

Originally Posted by PNW Rodder

I've wondered that myself. Either they were all just smaller than we are today, or the designers were too scared to suggest big changes to the market too quickly.

I did some Google checking and people were shorter on average than they are today. This chart was written around 1912. I was always wondering the same thing because in my 53, I have the seat slammed all the way to the back and It's almost not far enough. I'm only about 5' 10" ish.

Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

This is the main reason I did not put a cummins in my 40. There would be no room inside after that.

How about a 3.9? We all know you thought of it

Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

This is the main reason I did not put a cummins in my 40. There would be no room inside after that.

How about a 3.9? We all know you thought of it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUiDQd2NZpU

People definitely were shorter then. Go to any old structure. Try getting into parts of the Alamo or try to stand next to their uniforms. It's due to all the bs they put in our food these days. Ask the cows.

Seth, don't tempt me. I did have thoughts of a CR 4.5 but I'm not doing it. Haha

Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

People definitely were shorter then. Go to any old structure. Try getting into parts of the Alamo or try to stand next to their uniforms. It's due to all the bs they put in our food these days. Ask the cows.

Seth, don't tempt me. I did have thoughts of a CR 4.5 but I'm not doing it. Haha

You need to keep a gas burner in the stable just to maintain the variety. Besides, you don't want that Tudor stinkin like diesel fumes. Something just seems sacreligeous about that.

I have no problem with the diesel fumes. And, you don't have to stop at the pump as often as these spark plug engines. I won't do that to the 40 though. The Hemi is staying in it. I'm too far in to that to start over again.

Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

I won't do that to the 40 though. The Hemi is staying in it. I'm too far in to that to start over again.

Famous last words!

Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

I have no problem with the diesel fumes. And, you don't have to stop at the pump as often as these spark plug engines. I won't do that to the 40 though. The Hemi is staying in it. I'm too far in to that to start over again.

I said that once too

Playing off of previous experience, I decided to torque the body down completely: every single body mount bolts tightened down as tight as its suppose to be. I had to learn this lesson the hard way long ago, and I'm honestly glad I did, because it always ends up revealing something I couldn't have seen otherwise. You don't want to have your project in final paint, torque those bolts down for the first time and find out your doors won't close without scratching that shiny new paint.

The passenger side front door was hanging WAY low at the back. Like almost 2" low. I had already removed about 3" from the lower cowl to make a patch panel, and looking through the hole I was able to see that the A-pillar isn't actually welded to the lower door sill. The bottom 2" of A-pillar is literally free floating, allowing the weight of the door to push it forward, thereby causing the door to sag at the rear. Here you can see the cowl portion of the door jamb is pushed in, widening the door gap and pulling the bottom of the door in towards the driver's side.

IMG_20180203_131951404 by Ryan Mazingo, on Flickr

Figuring I'd need more access to move the pillar brace it up properly I decided to remove more of the cowl. It'll make it easier to do the obvious repairs at the bottom that I already intended to do. To fix the pillar I put a piece of flat stock inside the channel and cinched a Ford wrench down tight, squeezing the A-pillar tight to the flat stock. Then I muscled the pillar close to where I thought it should be and hung the door to check for proper alignment. Once I was happy with how the door was fitting I hit what I could with a wire wheel and sprayed everything down with rust converter.

IMG_20180203_135811274 by Ryan Mazingo, on Flickr

Here's the back of the cowl portion I removed. I cleaned it up with the wire wheel and used body hammers to knock out the damage caused from the A-pillar pushing against it. I made a template for a small brace I intend to add so that I can make it on my lunch break at work on Monday. Once I have that installed, I'll patch the rust inside of there and weld the this piece back in.

IMG_20180203_140242942 by Ryan Mazingo, on Flickr

FedEx dropped off the new compressor motor this afternoon, a week earlier than the tracking information said, but the pulley wasn't here so I just tossed it on the bench. I got curious and checked the tracking on the pulley, and it turns out it was in my mailbox waiting for me. So what do you do when it's 9pm, the wife and child are already in bed? You put your air compressor back together!

30 minutes later and I'm back in the race! The compressor is quieter than it's ever been and runs like a champ. Now I'm ready to get after all the welds that've piled up waiting on shop air!

IMG_20180203_213845150 by Ryan Mazingo, on Flickr

The doors on my 40 won't shut since I removed the body from the chassis. I'll have to shim and tighten it down when I put the frame and body back together.

Very cool on the compressor!

Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

The doors on my 40 won't shut since I removed the body from the chassis. I'll have to shim and tighten it down when I put the frame and body back together.

Very cool on the compressor!

Very important aspect that many people don't consider, myself included at one point. It wasn't terrible on my '49 Chevy cab, but it could be disastrous on a body as long as the sedan.

As for the compressor, I think the unloading valve might have been playing into my problem as well. It's a Harbor Freight pump, and I had the foresight to buy the extended warranty, so I think I'm gonna pull it off and get it exchanged for a brand new one just to be sure. Don't want to stress the new motor right out of the gate.

I glad for you that you have the foresight to bolt the body down before getting the gaps set right, I know I learned the hard way. I also see no mater how good the car is, a guy always seems to find more rust than he wants to find. I'm glad you got your compressor going again, I had the same thing awhile back, no air shuts a guy down in a hurry. What pump do you have on the compressor? Mine could be due for a pump in the near future.

It's a Harbor Freight 5 horse, 145 PSI pump. Builds air pressure pretty quickly and runs really quiet. I got it on sale, if I remember correctly I think I paid the regular price for the pump and the extended warranty.

https://m.harborfreight.com/145-psi-...ump-67698.html