1940 Ford Tudor Build Thread

Louvers can add to the build look of certain cars - 40 plus Hemi = pure Hot Rod for instance. I have done them in a few cars/trucks and they seem to scream Hot Rod to many people that check the look. I have never had a water drip problem that bothered me but then all were drivers. A simple drip pan under the louvers would solve the drip if it bothered you and you slowed done enough to allow drips, unlikely. For you, you are going to have to have a very good cooling system to begin with, and the compartment is filling up with all that big motor, I would do it for the cooling factor alone. Plus as noted, 40 plus Hemi plus big tires plus louvers all scream Hot Rod.

Very true sir. I'm more than likely going to do it. I just have to figure out how many. I'm really digging the wire wheels from the previous page now too.

Well after pricing chrome center wires, I may be out on them for now. :LOL:

Have any of you seen the new show on Discovery called Lords of the Car Hoards? I'll be danged if they didn't just do a 40 Ford truck and put those dang chrome wires on it. If I keep seeing them, I may have to sell more stuff. :LOL:

There are louvers . . . then there are louvers. Hood, roof & tailgate. There was a diverter under the hood louvers to drain moisture and a double roof skin with sealant between the two.

That is a really nice truck!

Here lately I've been thinking of just leaving this car in the trailer and not messing with it this year. I just can't seem to do that. We are saving to buy a house, and once we have that I'm sure there will be repairs and such so i doubt there will be project money to play with. I have some time off at the end of April begining of May. My plan is to get the frame out from under neath the body, box it, and make my X member. This is the biggest part to be done besides redoing the floor and bottom of fire wall.

I have some questions for you guys. On the stock 35-40 X members, the floor bolts to the top of the X member. All the after market X members I see in different frames don't appear to have any attaching points for the floor. I plan on trying to still bolt the floor to the new X member. Is that a bad idea? I'm guessing it will just help keep the structual integrity of the body. Thoughts welcome please.

Also, I am trying to decide what tire and wheel combo to go with. The 14's in the front need to go I'm pretty sure. As I get the car lower I think that small tire won't help and I bet with my bigger brakes, the 14" wheel won't fit any way. In my searches I found a tire size comparison chart that might help find a tire size during a build.

Tire Sizes

I had big plans of doing 2 turbos and an aluminum intake and on and on. Right now I think I will buy what it needs to get it drivable again. I can always do the other stuff later. I would really like to do a different rear suspension, but that may have to wait to.

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Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

.....In my searches I found a tire size comparison chart that might help find a tire size during a build.
Tire Sizes

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That is one great chart that summarizes tire sizes, Ryan. Thanks for posting.

I figure maybe I'll remember I put it here for future use. :LOL:

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Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

I have some questions for you guys. On the stock 35-40 X members, the floor bolts to the top of the X member. All the after market X members I see in different frames don't appear to have any attaching points for the floor. I plan on trying to still bolt the floor to the new X member. Is that a bad idea? I'm guessing it will just help keep the structual integrity of the body. Thoughts welcome please.

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Ryan, I've wondered the same thing about the aftermarket X members. I'm not sure about the '40 but both my '37 and the '39 I had in highschool had a removable trans cover and wood toe boards. I'm sure they needed to bolt the other part of the floor to the X member for structural integrity, like you said.
On my '37, now that I've welded in all new floors, firewall, etc with no removable panels, it may not need to be bolted to the X member but I did it anyway. I'll be curious to hear others thoughts on this, too.

My plan is to tie in the floor to the new X member some how. I don't think it'll be too hard. I know my floor is going to have to be cut and rearranged to get the 46rh in there, so I can modify or add new bolt holes where needed. I spent my break at work tonight looking at after market chassis for 35-40's and none of them I saw show or say anything about the floor mounting provisions. Kind of weird IMO.

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Originally Posted by randyr

Ryan, I've wondered the same thing about the aftermarket X members. I'm not sure about the '40 but both my '37 and the '39 I had in highschool had a removable trans cover and wood toe boards. I'm sure they needed to bolt the other part of the floor to the X member for structural integrity, like you said.

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My '40 and tech's '48 were the same

Ryan, take advantage of the free time and work on the 40. Ease off on the wild motor daydreams and get the frame done. Then you need to get the Hemi in running shape. Once you take your first ride, you will be pumped. Other mods can happen later, the important thing is to get the blood flowing again.

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Originally Posted by Scooting

Ryan, take advantage of the free time and work on the 40. Ease off on the wild motor daydreams and get the frame done. Then you need to get the Hemi in running shape. Once you take your first ride, you will be pumped. Other mods can happen later, the important thing is to get the blood flowing again.

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Yeah, there might be some blood flowing for sure! On Monday I opened the side door on my trailer where the 40 is and I heard a weird noise. I was like hmmmm. I've heard that before.......... Sounds like, uh, baby oppossum, or raccoon. Hmmm, hopefully they're under the trailer. Nope. Hmm, hopefully they're behind the 40. Nope. SOB! Surely they're not in the 40. Crap! Yep, there is a momma coon and who knows how many little shit bags in the trunk! I'm so tempted to pop her with my old nagant pistol but I don't want to fill any holes. :LOL: So now I have to figure out how to get them out because I do plan to start frame work next week. I should be ordering the rear suspension kit today. Now just to decide what size tubing to use for the X member.