1940 Ford Tudor Build Thread

[40FordDeluxe]

Thanks, I will. I'd like to be able to drive it to the show I put on in September. We shall see. I've also got to get my 76 K30 done enough to sell as I'm trying to come up with a decent sized down paymant for a house before this February.

[34_40]

SO now I have to be really patient waiting for the "X's" to be self explanatory! sigh... 8-)

[40FordDeluxe]

Another couple of months passes and I change my mind again. I baught a 72 suburban to use the body to make a crew cab for my 72. So I decided to stop working on the 72 and go back to the 40. I'd like to get it a roller before September. I thought this would be an easy chore until I noticed something odd when I was moving the frame this morning. Sitting in the skid loader, I thought the front cross member was crooked. Hmm, nah, that can't be. Once in the shop I started measuring and sure as crap, it's off a half inch. With all the other issues it has I think I'm going to cut it off and install a new one.

Here is my plan of attack. Please feel free to add any info as I'm kind or perplexed on how to get it square again. As most of you know and can see my frame had all kinds of hackery done to it. I thought I'd just cut off the frame behind the cross member and make new. My problem is, if I get all the chassis specs and measurements for this frame, will I spend months trying to get it right from the hacking others have done and the shifting that could have taken place? I plan on getting the specs and doing it right. Here's my plan. I removed the engine and trans because I'll have to redo all the mounts and steering shaft mount. I'm going to finish boxing the rear of the frame. Remove the rear stock suspension cross memeber, and install the triangulated 4 link. Flip the frame, weld everything up, metal finish it, paint the back 2/3. Bring the body in, wire wheel and clean the bottom of the floor. Paint it and then set the body on the frame and bolt it down. Now, with the body bolted on, I can put the front fenders on and use them to get the front end centered in the wheel wells. I can also get the frame rails the same length using the body too. My rails are 1/4" off in the front and I'm sure that's due to the way they hacked the frame to put in the MII. I haven't decided what cross member to get yet. It won't be a cheap weak one though. Here are some pics of it. You can kind of see the crooked cross member, but it's tough.





The rear end was also 1/2" shifted to one side. I will be fixing that and moving the axle centerline back 1/4" to get the tires in the center of the wheel well.

[40FordDeluxe]

Yup, the front part of the frame is way too high, puts the spring tower up too high and the anti-dive angle for the upper A-Arm is way off!!!! Going to have to do something there, too. Missed seeing that when I looked at your pics.

Hopefully this pic comes through, it's the correct set up for anti-dive angle on the upper arm. The angle of the upper arm should be about 7-10 degrees with the front of the arm higher. As long as this angle is not less then your caster angle, it works out ok.

Dave, do you remember where you got this pic from? Thanks Ryan.

Post #146 Page 10 of this thread.

[40FordDeluxe]

I think I'm going to go with a welder series cross member. This way I can place the cross member height where I want it. The others seem to be predetermined allowing one height. I noticed speedway's is made from 3/16" as well so they're an option too.

[40FordDeluxe]

Today the gas tank, rear hitch, and rear bumper were removed. Then I removed the leaf springs and rear end. I have to cut two welds off and then the last of the parallel leaf suspension is off it. I have to eliminate some old piss poor shackle mounts that were hacked in the frame at some point as well. I was going to box the entire rear of the frame but I think I'll stop behind the rear axle before the gas tank. I don't know how you'd get to the gas tank bolts unless the bolts just go clear through the frame? But then with the frame boxed will a guy be able to get the tank out without pulling the body off the frame???? I definitely am going to box the rear cross member since I'm deleting my bumpers.

[rspears]

Enjoying seeing the progress, Ryan. Thanks for posting updates.

[34_40]

Yes. Thanks for the updates and pics Ryan.

[40FordDeluxe]

I'll keep them coming as things progress. It'll be nice to get it to a roller again!

[randyr]

Great to see this project back in play again, Ryan!! Looks like maybe it used to have shorter rear springs with the shackles running through the frame rails? Guess it doesn't matter since you're going 4 link this time, right?

Will be interesting to watch how you "unhack" the front part of the frame. With all the work involved it makes that $2K perimeter chassis posted on ebay a couple of years ago look more attractive but I haven't seen it listed for a while. I'm sure yours will be plenty strong when you're finished plus you'll get to say you did it yourself!!

Take lots of pics!

[Dave Severson]

Frame looks good and solid Ryan! Like a lot of us you seem to have to divide your time among multiple projects, someday I'm going to do just one at a time start to finish!!!!! (Probably the same day that pigs fly backwards, but hey, my intentions are good!!!)

[40FordDeluxe]

Randy, yes sir. It's getting triangulate four link in the rear with air bags front and rear. I think I purchased front boxing plates a while ago, so I think those might be able to give me a profile to reshape the front of the frame. You're so correct about that perimeter frame. I actually called them this spring, and by the time I got a basic frame with body mounts, MII cross member set up with tubular control arms, it was $3500 and 6-8 week lead time. Probably not bad, but not as attractive as the $2500 eBay price.

Dave, yeah, I get going on one and then want to make changes and go a different direction. I like you think that someday I might stay on one project. But I don't know when that'll be. I keep seeing hot rods and muscle cars roaming around and I got depressed and decided there's still some hope for the 40 before snow flies. Plus then I can keep working on small stuff or whatever. I'm sure it'll never be done as I always see something that I'd like to have or adapt to.

[34_40]

I like you think that someday I might stay on one project. But I don't know when that'll be. I keep seeing hot rods and muscle cars roaming around and I got depressed and decided there's still some hope for the 40 before snow flies. Plus then I can keep working on small stuff or whatever. I'm sure it'll never be done as I always see something that I'd like to have or adapt to.

But Ryan.... they'll never be completely done!

And when it is, it's time to sell it and start another one right?

[40FordDeluxe]

But Ryan.... they'll never be completely done!

And when it is, it's time to sell it and start another one right?

I haven't had any that ever were. But when you sell them it does help. Unless the buyer is someone you know.

[40FordDeluxe]

Some light progress on the 40 frame. I got my rear end power steamed/washed off and drained before I went on vacation. While I was gone my youngest brother installed a stiffner and removed the stock rear suspension cross member. He also started boxing the rear cross msmber. This morning I cut out the old in frame shackles and the other under frame spring shackle brackets. I made some boxing plates and began the prep. I got some holes welded on the inside and then welded the RH plate on. I still have some of the bottom to do. Tomorrow hopefully I can finish the left side and then fit the gas tank to see how I want to reinforce the corners of the rear of the frame. I have to decide where to add the center support bars for my X member so I can remove my bracing as well.