1940 Ford Tudor Build Thread

[M.T.]

It just depends on which era of ride your shooting for. 5" bias to 8" radials 22" and up. I have 23" x 7" radials on one of the A's... Works fine. I couldn't decide on wheels either so I threw some Moon Discs on it until I can get some definable inspiration. They may be on there for a long long time? Personally I think your steelies look bitchen and fit the car perfectly, I wouldn't change a thing but everyone is different. Feel the force young Luke!

[40FordDeluxe]

I do like the steelies, but everyone around here is running them. And, I like shiny things so I want some shiny wheels on this thing. I like these and they make them in 15" and 17". I'm trying to keep the side wall height decent and not have a rubber band look. I'm trying to build this with a retro vintage sort of feel. It'll have some similar things as it had in the 70's and 80's but with some upgrades that I like. Such as a V-butt windshield, (Maybe),the wider rear fenders, a power adder, bla bla blah.

[40FordDeluxe]

If the above wheels won't work with my rear end, I will go back to the Halibrand Replicas. I like the look of them and they are more vintage too.

[Scooting]

This is gonna show the age of when my tires were selected. The fronts are 205-70-14s. The rears are 235-70-15s. I had a wheel rake long ago. Just for reference. The width of the front seem good and stable in the corners. I don't have power steering so they still turn decent at almost no speed. I would think a 215 which is a more popular size today would be fine. My rears will sometimes kiss the fender edge under a twisting driveway. Wish I would go the fat rear fenders like you are planning and make them wider (just for looks). Watch your wheel offsets, that is what may cause problems or solve problems. Happy Hunting! I like shiney too and think you have made a good choice.

[40FordDeluxe]

Thanks Scooting. It's funny, my car had 14" in the front and 15" in the rear when I got it. It currently has that too. My wheels and tires are going on my Mom's Mustang. Back in the day the 40 had Keystone mags on it. I can't bring myself to put a set like that back on it.

[M.T.]

My vote is for the J.D. Wheel Cragar knock off's... But here again those were and are on a lot of cars and not really unique. They are sort of era'ish as well. Wheels are about the only thing that really changes the looks of a ride without major work. It just boils down to... well Moon Disks for me!
Let us know when you deside.

[40FordDeluxe]

I made a decision and pulled the trigger on 2 15x7 American Racing Rev Classics in Chrome. I'll more than likely go with a 17" rear wheel but the width will be determined after the body and rear fenders are back on. I also ordered a paul horton welder series mustang 2 crossmember and some other misc pieces I'll use on my frame. I am going to ditch the engine mounts I purchased and build my own too. The rubber biscuits on the ones I have already are showing dry rot cracking and that isn't cool to me. It'll have some poly t bushings in DOM now. Might as well fix it now rather than later.

I also took one of my core turbos apart as I'm trying to find 2 good cores to use. Yes, I'm planning on putting 2 small turbos on the Hemi. It'll be different. It isn't a 871, but my wallet can't support a blower right now either.

[40FordDeluxe]

Today I cleaned all of my stuff off the 40 frame and my youngest brother helped me get it flipped over. I started working on the bottom side. Once I get everything welded up I will flip it over and position the rear suspension. Tack it in place then set the body on the frame to get set up to do the new front suspension.




Bad MII pics

[Scooting]

Wow! You said that front end was bad but that really looks rough. Some of it looks like it was not too long before it would have been coming out from under there. Glad to see you changing it.

[40FordDeluxe]

Yeah, I'm glad it's going in the scrap heap. What a hack mess. I'll take better pics of the ugly tomorrow.

[40FordDeluxe]

Here's more horrid cross member pics.






I did some more grinding and welding on the bottom of the frame this morning. I have been filling un needed holes too. Hopefully tomorrow I can get the back half finished up so I can flip the frame over and start the rear suspension mock up.

[cffisher]

Man there sure are a lot of hackers out there. I see that crap all the time. You wonder how people can live with them selves doing crap like that.

[robot]

Electric welders have done more damage to old Ford frames than all the salt on all the roads in the USA

[40FordDeluxe]

I think a sawsall, cutting torch, and not knowing how to read a tape measure are right up there.

I found a piece of the lower lip of the RH rear frame rail that was cut away with a grinder. The inner part of the X member was fine. I have no idea why who ever cut it out. Must have been another short cut for who knows what.

[40FordDeluxe]

Man there sure are a lot of hackers out there. I see that crap all the time. You wonder how people can live with them selves doing crap like that.

This is how I felt after seeing how bad the front end really was after I yanked the engine and trans. It sure looked better then then it does now. Now I ask how did I have my family in it and how did my uncle drive it all over creation like that? Fricken nuts.