1940 Ford Tudor Build Thread

[53 Chevy5]

Good grief, the awsome looks of that motor just trumped my W motor's looks hard core

[40FordDeluxe]

Good grief, the awsome looks of that motor just trumped my W motor's looks hard core

The W motors definitely have a cool look too though!

One night this past weekend, I cleaned and vacuumed out the 40. I sat in one of my later model bucket seats to get an idea if they're going to work. I think they will work with a riser under them. These are power and heated, so they should help with long rides. Eventually they will need recovered. This is the worst of the 3 I have. Of course, the back seat isn't going to work with what I have planned. So I'm going to have to research the best way to build a back seat. I was thinking a fiberglass base covered in foam etc, but I'm thinking that is too much work for what I plan to do.

[Matthyj]

Ryan, Check out Sid Chavers videos for seat & upholstery work, worth every penny!

[40FordDeluxe]

Thanks Matt. I will look into that.

I did manage to get another 390cfm Holley. I'm still on the hunt for another 8007 though. I'm also thinking about getting a pair of SS cheapy ebay headers. The mild steel ones I have has a weird tube through flange set up that makes me leary. The SS ones are all flat which seems like a better way to go.

[53 Chevy5]

Looks good so far, what rear seats are in it now? If your like me you'll change your mind on the seats 3 times before your done, I have a nice painted center console in my garbage pile

[Mike P]

“….Good grief, the awsome looks of that motor just trumped my W motor's looks hard core…..”

“…..The W motors definitely have a cool look too though!.....”

Just this old mans opinion (so you know what that’s worth ) but the 3 most impressive looking engines to come out of Detroit (in no particular order) were the Ford flathead, the Chrysler Hemi and the Chevrolet W motors......especially when they are dressed up with speed parts.


Looks VERY good Ryan.

Are you going to try the HotHeads in-line carb adapters or mount the Holleys’ sideways? If you’re going in-line it will be interesting to see how much distributor clearance you end up with.

I started out with a set of the chromed steel cheapie headers when I did the mockup on the 37. The steel set had a pretty badly warped flange and although I suspected it might pull straight when I tightened the bolts, I ended up biting the bullet and sprung for stainless set off of E Bay too, I’m really pretty happy with them.

If you don’t mind a suggestion or 2 on the headers here are a couple of tips.

Spring for a set of the solid copper header gaskets. Changing out a blown paper gasket in car is not going to be fun with the engine in car (those wide heads make it a real PIA to access the bolts if you’re running a full hood. If the bolts loosen with the copper gaskets, it just tighten them down again.

If at all possible use studs and nuts (like the factory did) instead of bolts to hold the headers on. The reason is the holes in the block are tapped straight into the water jackets. If you have to pull the headers after the engine is filled with coolant and you use bolts it gets real messy with all the coolant shooting out of the side of the engine. I know this first hand as I had to change out 2 of the studs for bolts on mine in order to get enough clearance between the engine and frame to pull the drivers’ side header.

It looks like your steering column comes out a lot lower and to the left than mine in the 37 does so hopefully you won’t run into all the twists and turn to connect to the steering rack/box that I did.



.

[40FordDeluxe]

Thanks for the info Mike! That makes me feel better about the ebay headers. My plan is to run the hot heads adapters to run them in line. It will be really close for sure. I can change my steering column height now. I cut that hole and mounted the column with the old hack mess up front. It will all be new and the cross member height will probably be different. That might even change the engine height too. I'm not sure yet due to all the unknowns. I'm definitely excited to get the front end all done so I can get the rear suspension positioned, and get it as a roller again.

[40FordDeluxe]

I said to heck with working on other people's stuff this weekend. I cleaned up the garage a bit and pulled stuff from around the 40. I only had a few hours each day to actually work on it, but made some progress on it none the less. I need to keep plugging away to get the suspension in it so I can move on to engine/trans placement so I can make the body and frame be one before May. I got the gussets put on the outsides of the frame rails, welded the inside of the joints where needed, and coated the inside of the rails with some rust converter just in case. I have the RH boxing plate welded on. Now time to trim the LH one and get it put on. Then I can set the body where it needs to be and get the frame set to a ride height to do the front cross member install.

[34_40]

There ya go! Good to hear you've made some time for yourself. Bet it feels good too!

Looks nice.

[40FordDeluxe]

Since I'm feeling like I'm actually getting some things done, I kept working on the 40. I got the LH boxing plate(s) almost all welded in. I took my daughter to school and played with her at the playground. Then I came back and worked on bolting the body to the frame. I had to run to the hardware store to get some bolts. I have it bolted in with 4 bolts right now. 2 at the front, and 2 at the rear. I'm going to have to work on getting it shimmed correctly as the doors aren't wanting to shut. It was sort of this way before, but way worse now. I put the front sheet metal on there and one rear fender so I can get my axle center lines marked so I can do my suspension installs.

Does the front of the hood need to come up more? It looks like it is down hill to me. This isn't my ride height. I just ran out of time before I had to leave to go to work. I'll work on it more in the morning. Please excuse my mess. I have been working on this and side tracked cleaning right now.

You can see my youngest has been helping me. He was driving to get parts in the pic. Haha

[NTFDAY]

Mine was a Standard and yours is a Deluxe, the grill on a 40 Standard closely resembles the grill on a 39 Deluxe, 1 piece versus 3 piece and from what I see your front sheet metal needs to come up a tad. I wouldn't worry about it until you get the body on the frame permanently. As far as I'm concerned that's the most beautiful 2 dr sedan Henry ever built.

[53 Chevy5]

Those look like real nice welds and you got quite a way the way it looks to me.I like how you curved the plates. Sounds like you have about the same deadline as I do. Glad to hear that your taking time out for your kids, I miss those young years. I'm also for shooting for May, probably will be June but willing to accept July, however I will settle for August, Although it would make a nice anniversary present for my wife in Sept.

[40FordDeluxe]

Mine was a Standard and yours is a Deluxe, the grill on a 40 Standard closely resembles the grill on a 39 Deluxe, 1 piece versus 3 piece and from what I see your front sheet metal needs to come up a tad. I wouldn't worry about it until you get the body on the frame permanently. As far as I'm concerned that's the most beautiful 2 dr sedan Henry ever built.

Ken, I was thinking the exact same thing. I think the hood should be level and right now it looks to be going down hill a little. The center grill needs to be adjusted badly so I figured I'll worry about fine tuning all that when I'm going back together.

[40FordDeluxe]

Those look like real nice welds and you got quite a way the way it looks to me.I like how you curved the plates. Sounds like you have about the same deadline as I do. Glad to hear that your taking time out for your kids, I miss those young years. I'm also for shooting for May, probably will be June but willing to accept July, however I will settle for August, Although it would make a nice anniversary present for my wife in Sept.

Thanks. Yeah, June will be here soon. I'm planning on just working on this thing this weekend to see about getting the front cross member installed. Once that is in place, it'll really feel like I'm getting some where.

[40FordDeluxe]

This morning I had the boys with me. I had to go remove a valve body from a trans to sell to get more hot rod parts. While I was there, I grabbed my running boards. I took the boys to get breakfast and when we got back, they "helped" me on the car. My wife is going to love me. She already shakes her head.

I put the LH running board on and lowered the car to where I decided can be the ride height. It isn't too low, but close I'm guessing. It has 5 3/8" in between the ground and the bottom of the front of the running board. And 5 1/2" in the rear. Now I can measure my well openings, get the axle center lines marked out, get the frame leveled, and begin the new MII cross member install.