1940 Ford Tudor Build Thread

[40FordDeluxe]

I have been trying to figure out how I can mount my front license plate if I went with no bumpers. I really don't want to put the license plate on a fender. I'm not sure if I will be able to get the ribbed bumpers this year. These may be an option and maybe I can make a mount to put a license plate bracket on the RH one.

Nerf/Chin Bars

[randyr]

I have been trying to figure out how I can mount my front license plate if I went with no bumpers. I really don't want to put the license plate on a fender. I'm not sure if I will be able to get the ribbed bumpers this year. These may be an option and maybe I can make a mount to put a license plate bracket on the RH one.

Nerf/Chin Bars

how about something like this with no bumpers...https://www.google.com/webhp?sourcei...63716196969044

[Scooting]

Those nerf bars look simple enough for you to make.
I also like the fold a way brackets. First time I have seen some that were manual.
Happy Hunting!

[40FordDeluxe]

Randy, thanks for that idea! That definitely could be an option and is for sure cheaper. I could probably make something like that work.

Scooting, I could try to build some nerf bars. We'll see. It'll just come down to time or money.


This morning I ordered my rear wheels and lug nuts. I also started getting my rear end in place under the car. I might work on the rear suspension tomorrow. But I'd like to have the rear wheels before I do it. I guess if the wheels won't fit, I just deal with that later. Either way, the wheels won't dictate where the rear end has to go. I also started making my front lower shock mounts. Shocks and bump stops should be the only fab work left to do for the front suspension to be done. Other than I'd really like to get a front sway bar for it too......

I hope you all have a great Easter and get to spend time with your loved ones, family, and friends!

[40FordDeluxe]

Seeing how my Ford 9" more than likely has 28 spline axles, is a 2.73:1 or some other high highway gear, I've been looking for an 8.8 Explorer rear end. I think I have one found locally. 3.55 with posi and disc brakes. He wants $350 though. That's $150 cheaper than the junk yards want, and is cheaper than re gearing my 9", and buying disc brakes for it. We'll see if I can get it purchased or not.

[Mike P]

“……He wants $350 though. That's $150 cheaper than the junk yards want, and is cheaper than re gearing my 9", and buying disc brakes for it…..”


I hear you Ryan. Setting up a rear end from scratch can be a money pit and you just don’t see it until you’re about half way into it. I was tickled pink when I found a 9” that was the right width for El Camino at a junk yard for $150. By the time I got done going thru it; bearings, brakes, seals, gears, Posi, bracket kit etc I had over $1K in it. That was doing everything myself except setting up the gears which I had a friend do.

I didn’t originally plan on using the Dana 60 under the 37….realistically it’s a bit of overkill. I had cleaned it up, checked it put in new bearings and seals and actually had it up for sale. It’s an original 68 B Body unit and the market for them at the time was about $1200. It hit me that if I sold it, all I would be doing would be swapping the money I got for the Dana for another 9” and would still have to do all the work setting it up where as All the Dana would need would be a set of spring perches welded on.


.

[53 Chevy5]

Seeing how my Ford 9" more than likely has 28 spline axles, is a 2.73:1 or some other high highway gear, I've been looking for an 8.8 Explorer rear end. I think I have one found locally. 3.55 with posi and disc brakes. He wants $350 though. That's $150 cheaper than the junk yards want, and is cheaper than re gearing my 9", and buying disc brakes for it. We'll see if I can get it purchased or not.

I don't know how patient you are but I got mine for $100 at Home | Doon, Iowa 51235 | Lems Auto Recyclers. I think I will be heading your way by DesMoines some time this summer and I could bring one down to you for a modest fee, I like Coors Banquet

[40FordDeluxe]

I don't know how patient you are but I got mine for $100 at Home | Doon, Iowa 51235 | Lems Auto Recyclers. I think I will be heading your way by DesMoines some time this summer and I could bring one down to you for a modest fee, I like Coors Banquet

Seth, let me know when you come down either way. I'll buy you a couple of Coors Banquets either way.

I'm putting my rear suspension in tomorrow. So far the guy with the explorer rear ends has been a flake. He hasn't responded to emails since yesterday morning. People apparently don't want to sell things too badly apparently. So if I can't find a reasonably priced one, i'll just carry on with my 9". I'm sort of on a time crunch. I have a lot of stuff still to do in the next month, and this weekend I have a 3 day weekend. I've told everyone to leave me alone because it's time for the 40 to get suspension. Haha

Too bad my wheels still haven't shipped. I even called the clowns before I made the purchase to make sure they were in stock and would get here before this weekend. It never fails.

[40FordDeluxe]

Anyhow, I have been trying to get the yard work under control since grass and weeds are actively growing. Last fall I hit something with my push mower. It bent the blade so I replaced the blade on it. The control cable for the mag was stuck so for now I will temporarily by pass it until I can get a new cable. I tried out the new to me Kubota and within 15 minutes of mowing, it laid down. It isn't getting fuel so either the lift pump died or the nasty looking filter after the tank is plugged. I fired up the old trusty Jacobson and finished the front yard. Yesterday I raked the leaves away from the fence and the front yard. I filled my yard waste can and that was after I mulched them with the mower. I still have around the inside of the fence to get the leaves raked up. I picked up a new filter for the Kubota and will try to mess with it sometime.

This morning I was going to replace the bad brake line on my 95 F350. But instead I decided to work on the 40. I cut down my inner tie rods because I have the 5/8" narrower control arms. Then I removed my old tie rods from the old rack to get the jam nuts for the new rack since it didn't have any on it. Of course, to my surprise, the new Moog problem solver tie rods I got had the jam nuts in the package. I still used the old nuts because they are twice as wide. More thread engagement can't hurt. I'll shelf the nuts and I'm sure they'll come in handy some day.

Then I installed my new tie rod ends and set the toe. Next I installed the steering shaft that was on this car before. I was going to switch out my steering column from the Cadillac one to the Chevy truck one. But I decided that the steering lock is a nice feature to have so I decided to keep the Caddy column and I'll deal with installing an aftermarket wheel on it later. I can live with the one that is on it for now. I have bigger fish to fry for now. The steering turns really nice. I just hope my LH exhaust pipe isn't right in it's business. I just tacked the mount on there for now. That mount is one of the old engine mounts from when I first test fit the 354 in the old frame. I'm going to use poly t bushings and dom tube for the new engine mounts so these old mounts served no purpose now. Now only 1 will be setting around.

The next project was to get some shocks on the front suspension. I saw speedway was selling shocks for their MII front suspensions. I got the shocks separately, and some shock mounts from BC Fab. I have no real room to use the mounts the shocks came with on the lowers. I made a mount from 3/8" plate and these will weld to the top of the lower control arm. I positioned the shock as best I could and tried to get it at an angle that won't interfere with suspension travel etc, and tacked the brackets in place. I have to finish the RH lower mount and then I can tack it in place. Once that is done I will cycle the suspension up and down and verify nothing hits. I will add gussets to the upper brackets just for peace of mind. I used a ratchet strap to hold the shock in place so I could mock it up. My shocks also serve as my bump stops. I might have to get different shocks to use full potential of the down ward stroke when aired out. We'll see. For now the suspension travel is more of a concern and getting it together. I can fine tune stuff when I blow it apart for paint.

A local junk yard just called me back and they have a few Explorer rear ends for $300 so I'm heading there in the morning to get one. Wahoo!!!!!

[53 Chevy5]

Looks like your making some good progress and glad you found a rearend. It's almost to easy vs building a 9" from scratch. I've been getting stuff done on the 53 but it has sure slowed down , nice weather stuff is starting to need attention. I haven't mowed yet either, If my grasshopper starts Sat, I will consider it serviced for right now. I hope I didn't say that last year too

[40FordDeluxe]

I did that on the Jacobson, but the oil is still clean so I used it.

[40FordDeluxe]

I got the new to me 8.8 for the 40. That took half a day..... I didn't end up with a 3.55. They had 0 3.55 posi units. So I picked the lowest mileage 3.73 posi one I could find. Too bad it is still crusty like the rest of them. Just more clean up required. Haha

My wheels never showed up so I didn't mess with the rear suspension. I ended up finishing raking my leaves and mowing the grass. I also got some work done on my 72. Maybe this weekend I'll get to do the rear suspension on the 40.

[Driver50x]

That is an awesome car Ryan. I'm looking forward to watching the progress to get it back on the road.

[40FordDeluxe]

That is an awesome car Ryan. I'm looking forward to watching the progress to get it back on the road.

Thanks. It sure is taking for ever it seems.

[40FordDeluxe]

No time for working on the 40 this weekend. It literally rained all weekend. I had to get some things done out side before the monsoons came. Saturday afternoon and Sunday were spent cleaning. I couldn't take how bad my garage was getting. All those metal filings and such from all the front end work. The crap collection was hoarding into the work space.

My wife and I have never had a baby room or nursery for any of our kids. Until now. The sun room, which is a draft room in the winter, and a hot room in the summer. Is getting turned into baby Ivy's new room. This is a win for us. There are 12 windows in this room that need replaced. They are $400ea. I'm going to remove these windows, frame and stud in the walls and eliminate them. I will add 1 window on each end to allow light and a breeze if need be. I'll have less than half in turning this room into her new room compared to just replacing the old bad windows. It might loose some curb appeal, but we've got to do what we've got to do. (That window money could be 40 money) There was a desk in the sun room that needed removed. We also had to rip up the new/old carpet because we were dumb and decided a puppy 2 years ago was a great idea. Between the 2 dogs, they made messes several times in the sun room. I was real worried about what the floor looked like under neath. Luckily it was fine because it was painted before the carpet was laid down. We got all that done, it's ready for demo of windows. (After the 40 can drive 15 miles or so) We also had to remove the kitchen we made our daughter last Christmas, and her broken doll house. I decided to remove the screen and storm from our son's window and we chucked out all the trash out the window. That was the most fun we've had in a while. Haha

Now back to business. My rear wheels are finally here. I mounted the one that showed up Friday, Friday. I'll mount the one that showed up today, tonight. I also bit the bullet and ordered some procar seats from Speedway. My front seats didn't match perfectly and one smells of mice urine horridly. They're hitting the junk pile. I ordered them Friday night, and had them this morning. Now, if I would have checked the ebay add and not the picture on the add..... I picked a black one for my RH seat. Not a big deal as I can exchange it, but none the less, still a pain in the rear. I did get the car jacked up so I can work under it better. I took Friday off and it will be suspension Friday.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I am changing the interior color to back to tan like I remember it as a lad. I might even try to add the water stains in the door panels, and add some fake cracks in the windows. But we'll see how extreme it goes. I'm also going to put "In memory of Sooner" some where on the car and FSBS on it too. Sooner was the car's name. FSBS had 2 different meanings. From my uncle, "Two fat slobs in a black sedan." From my Aunt, "Full of chit, and bull chit." I'm going to try to get it how I remember and envisioned the car to look this year. The creature comfort stuff will come later on. So I guess, nothing is changing for the car it's self. That's how this car has always been. Uncle Jerry never had extra money for the nice and cool things he wanted for it. He just enjoyed and upgraded as he could.