1940 Ford Tudor Build Thread

[40FordDeluxe]

Did I mention I hate body work? It sure makes a mess of things. Hopefully with any luck at all I can be primering this, this afternoon. I'd like to get it shot this weekend.

[40FordDeluxe]

Multiple day progress, yeah, crazy I know. First prime completed. Just more dirty work to come.

[40FordDeluxe]

Mission accomplished! Next Monday a pin striper is coming to do some work on it and then I will stick the engine and trans back in.

Here's a little bonus. Here is a picture of my Uncle Jerry on the left, and his brother, my grandpa on the right. This picture was from the Grand opening day of their Skelly station in Colfax Iowa in 1964. It's the only picture I can find of them and the gas station.

[NTFDAY]

The 40 is coming along nicely and the picture is too cool.Something tells me that Colfax is a neat small own. I've been through the area once, on a choo-choo ride from Omaha to Dayton, Ohio in 1964

[Dave Severson]

The '40 is looking good Ryan, anxious to see what the pin striper does to it!

[Driver50x]

Sweet! Progress is progress.

[40FordDeluxe]

Here is something I had pin striper/artist do for me. I sent him a picture of my Uncle's old house. He drew the pic as if it were 1994. Setting in the garage is the 40 and out front is my first car that I spent all summer working off since I bought it from Uncle Jerry. I've been trying to get ahold of the current owners to see if I could get a pic of the car in the driveway with no luck yet. Maybe someday I can make it happen.

I've been sanding and working on buffing some stuff while I wait until Monday.

[34_40]

That's a nice picture, quite a talented friend

[Mike P]

That picture is absolutely great Ryan. Sometimes they are better than a photograph.



.

[40FordDeluxe]

After seeing R2's FB post, I figured I'd show you my beauty mark and progression to repair it. For what ever reason, when I put the 2nd coat of clear on, the clear started what looked like a reaction bubbles or something at the LH angled transition of the firewall. I ended up putting about 7 coats of clear on and it looked great when I was done. The next day I went out and checked it and all be dipped if there wasn't a big ol sag in that area. I wasn't thrilled at all about fixing it. I called some friends and they were all busy, go figure. I decided I'd watch some utube vids and I found a couple of guys that had some techniques I figured I could live with.

They used a filler scraper and one of the guys started with 320 and wrapped around the scraper. He would just run it across the run until he got it leveled out. I started at 320 but wish I would have started at 600 or 800, and worked my up to 2k. I had to sand a lot to get the scratches out but luckily I put a lot of clear on it. Then I tried to get the same friend to come buff it out for me but that was a no go as well. I ended up breaking out my dad's buffer and I finally got it looking good again. I was really nervous about burning or sanding through.

[40FordDeluxe]

Luckily I got it fixed Sunday night because I had an appointment for my friend/striper guy to come over Monday morning at 8:30. I've been wanting to make the under hood of this look like it was built in the late 60s/early 70s. Here is what we came up with.

From right to left. The Skelly was more associated with the gas station my Uncle and Grandfather had when Jerry got this car. The Direct connection one is because that parts program was started in 69 or 70 and would be where you would get over the counter Mopar parts then. Lavertty performance was the performance shop my Dad used, and I ended up using 95% of the time too. I figured it would fit right in. I wanted to do Hot heads but they didn't come about until 1983 or 84. It just felt right to mark the car with it's name. I already did on the chassis but no one will ever see it. The next one I think turned out so cool. I had Frosty modify the PAW logo from a blown BBC to a blown Hemi. Next the Moon eyes. Could you even have a hot rod back then without a moon product?

Last but mot least, he highlighted the Ford logo with the same blue he did the air cleaner lid with. I've had some people on FB say they didn't like it, but oh well. I think it's pretty cool and I like it better than putting the stickers on the windows seeing how it's really not a race car.

[NTFDAY]

As I would have said in the 60's, "pretty bitchin' "

[34_40]

You already know I liked it! I think it screams 60's! Well done

[johnboy]

If that was mine I'd be as chuffed as a steam engine.

[40FordDeluxe]

Thanks guys! I think it turned out pretty sweet. A page or so ago I was thinking of ways to make my 5" Auto Meter gauges work in my dash without modifying the stock dash. Luckily, the 5" gauges are closer to 3 1/4" under the lens. I got to thinking maybe I could make a dash insert for 2 3 3/8" gauges work. I was trying to find a finned aluminum one but didn't have much luck and then I found what I thought would be the next best look for a 70s themed hot rod. An engine turned panel! I do believe I'll be incorporating more of this in the interior. I've always liked the looks of engine turned pieces.

I knew there would be some work to make the gauges fit. I began grinding the bezel to get the gauges to fit. Unfortunately, the only they would fit is if I notched the edges of the gauges. That was a little nerve racking taking the death wheel to a pair of $500 gauges. I did open up them a little but I plan to seal them back up and they should be good. I'll re paint the bezels and the mods should be harder to spot.

Next was to get the insert to actually fit the dash. I wonder if they sent me a truck one? Oh well, too late as I already started chop cut, rebuilding on it. I've got it fitting pretty decent now. Next is to find a way to hold the insert to the dash and cut down the gauge hold downs so I can secure the gauges to the insert. It's coming together.