1940 Ford Tudor Build Thread

[40FordDeluxe]

Yesterday I kept working on the center console. I want to get this done just to get the wiring harness mounted and then the real work can come in.

Of course, I totally forgot to buy any cup holders online and I didn't want to wait. I found this 18oz cooking cup in the camping section at walmart. I ground off the spot welds of the wire hangers and now it's a cup holder. I used my hobofraud hole saw closest to it's size and cut a hole in my center panel. I then used a carbide bit in a die grinder and opened the hole up until the cup fit snugly in the hole.

I cleaned the adhesive off the panel from the decal that was on it and sanded it to get it all cleaned up. I opened up the shifter hole and I might have to open it up a little more to keep the shifter from hitting it occasionally. I also notched the rear side upper board so when the seat is moved forward, the seat won't get torn from the wood sticking out.

Next was to address the blocked off air issue and cowl vent. I spent a lot of time making an extended handle for the cowl vent but I just hated it when it was shut. It reminded me of a rat rod and I just decided for now I'll reach through the glove box to open the vent it I want to have it open. So that was not an issue now.

Now I had to find these billet ac vents a friend of mine gave me last fall. Yeah, who knows where those went. I think I gave them to a friend with a 69C10 he's building. once again, I didn't want to order anything as I'm trying to keep moving forward, I brain stormed.

[40FordDeluxe]

I knew I had some nice original black AC dash corner vents I removed from a 71 C20 cab. I decided to cut the housing and make them flush mounts. They look vintage, because they are, and they are free. Win win. I'll decide where to have them placed later and drill the screw holes to mount them.

I still have at least 3 gauges to mount. I sure don't have as much room as I thought I did. My only places to put them are probably on either side of the shifter. That real estate sure didn't last. Haha

This afternoon I'll make a bracket to mount my fuse panel to my console side piece. I already cut an aluminum piece to use as a door. I need to come up with a hinge and a latch. Earth magnets might come into play here I think. Once I get the fuse panel mounted I think I will remove the center console, fix my dash scratch, fix my steering column mounting holes I hosed myself on, add kill mat to the firewall, and paint and seal the trans cover. I also have to install a throttle pressure cable for the trans I forgot about. Once this stuff is done, I shouldn't have to pull the cover off for a good while.

Then I can reassemble and start laying and routing wiring to get ready to give this thing life again.

[40FordDeluxe]

Yesterday after work I got right to making a bracket to hold the fuse panel. Luckily I had a metal bracket from a piece of equipment we did a modification on. I was able to re-purpose it by adding some bends, cutting a section off, drilling some holes and welding nuts to the back side of it. I also lucked out on the mounting screws. I haven't seen where this speedway harness came with mounting screws and I didn't have any 1/4" bolts long enough. Luckily I saved these stainless studs from a job. They were meant to hold a hydraulic solenoid block on to a manifold. The problem was the original manifold was metric. Instead of trash canning them, I stuck them in my bolt bin. The top is a threaded sleeve with an allen in the center. These worked perfectly for this and the top of the fastener is flush with the top of the fuse panel.

Then I cut the console side so the fuse panel would set inside just behind the side panel of it, and be close to flush. I made a panel to cover it but haven't decided if I will put a hinge on it or use velcro, or magnets to keep it on. The panel is aluminum so adding a hinge to it might be difficult since welding is out, and I don't want a bolt sticking out on either side. I considered bonding it but haven't decided yet. I need to verify the cover will open up and not hit the steering column as it swings out. Hinging may not be an option.

I should have been painting as it was only 82* and the next week is supposed to be 100* or more.

[34_40]

Nice work. I was wondering how the fuse box was going to land. I’ve got a rewire job to look at Saturday so I am looking for ideas that don’t make me twist upside down to see a fuse or wire connection

[Mike P]

As usual Ryan nice work!!


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[40FordDeluxe]

Nice work. I was wondering how the fuse box was going to land. I’ve got a rewire job to look at Saturday so I am looking for ideas that don’t make me twist upside down to see a fuse or wire connection

Thanks Mike. Originally, the vision I had in my head had the fuse panel in front of the shifter under a panel so it was easily visible. Well reality set in after I started putting the console together and I realized there was no more real estate. I saw on the HAMB on a 32 Ford roadster with a 40 Ford dash, the guy put his fuse box on a hinge mount and had a simple spring latch to retain it. The fuse panel would swing down when you pushed back on the tab and made the fuses easily visible and accessible. Maybe that's an option for your project. The biggest draw back I for see with my setup might be the hassle of the wiring being above the trans tunnel making it more difficult to remove the trans tunnel. We shall see.

As usual Ryan nice work!!


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Thank you sir.

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[Mike P]

All this talk about fuse boxes makes my back hurt.

It's one part of my current project I dread. I know I'll have to get to the fuse box/wiring a few times to wire in accessories I want to add. Plymouth did not make the fuse box old man friendly in 68.



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[rspears]

Nice! Did you check the clearance of your cover with a flasher can in the fuse block?

[40FordDeluxe]

Nice! Did you check the clearance of your cover with a flasher can in the fuse block?

Nope, I sure didn't. I'll probably have to run a taller LED flasher too. I guess there is a solution to that though. I can make extension wires and mount that on the inside of the console if need be.

[Hotrod46]

Every thing is looking good.

Just pop the wires out of the flasher socket on the main board, hook them up to the flasher and zip tie it somewhere behind the fuse block. They almost never fail, especially on a limited use vehicle. A skinny flat tool will release the connectors from the fuse block.

[40FordDeluxe]

Between work and Allyson working the fair, I didn't get a lot of progress done on the 40. I spent 2 afternoons cleaning getting ready to try and spray some parts. Too bad it's going to be stupid hot the next 3 days. We'll see what I can get done. I need to stuff the window air in and forget looking at the bill......

If anyone is interested, the lady she works for won the Best Food at the Iowa State Fair for the 2nd year in a row. They were busy everyday and packed from open to after close. This lady has 2 other food stands at the fair as well. Talk about a booming biz. Allyson can be seen at the 41 second mark. She's on the left and again at the very end.

https://www.kcci.com/article/2023-io...eese/44831176#

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[stovens]

Yum!!!!! I'd love to try that sandwich!

[40FordDeluxe]

Yum!!!!! I'd love to try that sandwich!

She brought a couple home and it was actually really good. I like a good monte Cristo but this was better.

[40FordDeluxe]

Man, if it's not multiple kid events to get to, high heat, or family functions, there just is no time to get anything done lately. It was stupid hot last week so I broke down and stuck my window air in the garage. My material came in I picked up and I wanted to see what it was going to look like. I tell you what, I never realized how much of a pain in the butt it was to get the lines straight and not crooked when making a door panel.

I also have been trying to figure out a door pull/arm rest on the door panel. I always wanted a billet one or shiny one. I started making a wood one and decided I'm wasting too much time. I had some new arm rets in my cabinet and decided to go with them. I will dye them tan and they will work. I threw in a rear pic just because.

[stovens]

It seems the car is using a potty box for spare parts!