1940 Ford Tudor Build Thread

[40FordDeluxe]

Among the issues with the x member being chopped and poorly put together, the sheet metal doesn't line up well on the car at all. I thought it may have had to do with the X member being hacked and letting the frame sag causing everything not to line up, causing the bad fit. The more I look at the car, it was just poor assembly I'm guessing. Things should have been replaced instead of half way repairing them. The hood never shut right and that's because the hood hinges had been broken, so they just welded them back together. Nice huh? Here are some pics of the LH door alignment I am going to try to fix while it's apart.







Ok, yesterday I removed the seats from the car so I can try to sell them, and washed the out side since birds seem to think this car is a good canvas to poop on. While it's out, I pushed it over to the shop and I might set the 354 in it to get it out of the shop for now. LOL Here are some more pics of the lovely MII install that was done. I'm going to have to cut all of that out and redo it.






I think I may leave the back of my car a lone for now and put the money I was going to spend on new wider wheels and tires for the back, and get a under air kit. The car needs that worse. These are 245/60/15's on 15x7 wheels. I'm pretty convinced I want to ditch the bumpers too. I'd like to make a coer to put over the bumper bracket holes so if I ever change my mind I can simply remove the covers and install bumpers. I tried buying a GTO rear seat today on Ebay, but it went for more than I wanted to pay right now. I'll keep searching for one later. LOL

[40FordDeluxe]

Ok, that is awesome! Thanks for the pics. That looks like the route I need to go with!

[40FordDeluxe]

This morning I got the torque converter off of the 354. That was real fun, not! Then I put the engine plate from the 354 on the 46RH just to see what it would look like. It doesn't really look close enough to me. I guess an adapter is in my future.

[Mike P]

What did the transmission come out of? It looks like it has the right 318/360 Bellhousing. You will still need the adaptor. I don't know if anybody has them besides Hot Heads has them but that is the one I'm going to be using on my 37.

Early Chrysler Hemi, Hemi Transmission Adapters, Torqueflite

[40FordDeluxe]

It came out of a 1995 1500 2 wheel drive ram with a 360. It seems the only 46RH's were used behind 360's. The 318's had A500's. It was a pain to find it. I see a guy on ebay, Tom Waters, is selling adapters too. He quoted me an adapter with a SFI flex plate for $485 I think. Hot heads's is $410 with a non sfi flex plate. I'm not sure which way I'll go yet.

[40FordDeluxe]

Today I ordered an adapter from Tom waters, ordered a polished aluminum water pump, and ordered the BBC to Hemi water pump adapters. I also got a lower pulley off ebay. So now I need to find an upper pulley and get an alt bracket so I have the stuff for mock up. Too bad this doesn't even put a dent in my parts list. LOL I found a frame on ebay that has a stock MII cross member and chevy camaro rear end with leaf springs. The guy is asking $1500 for it and I thought about offering him $1000 for it. But I'd still have an OE thin cross member. So I'm thinking I'll be better off just fixing my frame and not try to save time and money by purchasing another that could be a hack job too.

[40FordDeluxe]

Not much progress on the car other than I purchased a 650 double pumper holley for the Hemi. One of these days I'll get the rest of my projects done and get this one torn down.

[40FordDeluxe]

Due to some other changes on another build i'm doing, I'm going to have to scale back on the money I spend on the 40 to get it going for this year. I'm thinking of building my own recessed fire wall, repairing the crappy MII cross member, and repairing /building my own trans x member. Seeing how my body man still has half my 72 chevy, I more than likely will just paintthis car with blitz black for this summer. I want to get it running and add at least a/c to it so the wife and kiddos can go with me. I'll update when I can.

[40FordDeluxe]

Any preferences on A/C kits? I'm going to start looking for one soon.

[randyr]

Any preferences on A/C kits? I'm going to start looking for one soon.

Most people are probably going to suggest Vintage Air, which is probably a good idea. They've been around a long time and people like them.

I bought a Hotrod Air kit, which is a nice kit but I haven't installed it yet and they are now out of business. So if there's a problem with it I'm probably screwed.
Many have said to stay away from Southern Air.

[40FordDeluxe]

Most people are probably going to suggest Vintage Air, which is probably a good idea. They've been around a long time and people like them.

I bought a Hotrod Air kit, which is a nice kit but I haven't installed it yet and they are now out of business. So if there's a problem with it I'm probably screwed.
Many have said to stay away from Southern Air.

I was actually contemplating a Southern Air kit. But I wasn't sure about them as I never have dealt with them.

[Dave Severson]

I'd say Vintage Air has the best customer support and the least backorders of any of the aftermarket A/C companies I've dealt with..... Most of their stuff is decent quality and actually works right out of the box!

[40FordDeluxe]

I'd say Vintage Air has the best customer support and the least backorders of any of the aftermarket A/C companies I've dealt with..... Most of their stuff is decent quality and actually works right out of the box!

After doing some research, I think I may just go that route. It may cost more, but you certainly do get what you pay for these days. Thanks for the help guys.

[40FordDeluxe]

Does any one know who makes a gauge panel for a 40 ford that houses 2 5" gauges? I may have to build one, not quite sure yet.

[40FordDeluxe]

I figured out there won't be any one offering a gauge panel for 2 5" gauges in a 40 because there isn't room for it. LOL So, looks like I will be figuring something out there. Here are pics I promised a while ago on parts I've been gathering.

650 Double pumper Holley


BBC Long high flow water pump


Engine adapter, water pump adapters, and crank pulley.


I called Hot Heads yesterday on cam info and I might wait to get the car running to decide if I can afford a cam swap. I want to get it all together with a/c and new control arms, new rack, and new power brakes. Once it is to that point, then I will worry about more power. I don't want to have it be June and I don't have a drivable car because I decided to spend the money in the engine. The engine currently runs good so I'll just clean it up and replace the aged plug wires and boots and a few gaskets for the time being.