Thread: going to look at a 39 and 40 ford

Tweet

I am going to look at a 39 and 40 ford tomorrow. Both are project condition. Is there any negatives i should be on the look out for? thanks for your help guys

There are others that will go in greater detail, but I would definitely take along a couple of magnets.

Depending on where they've lived the tin worm is the big thing. The bodies will rust in the typical places. They are especially vulnerable at the bottom of the cowl where it comes to a tight pointed pocket, then the bottoms of the quarters just ahead of the rear fenders, especially on coupes and tudors. The trunk floor will go first at the pocket for the spare, and around the body mount bolts. The tool well at the very rear as well as the outer panel are very often toast, if they're not on these they are exceptional. The good news is patch panels are very available. Hood hinges, especially the pivot rivets, are a weak spot, usually demonstrated by the back of the hood not going all the way down when the hood is closed from the front. The repops for these are at best just okay. Good original hinges are very desirable.

On the frame of course look for someone butchering up the center X member if they've been rodded/modified. The frame is real prone to rust through toward the back where the tails of the X member tie back to the side rails. Mud got packed in there easily and ate through over time. Also around the body mount brackets on the outside of the rails toward the rear.

The good news is these, being so popular, have a lot of parts available in the repop market. But if you need too much of that stuff, $5 here, $20 there, adds up in a hot hurry.

This '40 Tudor has been sitting in my ex-sister-in-law's garage for over 25 years. It was running about 20 years ago, the engine still turns over when I was there taking these pics a few weeks ago.

Mike

A few more pics.

Originally Posted by Mike52

This '40 Tudor has been sitting in my ex-sister-in-law's garage for over 25 years. It was running about 20 years ago, the engine still turns over when I was there taking these pics a few weeks ago.

Mike

So are you going to help clean out the garage, Mike?

Man do I envy you, what I wouldn't give just to have a shot at that Ford. Those Fat Fendered cars are my favorite, and what a pleasure it would be to have that one to start on. Good Luck and I hope it pass's inspection very cool project...

Roland

Originally Posted by rspears

So are you going to help clean out the garage, Mike?

Roger, an offer has been made. The sad thing is, she has offered to give the car to my son or my daughter for free, but they don't want it. I offered to take if off her hands but her fear was I would "hot rod it" (her exact words). She promised the gentleman she got it from 28 years ago that she would keep it all stock and original looking, she feels that would still have to be honored. I can't make that same promise, besides, I need to finish the '32 first.

Mike

well i went to look at it today and it looked pretty darn good i think. here are a few pics

oh and he has a steel fender for the passenger side rear. and a few other things to go with it. the running boards are solid and are inside the car

noone have an opinion lol?

Very good project material. What's the asking price?

said he would take 3200 for it there are some extra pieces going with it. Nearly complete set of grill moldings, door glass regulators and door glasses, Replacement windshield, windshield frame, and windshield crank assembly. Dash with original gauges and aftermarket gauges, original steering wheel, steering column and steering linkages.

Price isn't too bad. Did you check on the things that were in Uncle Bob's post?

Anything can be saved with enough dedication. Based on the pictures and your list of stuff, the price isn't real bad with a valid title, but if you can bargain it down do it. A few things: '39 body, but the wheels/brakes are later. The front wheels seem a little wide in the fenders, wonder if it's a '42-8 front axle? That cancer at the bottom of the drip rails isn't uncommon, but if you haven't done them before, drip rail replacement is a chore. Does it have all the trim; side, grille, hood etc.? That stuff adds up in a hurry. Which is the real problem with a torn apart car like this. If you haven't worked on them before, you don't know what to look for, it's the accumulation of the little stuff that kills ya. And it's hard to communicate years of learning in a few sentences, or even paragraphs. Like Ken and I said, the price isn't too bad considering it's a coupe (if a 4 door it wouldn't be a good deal at free), but it's not a screamin' deal either. It's kind of like one of those deals where you need two cars to make one good one the way it looks in these pictures.