Thread: 41 ford coupe

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It all depends on the style you are going for. IMO, you need to settle on the finished look and build the car using it as a model. Do you want to make it a retro-60's look? Modern smoothie with billet and no door handles? Lowered 50's custom with fender skirts? There are so many choices, and each will help dictate the type of power you use. I would do a search for '41 Ford builds and determine what you like and go from there. We will be more than happy to provide our own two cents worth!

Princeton N.J. or Princeton W.Va.? Anyway, last winter I was strapped for cash and a sudden plumbing bill cropped up so I sold my stash of flathead parts to a nearby shop.
Joe Smith's Early V8 and Hot Rod which is very close to my home in Glen Allen Va. I sold a good 4" Merc crank, eight good rods, a flywheel with clutch pressure plate and three flathead blocks which all had cracks of one type or another. The guys from Joes gave me $250 for the lot and said the blocks could be repaired in one way or another. Since I am now committed to a SBC 350 I let the parts go for far less than new parts from Speedway. By the way Speedway does have most of parts needed to soup up a flathead but I would repeat my warning to not overbore a flathead block. Anyway, here is the address and phone number for their shop. For me their shop is a time warp into the 1950s with racks of smaller parts and several good blocks lined up on the floor. in the back they are building a '32 coupe and did have a suoped up 1950 Merc with a 4-speed for sale but it may have sold by now. Their shop moved here from Ga. after I was well into my SBC roadster but if they were here earlier I would have gone with a mild flattie. Even so the next step is to worry over the weak three speed trans and there are auto-trans conversions for the flathead.

Joes V8 Hot Rod Parts
8405 Cleveland St
Richmond, VA
23228
Phone: 804-264-1953
Fax: 804-264-5004

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

Tim,
If you decide to look into a flathead do yourself a favor and give the guys at H&H Flatheads a call. They are the go-to guys who've been doing flatheads forever, know all the old school lessons, and know how to apply them to give you a reliable flatty engine in whatever configuration you want - HNH Flatheads: Ford Flathead rebuilding specialist Flatheads are super cool, but when you look at the $/HP be ready for sticker shock, especially if you start pushing the power envelope.

Well, since somebody - a good looking guy i'll add - brought up flatties and another mentioned Joe's in Richmond i believe they may have a french flattie block or two laying around.

Tim , I have a 41 ford two door with a flathead and I wished I had put a small block in it. I know a Chevy is cheaper and I like Chevy, but a Ford for a Ford it just sounds better. you have to think about a rear end so you can match up to newer trany. I used a S10 with the leaf springs this also help the wave action in the corners.

Hello Hot Rodders. I am also new to this club and also just purchased a 41 coupe in what sounds like the same condition. I have located a 41 frame( the original has rotted out and was replaced with a 80's chev frame) from another HotRodder up my way because I would like to keep it all Ford. I have an 87 Mustang donor with a 5.0 T5 with goodies that I plan on using for the build. I will be following Tim's build to get as much help as I can. I appreciate all input ideas offered.

Originally Posted by 41Woody

Hello Hot Rodders. I am also new to this club and also just purchased a 41 coupe in what sounds like the same condition. I have located a 41 frame( the original has rotted out and was replaced with a 80's chev frame) from another HotRodder up my way because I would like to keep it all Ford. I have an 87 Mustang donor with a 5.0 T5 with goodies that I plan on using for the build. I will be following Tim's build to get as much help as I can. I appreciate all input ideas offered.

Paulo,
Welcome to CHR. If you're looking for input, and as a courtesy to Tim you really should start your own thread as opposed to jumping into an existing discussion. Just click the "Forums" tab above, select the section where you want to put your thread and once there click the "New Thread" button at the top.

This has to be a pretty rare vehicle, keeping it stock might be the idea ...

Ford in Fords! Like it when I see em! What I really want to see is Fords in Chevy's!
Joking aside looking forward to watching your project here. What ever powertrain you decide to put in it, is your choice and not ours. SBF 5.0ltr. is an amazing engine especially with today"s technology. But it's hard to drift away from the SBC for parts availability for aftermarket stuff. It seems to get better every year for FORDS, but still your choices are more limited unless you can fabricate what you need.

Hello Tim. Just purchased a 41 Long door coupe in Dec 2013 myself. I am in the same spot as you. What direction to go...newer frame? engine? Tranny? rearend?...Lots of options...Drop me a line and a few Pics and we can compare notes. Good luck with your build. Paulo

The 41 is a great car. When I did mine I stayed with the flathead ,but often wish I used a small block. Over heating is the biggest problem.

It's nice to see more of these popping up as well as new members.