1940 Ford Tudor Build Thread

[Dave Severson]

Yeah, once you get the angles and everything figured on the first piece the others get a bit easier. Sure does make for a nice strong frame once they're all in place, nice work!

[40FordDeluxe]

Thanks Dave. I've got a predicament here. I'm changing so much on this car and need to pick a ride height so I can set up my rear suspension. You guys with low rods, what is a good ride height? I'm going to put my running boards on the frame and try to set it where I want it and go from there.

[34_40]

I have mine at 4 inches without me in it. I can't clear speed bumps! But it looks cool! 8-)

[40FordDeluxe]

Thanks for the reply. I'm guessing mine was 5"-6" before at the lowest point of the running boards by pics. I never measured it to see.

[34_40]

I'd think 5 inches woul dbe about perfect.

[40FordDeluxe]

Ok thanks. I'll have to get it all set up and then take some pics.

[40FordDeluxe]

I only had about an hour and a half to work on the car the last 2 days. I did get the RH bar on and I'm thinking I'm going to add some stiffners to help make it even stronger.

[40FordDeluxe]

Today I spent time gathering junk tires as tomorrow is our town's local clean up day. I can get rid of tires for free. I have 32 I gathered up that need to go. Probably the bad side effect of having this hobby. Junk can gather quickly.

I didn't get much time to mess with the 40. But, I started mocking up the lower tubes for the X member, and my vision of the lower bars being directly below the upper bars is not going to work. It would work if I didn't want to be able to remove the trans but I do. The trans gets wider at the middle and I didn't take that into consideration in my head. So I'm going to have to move the bottom bars in about an inch or so that way the trans willl be able to be removed without having to pull the engine and trans like before. I guess that is a part of the process of stuff not fitting.

[40FordDeluxe]

I managed to get some decent progress done over the weekend. Saturday I got rid of all of the junk tires we had and hopefully by next year I have some parts trucks gone and can get rid of them as well. After that we did some yard clean up and mowing. Had to do some repairs on our JD 317, and rake a bunch of gravel out of the yard from snow plowing. Big fun.

I got started on the frame in early afternoon. Getting the lower bar in there was real fun..... I finally had my brother come help me hold it while I tacked it in place. I then started making my cross bar stiffners and the pieces to tie the upper and lower bars together. Unfortanately, I decided to bring my X member so far forward. I didn't give it a thought that the frame getting smaller the farther you go forward would limit my space for exhaust to pass through. So, I'm going to have to go below the X member first bar and then up inside of it.






My brother and I had to go pick up an old entertainment center for my wife. She's going to make a kitchen play set for my daughter. Sunday I tilled our garden and it was very wet and whipped me pretty good. Then I went to my parent's place and we put my mom in a new side walk. Today I got the LH lower tube fitted in and tacked in place.




It's starting to look like a frame again. My air bags also showed up and I sat one in the front suspension to get an idea if they would fit.



Mounting plates





This leads me to two new questions. I see a lot of IFS air ride set ups with the air bag at an angle instead of straight up and down. Is this to help with laying the frame? I'm assuming the straighter, the better ride and longer life of the bag? Also, is there an affordable properly valved shock for running air bags?

[34_40]

Ryan, I'm curious why the lower bars are shorter and fasten in a different location forward of the top bar.?.?
I don't think it's an issue.. just curious!

[40FordDeluxe]

Ryan, I'm curious why the lower bars are shorter and fasten in a different location forward of the top bar.?.?
I don't think it's an issue.. just curious!

The main reason is my lower suspension bar welds to the frame below the upper bar. The lower bar of the X member would hit it. I decided if I placed the top bar over the center of the bar hanger, and the lower bar in front of the hanger, this might provide a little more support/stiffness in the chassis. That's my thinking any way.

[34_40]

And your way of thinking... and explanation - make perfect sense!

[40FordDeluxe]

Today I got the bar stiffners made and in place. Last night I ordered a power booster master cylinder kit that came with a proportioning valve and residual valves. I also ordered some new body mount bushings. I need to get a gas tank sending unit and figure out what I want to do for fuel and brake lines. I'm trying to get everything together so I can get the body back on the chassis as I want to take this to Good Guys here in Des Moines July 4th weekend........




I have been trying to figure out how I want to incorporate the trans mount into the X member and I think I decided on this. I think I'm going to take some 3/8"x1 1/4" flat stock and weld it along just below center of the lower X member tubes. I will take a 1/4" plate and bolt it below the pieces welded on the x member and the trans mount will bolt there. The center plate I plan to cut triangles out so it looks like an x from below.

[34_40]

In regards to your shocks.. I'd select someone who you'd be willing to work with and talk with their tech people. I had a bad experience with one of the "name" co's... then I went to AFCO and they set me up right! But there are a lot of shock companies out there!

[40FordDeluxe]

I already have learned don't call rod shops that push parts more than build rods and ask them. They immediately tell you you need the ride tech shock waves. Uh yeah, about that, that's going to be way down the line dude. I may just try proper sized bilsteins and go from there since I'm on a budget. Unless I find an actual spec'd shock that's not out of line. Haha