1940 Ford Tudor Build Thread

[Dave Severson]

Ryan you could try a pair of nerf's off the frame rails, seen that on a few cars with exposed grilles??????

[cffisher]

Ryan you could try a pair of nerf's off the frame rails, seen that on a few cars with exposed grilles??????

did that a lot back in the 60s

[Scooting]

Ryan, sorry, don't have more photos of the car. Found those on line when I was considering bumperettes. Legen's Hot Rods sell a similar version but too high priced for my blood. McMillan Rod and Custom offer several different nerf/chin bars if that is an interest. Subtle switch is to use Mercury bumpers, they have a dip in the middle. Parked beside a 39 Ford coupe at the Roadster show this year who had Mercury front and rear bumpers, looked nice. Also check out this 37 seen at the Roadsters for something really sweet.

[stovens]

I'm diggin the little push bars on the second vehicle, but the Merc bumper is unique too!

[40FordDeluxe]

Scooting, thanks for the pics! I know a bumper will lessen impact, but only if the impact is 6" or below. It won't help with a deer or a pick up truck. I'd hate to think of any of that too. The grill chin got the most abuse on my car. I learned quickly to keep away from curbs in parking lots. Oops. Haha

[40FordDeluxe]

I've been going back and forth with wheels and trying to do something different on my budget. I think I have settled on Rev Classics and 15" in the front and 17" in the rear. I'm going to order the front wheels first and get new tires so I can get the front end done. I plan on making wood roller templates for the rear bacause I have no idea how wide or tall I can go at this time.

My question for you guys is this: How wide of a tire on the front of a rod is too wide? I see guys saying the wider tires steer and drive bad. I see wide tires on a lot of rods at shows, but I bet they see a trailer more than the street. I can't decide on a 15x7 wheel or a 15x6. The tire height I think I might go with a 25"-26" tall tire. That tire size chart I posted a while back sure has helped me in this area. Any input on the width is appreceiated.

[M.T.]

It just depends on which era of ride your shooting for. 5" bias to 8" radials 22" and up. I have 23" x 7" radials on one of the A's... Works fine. I couldn't decide on wheels either so I threw some Moon Discs on it until I can get some definable inspiration. They may be on there for a long long time? Personally I think your steelies look bitchen and fit the car perfectly, I wouldn't change a thing but everyone is different. Feel the force young Luke!

[40FordDeluxe]

I do like the steelies, but everyone around here is running them. And, I like shiny things so I want some shiny wheels on this thing. I like these and they make them in 15" and 17". I'm trying to keep the side wall height decent and not have a rubber band look. I'm trying to build this with a retro vintage sort of feel. It'll have some similar things as it had in the 70's and 80's but with some upgrades that I like. Such as a V-butt windshield, (Maybe),the wider rear fenders, a power adder, bla bla blah.

[40FordDeluxe]

If the above wheels won't work with my rear end, I will go back to the Halibrand Replicas. I like the look of them and they are more vintage too.

[Scooting]

This is gonna show the age of when my tires were selected. The fronts are 205-70-14s. The rears are 235-70-15s. I had a wheel rake long ago. Just for reference. The width of the front seem good and stable in the corners. I don't have power steering so they still turn decent at almost no speed. I would think a 215 which is a more popular size today would be fine. My rears will sometimes kiss the fender edge under a twisting driveway. Wish I would go the fat rear fenders like you are planning and make them wider (just for looks). Watch your wheel offsets, that is what may cause problems or solve problems. Happy Hunting! I like shiney too and think you have made a good choice.

[40FordDeluxe]

Thanks Scooting. It's funny, my car had 14" in the front and 15" in the rear when I got it. It currently has that too. My wheels and tires are going on my Mom's Mustang. Back in the day the 40 had Keystone mags on it. I can't bring myself to put a set like that back on it.

[M.T.]

My vote is for the J.D. Wheel Cragar knock off's... But here again those were and are on a lot of cars and not really unique. They are sort of era'ish as well. Wheels are about the only thing that really changes the looks of a ride without major work. It just boils down to... well Moon Disks for me!
Let us know when you deside.

[40FordDeluxe]

I made a decision and pulled the trigger on 2 15x7 American Racing Rev Classics in Chrome. I'll more than likely go with a 17" rear wheel but the width will be determined after the body and rear fenders are back on. I also ordered a paul horton welder series mustang 2 crossmember and some other misc pieces I'll use on my frame. I am going to ditch the engine mounts I purchased and build my own too. The rubber biscuits on the ones I have already are showing dry rot cracking and that isn't cool to me. It'll have some poly t bushings in DOM now. Might as well fix it now rather than later.

I also took one of my core turbos apart as I'm trying to find 2 good cores to use. Yes, I'm planning on putting 2 small turbos on the Hemi. It'll be different. It isn't a 871, but my wallet can't support a blower right now either.

[40FordDeluxe]

Today I cleaned all of my stuff off the 40 frame and my youngest brother helped me get it flipped over. I started working on the bottom side. Once I get everything welded up I will flip it over and position the rear suspension. Tack it in place then set the body on the frame to get set up to do the new front suspension.




Bad MII pics

[Scooting]

Wow! You said that front end was bad but that really looks rough. Some of it looks like it was not too long before it would have been coming out from under there. Glad to see you changing it.