1940 Ford Tudor Build Thread

[Dave Severson]

Good choice and a great find! I never have been a fan of welding cast!

[36 sedan]

JMHO, it's hard to beat a 9"..

[J. Robinson]

Here is the result of some idiot welding cast iron with a MIG welder on a 8.8 housing! This guy had just bought the car a few weeks previous. When he left the cruise-in he just got on it gently, but it broke. The car ran off the road and rolled over twice. The driver got a broken arm from being thrown around inside (no seat belts). If I was him I'd find the builder and break his nose.

[40FordDeluxe]

Yeah, that is a huge mess! The wreck and that old mounting ears reinstalled. I'm not into killing or injuring anyone with my work unlike whom ever hacked that crap together.

[40FordDeluxe]

I don't have any pics to post but I did get the leaf spring and shock mounts removed off my 9" housing. I'm cleaning up the housing so I can assemble it and start mocking up on the 4 link. Bye bye 8.8.

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[40FordDeluxe]

Finally some worth while progress on this thing!!! I got the 9" under it and got the 4 link all tacked on. Far better than the 8.8". I still might have to cut the floor so the drive shaft doesn't hit it when aired out, but not by much.

[40FordDeluxe]

Wow, the pics loaded all jacked. I'll have to work on that. I don't remember how to fix that currently.

Now I have to decide how to make the upper mounts tie into the frame. On trucks they use 2x3 and put an A with the top lopped off, on each side with 2 2x3 cross members. I think I will use round tube and 1/4" plate and tie them in. I'd really like to get the rear suspension done this week. It will help my motivation levels. I really want the car be alive for it's 80th anniversary.

I need to find some long socket head type bolts so I can get rid of the carriage bolts I used as frame mounting bolts. Thinking back I should have used captured nuts in the frame before boxing the frame. Live and learn.

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[40FordDeluxe]

On another note, I do have a dilemma. I thought I had rear disc brakes for this rear end all figured out. I googled and searched rear disc brake kits for a 5x5.5" BP early Ford Bronco 9". I could have got a complete kit for $500 on up. Well, I didn't want to use up all my funds on 1 part. I found a few guys that said 82 ish CJ5 front rotors would fit. I ordered a set but they won't fit. Now, they would probably work behind the flange but I don't want to do that. I need to find a rotor that will go on this axle and retain the 5x5.5" BP. I have to keep adapters on it to run these wheels. Later on I plan to get an older looking wheel that is wider. But I'm right back to that budget being empty situation. I got weld on caliper brackets from DIY4X, and some new GM metric calipers. now I just need to figure out the rotor deal.

Anyone have any ideas on a rotor that would fit? The CJ5 front rotor ID is too small to fit over the OD of the axle flange. 4X4 F-150 87 up?

On edit. I have found a rear rotor for 04-06 E150 econolines that look promising.

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[40FordDeluxe]

This morning I grabbed some tubing I had used to brace the frame 7 or 8 years ago when I cut the original X member out. I decided to use it to start making the structure that will hold the upper air bag mounts. I got the main cross member positioned and tacked then started cutting and fitting tubing. I didn't get very far today. I'm going to have to cut more floor out to do what I want but I'll have to cut these pieces to make the new floor any way.

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[34_40]

Nice to see you making some forward motion on this project. I hope you can make your deadline too.

Maybe you'll help inspire the lazy guys like me to do a little something on their projects... 8-)

[40FordDeluxe]

I'm going to try and keep working on it but it's a struggle. I've got 3 other trucks to be working on too in the next month. Im trying to hurry while I'm waiting for parts for the customer stuff. But either way if I get any thing done to this car it's a huge bonus. Otherwise it would just be collecting more dust. Haha

[rspears]

But either way if I get any thing done to this car it's a huge bonus. Otherwise it would just be collecting more dust. Haha

Wonder if a guy could collect that authentic barn/shop dust and sell it to Tom Cotter on Barn Find Hunter...

[40FordDeluxe]

Wonder if a guy could collect that authentic barn/shop dust and sell it to Tom Cotter on Barn Find Hunter...

I have wondered the same thing. It is pretty thick on this old guy. I left it on there to hide that ugly purple.

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[40FordDeluxe]

I've been making good progress on the rear suspension of this thing. It has been tough with everything going on. Land hurricanes and everything else. I sort of regret not buying a kit but then again no kits for this style of car are for an already boxed frame so you do what you have to do. I still have to add in bump stop mounts, gusset some places, and make upper shock mounts when the shocks arrive. These things sure eat gobs of time!!!

[40FordDeluxe]

A member on another forum I'm on pointed out that my upper link mounts on my rear end housing were not going to work. He said they needed to be parallel with the ground for the upper bars to articulate properly. I thought about it and he was right. The ends at the top of the rear end would have to rely on the rod ends at the end of the bars to do all the action. So I spent all one morning fixing my upper link mounts. They are parallel to the ground now and it should be good to go now. I also got one bump stop mount made and installed. I started making the bracing I'm using to tie the bridge pieces together. I decided to put the car's name in the lower piece so you can see it from below. It's just cut out rough with the plaz. Boy I sure I had a water jet.

I got that piece all cleaned up and started welding it in place. I ran out of welding wire yesterday morning so I didn't get much accomplished. Plus I didn't have the extra time. This morning I had to finish cutting up my derecho tree damage so I could get it out of here. I did make some CAD pieces, cardboard aided drawing, made up so I can cut more pieces to the puzzle tomorrow. I got more welding wire tonight and I also picked up the shocks I plan to use. Hopefully tomorrow morning I can get the shocks installed and have the rear suspension close to done.