1940 Ford Tudor Build Thread

[40FordDeluxe]

Seeing how my Ford 9" more than likely has 28 spline axles, is a 2.73:1 or some other high highway gear, I've been looking for an 8.8 Explorer rear end. I think I have one found locally. 3.55 with posi and disc brakes. He wants $350 though. That's $150 cheaper than the junk yards want, and is cheaper than re gearing my 9", and buying disc brakes for it. We'll see if I can get it purchased or not.

[53 Chevy5]

Seeing how my Ford 9" more than likely has 28 spline axles, is a 2.73:1 or some other high highway gear, I've been looking for an 8.8 Explorer rear end. I think I have one found locally. 3.55 with posi and disc brakes. He wants $350 though. That's $150 cheaper than the junk yards want, and is cheaper than re gearing my 9", and buying disc brakes for it. We'll see if I can get it purchased or not.

I don't know how patient you are but I got mine for $100 at Home | Doon, Iowa 51235 | Lems Auto Recyclers. I think I will be heading your way by DesMoines some time this summer and I could bring one down to you for a modest fee, I like Coors Banquet

[40FordDeluxe]

I don't know how patient you are but I got mine for $100 at Home | Doon, Iowa 51235 | Lems Auto Recyclers. I think I will be heading your way by DesMoines some time this summer and I could bring one down to you for a modest fee, I like Coors Banquet

Seth, let me know when you come down either way. I'll buy you a couple of Coors Banquets either way.

I'm putting my rear suspension in tomorrow. So far the guy with the explorer rear ends has been a flake. He hasn't responded to emails since yesterday morning. People apparently don't want to sell things too badly apparently. So if I can't find a reasonably priced one, i'll just carry on with my 9". I'm sort of on a time crunch. I have a lot of stuff still to do in the next month, and this weekend I have a 3 day weekend. I've told everyone to leave me alone because it's time for the 40 to get suspension. Haha

Too bad my wheels still haven't shipped. I even called the clowns before I made the purchase to make sure they were in stock and would get here before this weekend. It never fails.

[40FordDeluxe]

Anyhow, I have been trying to get the yard work under control since grass and weeds are actively growing. Last fall I hit something with my push mower. It bent the blade so I replaced the blade on it. The control cable for the mag was stuck so for now I will temporarily by pass it until I can get a new cable. I tried out the new to me Kubota and within 15 minutes of mowing, it laid down. It isn't getting fuel so either the lift pump died or the nasty looking filter after the tank is plugged. I fired up the old trusty Jacobson and finished the front yard. Yesterday I raked the leaves away from the fence and the front yard. I filled my yard waste can and that was after I mulched them with the mower. I still have around the inside of the fence to get the leaves raked up. I picked up a new filter for the Kubota and will try to mess with it sometime.

This morning I was going to replace the bad brake line on my 95 F350. But instead I decided to work on the 40. I cut down my inner tie rods because I have the 5/8" narrower control arms. Then I removed my old tie rods from the old rack to get the jam nuts for the new rack since it didn't have any on it. Of course, to my surprise, the new Moog problem solver tie rods I got had the jam nuts in the package. I still used the old nuts because they are twice as wide. More thread engagement can't hurt. I'll shelf the nuts and I'm sure they'll come in handy some day.

Then I installed my new tie rod ends and set the toe. Next I installed the steering shaft that was on this car before. I was going to switch out my steering column from the Cadillac one to the Chevy truck one. But I decided that the steering lock is a nice feature to have so I decided to keep the Caddy column and I'll deal with installing an aftermarket wheel on it later. I can live with the one that is on it for now. I have bigger fish to fry for now. The steering turns really nice. I just hope my LH exhaust pipe isn't right in it's business. I just tacked the mount on there for now. That mount is one of the old engine mounts from when I first test fit the 354 in the old frame. I'm going to use poly t bushings and dom tube for the new engine mounts so these old mounts served no purpose now. Now only 1 will be setting around.

The next project was to get some shocks on the front suspension. I saw speedway was selling shocks for their MII front suspensions. I got the shocks separately, and some shock mounts from BC Fab. I have no real room to use the mounts the shocks came with on the lowers. I made a mount from 3/8" plate and these will weld to the top of the lower control arm. I positioned the shock as best I could and tried to get it at an angle that won't interfere with suspension travel etc, and tacked the brackets in place. I have to finish the RH lower mount and then I can tack it in place. Once that is done I will cycle the suspension up and down and verify nothing hits. I will add gussets to the upper brackets just for peace of mind. I used a ratchet strap to hold the shock in place so I could mock it up. My shocks also serve as my bump stops. I might have to get different shocks to use full potential of the down ward stroke when aired out. We'll see. For now the suspension travel is more of a concern and getting it together. I can fine tune stuff when I blow it apart for paint.

A local junk yard just called me back and they have a few Explorer rear ends for $300 so I'm heading there in the morning to get one. Wahoo!!!!!