How do.. "New" 1939 Ford Steel Tudor Owner

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Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Maybe you already know this, but if not it will add to your story telling on the body changes. In both '38 and '39 (as well as '40, but that's outside this commentary) there were two styles of front sheet metal each year. There was a '38 Standard that had a nose that somewhat resembled the '37, and the body was also different when compared to the Deluxe. Then there was the Deluxe front that it appears yours has. As was Ford's custom at the time, the following year the '39 Standard had the front end that looked very similar to the '38 Deluxe (grille shape and trim differences). And then there was the '39 deluxe that, to use your reference, was vaguely similar to the Mercury. The '40 Standard then adopted a similar style, which in turn was different from the Deluxe.

The entire front accumulation of pieces is different from Standard to Deluxe in '39, grille, hood, fenders, inner panels, running boards, and to top it off, the cowl sides were different. So, if the main body of yours was actually a Deluxe the builder would have had to change the cowl as well as the doghouse to make the change over. There's a lot more nuance to the differences (believe it or not), but I've prattled enough already.

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yeah, he said everything forward of the windshield was changed.. cowl, firewall, hood, hood side panels, fenders, grille.

he gave me a lot of paperwork on the build (like 3" thick folder) and I am slowly going through it.. and calling him with questions..

I started asking questions because I am searching for parts and finding that the 1939 looks nothing like the 1938.. He did tell me when I bought it that it was a 1939 Deluxe with a 1938 Front End, he said Standard, but I think he meant Deluxe, as the '38 deluxe resembles the '39 standard.. the title says 1939 Ford Deluxe.

my research has led me to figure out a lot of what you posted, though the way you worded it helps to clear things up a bit from my findings.. more of a straight line understanding vs. my chicken scratch.




also excuse my noobness.. but what is the "doghouse?"

Where are you headed with the paint? What type of interior are you considering?
It has a great stance and is a good looking car. Other than paint any other outside
changes? A lot of work already done on that car. Tell us what you are considering.

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Originally Posted by Scooting

Where are you headed with the paint? What type of interior are you considering?
It has a great stance and is a good looking car. Other than paint any other outside
changes? A lot of work already done on that car. Tell us what you are considering.

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the red isn't bad, but I am not really a fan of all red cars, too much of a target for the LEOs.

I am considering 2 tone, probably Black for the hood and top half of the car like this: (though black top half and fenders with red body is also a consideration, need to photoshop it and see if I like the look)

http://dealeraccelerate-all.s3.amazo...812_30crs1.jpg


need to put the rubber trim on the running boards as I have kids and I know they will scuff up the paint.

I for the interior I am hoping to use the interior out of my fathers 1985 Ford Crown Victoria, it needs to be recovered, but dad passed away 16 years ago and that car has been sitting in mom's garage since..

I recently pulled the 302 out of it, and am rebuilding that, I am hoping the seats will work in this car, will a little convincing I think they will, I will recover them in grey leather.

Interior will have some modern comforts, already has vintage AC and power windows, need some tunes and a backup camera (can't see for $h1t out that back window).

the car doesn't have any functioning lighting, so that is my first project, I should be receiving the headlight buckets tomorrow, I think I will likely customize them with modern projectors and LED lighting.

also need to figure out a wiper system, probably use a early 40s cowl system, not a big fan of the roof type wipers, like the picture above, don't really want the wipers hanging in my face all the time.

also need to find all the chrome body trim and bumpers, I have a few pieces, but need to figure out the rest..

I want to drive it not just have a garage queen, insurance says I can only drive it 5K miles a year and keep it covered as a classic, over that and it is covered under market value.

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Originally Posted by mjeds

also excuse my noobness.. but what is the "doghouse?"

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Basically the assemblage of front sheet metal, some call it a front clip, though others mean the front frame section when they use that term.........................all terminology gets bastardized over time. My guess would be the use of "doghouse" is a redneck reference.........implication being that the whole sheet metal front assembly could be set on the ground and be used to house the pup.

so I wrote a nice long response to Scootings questions and I got a notice it had to be approved by the moderators :whacked:

Avery nice looking car and yes, the stance is bloody awesome with the tyres filling the fender openings very well. Yes please, when you are ready to give us ole farts the breakdown on what you want in the line of interior colours, style and the colour change to go with it. That photo from side on always reminds me of a term me and my buddies use to use when chatting to young ladies, we have enough room in the back to hold a damn good barn dance, you want to join us ? with a laugh. They (car designers) certainly don't make them as spacious now.

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Originally Posted by Whiplash23T

Avery nice looking car and yes, the stance is bloody awesome with the tyres filling the fender openings very well. Yes please, when you are ready to give us ole farts the breakdown on what you want in the line of interior colours, style and the colour change to go with it. That photo from side on always reminds me of a term me and my buddies use to use when chatting to young ladies, we have enough room in the back to hold a damn good barn dance, you want to join us ? with a laugh. They (car designers) certainly don't make them as spacious now.

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funny, one of the reasons I went with this car in an almost finished state instead of the 1932 Coupe the seller had that only was only about 20% done (and actually the car I wanted to purchase) is because of the back seat.

wife wasn't really on board with the coupe because, in her words "you and your daughter are the car nuts, so when it's finished you two will go to all the car shows and I will get left at home" coupe being a 2 seater..

when I proposed the idea of the Tudor, all of a sudden she was 100% on board..

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Originally Posted by mjeds

funny, one of the reasons I went with this car in an almost finished state instead of the 1932 Coupe the seller had that only was only about 20% done (and actually the car I wanted to purchase) is because of the back seat.

wife wasn't really on board with the coupe because, in her words "you and your daughter are the car nuts, so when it's finished you two will go to all the car shows and I will get left at home" coupe being a 2 seater..

when I proposed the idea of the Tudor, all of a sudden she was 100% on board..

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One of the first things a married man learns is: Happy wife = happy life. Cos if momma ain't happy; ain't nobody happy!

(...and the next two things you learn that you must never do in the bedroom are: never point and laugh. You're dead if you do.)

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Originally Posted by mjeds

so I wrote a nice long response to Scootings questions and I got a notice it had to be approved by the moderators :whacked:

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If you included links to "outside" sites, then yes. Until the mods "get to know you".. they will verify your links and then let it post up.

It helps control the hackers.

It sure looks nice to me, my first car was red so I don't mind the color. It sure sits nice as others have noticed.

Couple minor suggestions:
On the running boards, instead of rubber take them to a place that shoots the pickup bed liner and have them done.
Mine have been done for over 10 years, I stomp the mud off my boots on them as I get in and they still look like the day they were first finished.

I have a friend with a 32 roadster and he has two toned it with the coolest paint I have seen in a long time. When our group hits the big freeway traffic, you can spot the shine of his car over a mile down the road. Striking!

If you have the 40 taillights stock, I couldn't tell from the photos, they point the bulb at the sky. Replace them with the led assemblies and they will be so much better. Perfect fit - new chrome - cheap. 39 leds are better than stock too.

On bumpers, if you can find a front Mercury 40 bumper, look how it is dipped in the center showing off the grille better.
Rear bumpers can be tucked closer to the body with sedan delivery bumper brackets.

Do some measuring on the seats before you get too carried away. The front is narrow and will not take wide seats. The rear being a bench, you can cut most seats to fit.

I like the idea you said of being a driver. Our has been coast to coast 3 times, in Canada and Mexico. We are approaching 300,000 miles on it. If you really drive it, don't be stupid and not keep the spare. A jack and nice load of tools can live in the back. I don't know how many times my tools have been the saving grace for the friends I ride with.

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Originally Posted by Scooting

Couple minor suggestions:
On the running boards, instead of rubber take them to a place that shoots the pickup bed liner and have them done.
Mine have been done for over 10 years, I stomp the mud off my boots on them as I get in and they still look like the day they were first finished.

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Good idea, and probably a lot cheaper.. have any pictures? I think I would like to put some type of running board strips on it as well to finish off the look

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I have a friend with a 32 roadster and he has two toned it with the coolest paint I have seen in a long time. When our group hits the big freeway traffic, you can spot the shine of his car over a mile down the road. Striking!
If you have the 40 taillights stock, I couldn't tell from the photos, they point the bulb at the sky. Replace them with the led assemblies and they will be so much better. Perfect fit - new chrome - cheap.

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it has the '39 tear drop lights and they are LED, I'm looking for something a bit bigger and bolder, I'll likely French in something at some point, these little tear drops are pretty low and people around here like to hump your rear bumper at highway speed.

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On bumpers, if you can find a front Mercury 40 bumper, look how it is dipped in the center showing off the grille better.
Rear bumpers can be tucked closer to the body with sedan delivery bumper brackets.

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I actually found an original 1939 bumper with brackets attached for $200 locally, a bit rusted, but should be easy to cleanup and powder coat. I will likely split the bumper and install as a left and right side leaving no bumper in front of the grille, only a nerf bar.. I have an idea on the look, just need to plan it out.

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Do some measuring on the seats before you get too carried away. The front is narrow and will not take wide seats. The rear being a bench, you can cut most seats to fit.

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of course, measure twice, cut once. the seats from my dads '85 Crown Vic are split bench, that is they look like a bench, but the driver and passenger sides move independently of each other, and the Drivers side is power, They can be trimmed down like the back seat, I've already done some mock up, Actually had the drivers seat in it last night and took the car for a drive to see what issues it might have, first time I have been able to drive it since picking it up a few weeks ago.

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I like the idea you said of being a driver. Our has been coast to coast 3 times, in Canada and Mexico. We are approaching 300,000 miles on it. If you really drive it, don't be stupid and not keep the spare. A jack and nice load of tools can live in
the back. I don't know how many times my tools have been the saving grace with the friends I ride with.

Gotta go to appointment - will edit pictures in when I return.

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no spare, staggered setup and highly doubt I will find a spare that will work for the front and the rear, it will be one or the other.

not concerned about it, haven't had a spare in a car I've owned since the late 1990s. I carry a plug kit and a compressor for nails, for a blow out I have road side through AAA and my insurance..

Tools yeah, I always keep some basic tools in any car I own, including my wife's car (though she hasn't a clue how to use them).

This isn't my first rodeo, I was an ASE tech for Chrysler and GM for 20 years.. I've never build a car, or restored a car, but I have worked on several thousand over the years, plus I have built a motorcycle from scratch.

Our group of GreyBeards drove from the east coast this year to the LA Roadster Show, Jeff from NC and Rodney from Australia were without a top, just skull caps. Crossing Arizona and then Palm Springs at 120 degrees, ask your wife who was the most comfortable. A die hard roadster lover in a black hat or the old man in the air conditioned 40 sedan.
Also, when you really travel all that far, one comes from Niagara falls Canada to LA, something always happens to someone in the group yet never within cell phone coverage so AAA is null. Buddies with tools and lots of talented help from other riders is the key. The trip is way more fun than the destination.

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Originally Posted by Scooting

Our group of GreyBeards drove from the east coast this year to the LA Roadster Show, Jeff from NC and Rodney from Australia were without a top, just skull caps. Crossing Arizona and then Palm Springs at 120 degrees, ask your wife who was the most comfortable. A die hard roadster lover in a black hat or the old man in the air conditioned 40 sedan.
Also, when you really travel all that far, one comes from Niagara falls Canada to LA, something always happens to someone in the group yet never within cell phone coverage so AAA is null. Buddies with tools and lots of talented help from other riders is the key. The trip is way more fun than the destination.

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yeah I won't be making trips like that, and if I did; being prepared for that is different than the 30 mile to work commute thing.

I can't drive cross country any more, had a bad motorcycle accident 14 years ago, broke my pelvis and my hip (along with some internal injuries), sitting longer than 2-3 hours (and that is a stretch) is bad, can't walk and can barely stand after sitting that long.. My car will be a driver and I might do a 200-300 mile jaunt at some point, but no cross country type stuff like what you are talking about..

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Originally Posted by mjeds

I can't drive cross country any more, had a bad motorcycle accident 14 years ago, broke my pelvis and my hip (along with some internal injuries), sitting longer than 2-3 hours (and that is a stretch) is bad, can't walk and can barely stand after sitting that long.. My car will be a driver and I might do a 200-300 mile jaunt at some point, but no cross country type stuff like what you are talking about..

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Just love the miles you can make! It is always fun to see a Hot Rod next to a high dollar forign sports car at a light. Guess which one gets the most attention? So, 2 miles or 200, just enjoy it.