Thread: going to look at a 39 and 40 ford

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Depending on where they've lived the tin worm is the big thing. The bodies will rust in the typical places. They are especially vulnerable at the bottom of the cowl where it comes to a tight pointed pocket, then the bottoms of the quarters just ahead of the rear fenders, especially on coupes and tudors. The trunk floor will go first at the pocket for the spare, and around the body mount bolts. The tool well at the very rear as well as the outer panel are very often toast, if they're not on these they are exceptional. The good news is patch panels are very available. Hood hinges, especially the pivot rivets, are a weak spot, usually demonstrated by the back of the hood not going all the way down when the hood is closed from the front. The repops for these are at best just okay. Good original hinges are very desirable.

On the frame of course look for someone butchering up the center X member if they've been rodded/modified. The frame is real prone to rust through toward the back where the tails of the X member tie back to the side rails. Mud got packed in there easily and ate through over time. Also around the body mount brackets on the outside of the rails toward the rear.

The good news is these, being so popular, have a lot of parts available in the repop market. But if you need too much of that stuff, $5 here, $20 there, adds up in a hot hurry.