Thread: 41 ford coupe

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Hi, new to the forum. I've purchased a 41 ford coupe. Needs a lot of sheet metal work, also want to upgrade drive train. Any suggestions or ideas of where to Purchase replacement parts would be appreciated. Also what's involved in SBC & Auto trans install

Thanks
Tim

Welcome to the forum. The '41 sounds like it will be a good build. Why not go Ford in Ford, either a 5.0/AOD or even a 4.6 Mod Motor? Keeping it all Ford is a plus in my book.

Welcome aboard! Good to have you here.

I envy you owning a real steel '41. Check Hemmings Motor News for Carpenter ads to get replacement sheet metal. Rodger and others have been successful with Ford-in-Ford but I gave up way back when I studied some old articles by the late Frank Oddo in Street Rodder. The problem has to do with splitting the wishbone and fitting in the longer water pump. The tradeoff in my mind is that Ford has the distributor in the front but needs a short water pump while the alternate SBC is easier to fit in but has the distributor in a tight spot in the rear. In general there seem to be more aftermarket pieces for the SBC and probably the SBC conversion is cheaper if that matters to you. If the flathead is not cracked you could look around for a 4" stroker crank but I would not bore it out more than the minimum for a rebuild since the 3 5/16" and 3 3/8" bores may lead you to overheating. Any of the three options will require a better radiator. The SBF is lighter than the SBC which is worth considering. The problem with a flathead is that unless you have a good block without any cracks the cost of a replacement block with be three or four times the cost of a SBC or SBF. Anyway it is the smooth body that is so neat. the original buggy spring suspension can be used with simple longer shackles on the original buggy cross springs to avoid (at least temporarily) further suspension mods. Well good luck and do whatever pleases you but I would just lower the body and keep it smooth but do whatever you want. The folks here like lots of pictures so send us some as work progresses. I can vouch that there is a LOT of good friendly expertise on this Forum so don't hesitate to ask questions. As I said I would really enjoy building a '41 coupe because many of my H.S. buddies had that model.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

Dennis Carpenter Best place I know to start

You can make the 5.0/302 SBF shorter almost the same way you make an SBC shorter here is how and the proof is in pictures,scroll down to post# 5 sbf/short water pump/pulleys - THE H.A.M.B. Also advantages with a SBF: 80 lbs lighter than the SBC,2 1/2" narrower for better header to steering box clearance and the front mounted distributor provides better firewall clearance.

You may also want to stop by here:Butch's Cool Stuff41/48 Ford car Bolt-In SB Ford Eng Mount kit CP2202 $99 transmission mount also available must specify which one,not a bad idea to call for advice too,nice folks.

Originally Posted by Jeff B

You can make the 5.0/302 SBF shorter almost the same way you make an SBC shorter here is how and the proof is in pictures,scroll down to post# 5 sbf/short water pump/pulleys - THE H.A.M.B. Also advantages with a SBF: 80 lbs lighter than the SBC,2 1/2" narrower for better header to steering box clearance and the front mounted distributor provides better firewall clearance.

...and you'll be surprised how many comments you get from people when they see that you've invested the time & effort to keep it Ford powered. I can't tell you how many times I've heard, "Well I'm glad to see you made it Ford in Ford." Lots of people will give you their list of reasons for going SBC instead, but seeing an old Olds with a 4-4-2 engine, a Pontiac with a GTO Tri-Power, or a Buick with a Nailhead is just RIGHT. The other thing you'll hear is "...glad it's not another 350/350." There's easy and there's unique, and you're at the fork in the road . Of course I still want a classic old Chevy with a big ol' Ford engine in it just for some "payback".

Welcome to the forum, '41 Ford is a sweetie. I am a traditionalist and there is just one engine to put in that car...a flattie merc (a 312 Y block would be acceptable). As far as parts go i'd be talking to Dick Spadaro; Bob Drake (if they went out of business thier website would redirect you to whomever bought the inventory and patterns etc); Joblot Automotive has a good inventory of nos stuff too. The commercial people like Macs; LMC; Dennis Carpenter will sell you the finest in reproduced parts that may or maynot work as intended.
Search ebay and start purchasing every piece of NOS stuff you can find. I might have your heater/defroster switch panel if you need one.
Back to the engine, there is nothing like the sound of a hot rod 40 coupe - it is legendary. And that sound comes from a stroker merc flattie, a close second is the Y block. Got to have a manual transmission. Either engine will idle about 450 rpm and sound just like a chriscraft idling at the docks. That is priceless.

Hi, years ago I put a 428 Ford big block with C-6 transmission in a 47 (same frame and size as yours). I really did not have any major problems with the install so SBC being so much smaller in every dimension and lighter, it should be a snap. Simple to make you own motor mounts and transmission mounts.

In the light of "To each his own" if I were building a new 41, I would chose a 98 Lincolin Mark VIII 32 V V-8 with its transmission. Sweet ride with lots of power and easy to get more power. But you are not building that car for me or anyone else here who gives you advice, so have fun picking out what you want.

Welcome Tporter to CHR!

You have not shared your proposed budget with us but all here know how that works, i.e., it always ends up more than you think it will in terms of dollars and sweat equity. I really like to looks of the old fords and the 41 is a keeper. If your budget allows and you're up for the long haul, I'd really consider the 5.0 Coyote engine with a six-speed OD transmission. 412 horsepower and the ultimate Ford engine in terms of technology and reliability. They've been out since later 2010 (in the Mustang GTs) and should start to show up wrecking yards.

Just my 2 cents.
Glenn

It all depends on the style you are going for. IMO, you need to settle on the finished look and build the car using it as a model. Do you want to make it a retro-60's look? Modern smoothie with billet and no door handles? Lowered 50's custom with fender skirts? There are so many choices, and each will help dictate the type of power you use. I would do a search for '41 Ford builds and determine what you like and go from there. We will be more than happy to provide our own two cents worth!

Princeton N.J. or Princeton W.Va.? Anyway, last winter I was strapped for cash and a sudden plumbing bill cropped up so I sold my stash of flathead parts to a nearby shop.
Joe Smith's Early V8 and Hot Rod which is very close to my home in Glen Allen Va. I sold a good 4" Merc crank, eight good rods, a flywheel with clutch pressure plate and three flathead blocks which all had cracks of one type or another. The guys from Joes gave me $250 for the lot and said the blocks could be repaired in one way or another. Since I am now committed to a SBC 350 I let the parts go for far less than new parts from Speedway. By the way Speedway does have most of parts needed to soup up a flathead but I would repeat my warning to not overbore a flathead block. Anyway, here is the address and phone number for their shop. For me their shop is a time warp into the 1950s with racks of smaller parts and several good blocks lined up on the floor. in the back they are building a '32 coupe and did have a suoped up 1950 Merc with a 4-speed for sale but it may have sold by now. Their shop moved here from Ga. after I was well into my SBC roadster but if they were here earlier I would have gone with a mild flattie. Even so the next step is to worry over the weak three speed trans and there are auto-trans conversions for the flathead.

Joes V8 Hot Rod Parts
8405 Cleveland St
Richmond, VA
23228
Phone: 804-264-1953
Fax: 804-264-5004

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

Tim,
If you decide to look into a flathead do yourself a favor and give the guys at H&H Flatheads a call. They are the go-to guys who've been doing flatheads forever, know all the old school lessons, and know how to apply them to give you a reliable flatty engine in whatever configuration you want - HNH Flatheads: Ford Flathead rebuilding specialist Flatheads are super cool, but when you look at the $/HP be ready for sticker shock, especially if you start pushing the power envelope.

Well, since somebody - a good looking guy i'll add - brought up flatties and another mentioned Joe's in Richmond i believe they may have a french flattie block or two laying around.