1938 - 1939 - 1940 Dash board differences, are they interchangable.

I have a 1939 Ford Deluxe (that is what the title says).

The builder put a 1938 Front on the car (firewall, fenders, grille, hood, etc.) as he liked that look better.

So based on what I know about the car, windshield back is a 1939 Deluxe, windshield forward is a 1938 Deluxe.

I know there are differences in the outside cosmetics of the 2 vehicle years, hood, fenders, Grilles, etc...

What I need to know is are there any differences with regards to the interior, based on pictures it appears the overall design of the passenger compartment is the same from 1937 to about 1943-44.


Specifically the Dashboard. There are tons of 1940 dash boards online for sale, both original and remanufactured.

But not so much of the 1938 and 1939.


What I am thinking is to get a 1940 Dashboard, and using a Classic Instruments 1940 cluster (with the modern gauges), which is all "plug and play" so to speak, that is the cluster bolts into the dash (OEM or reman) and the typical light switches, ignition switches, button start, etc. will all fit..

to me, it doesn't appear that a classic instruments cluster will fit in a 1939 dash as it appears that dash doesn't have a removable "cluster" but rather 2 large gauges.



so does anyone know if a 1940 dash (OEM or Bob drake Reman) will fit in a 1939 passenger cabin with little to zero modification, or am in for a ton of work to make it fit?

I would expect a 40 dash to be a bolt in.
Haven't done it myself but also see aftermarket dashes that fit 37-40.
Lets hear from someone with experience.

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Originally Posted by Scooting

I would expect a 40 dash to be a bolt in.
Haven't done it myself but also see aftermarket dashes that fit 37-40.
Lets hear from someone with experience.

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posted on the HAMB and someone noted the major issue is the crank out window on the '37 -'39 vs the Fixed on the '40+ but I have a fixed.. upon further digging into the receipts and invoices I have from the builder, I found the information on the dash that is in the car.

it's a '37 - '40 fixed windshield dash from Absolute Sheet Metal in AZ.

1940 Ford Dash Board Kit | eBay


I am not fond of the setup, which is why I am looking to change it, since I have to remove it to rewire the car because frankly the wire job that was done scares me, it is truly hacked and electrical taped together.

so it appears the '40 will fit, my concern was the width between the "A" pillars, but it appears to be the same '37-'42

Width shouldn't be an issue, bolt hole alignment might be, but not a deal killer. There were two gauge cluster styles for '40, the Standard being a simpler design, all the gauges behind a single pane of glass (the most common style one that Classic Inst used for inspiration if you're meaning the one with the speedo and tach in the center portion). The Deluxe had a plastic cluster face with individual squareish openings for each gauge.

On stock dashes the '38/9 were effectively a flat panel all the way across with the two large round gauges as you mentioned. The '40 was a much more "complicated" style, being rounded top to bottom, protruding toward the front seat riders with more texture in it's design.

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Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Width shouldn't be an issue, bolt hole alignment might be, but not a deal killer. There were two gauge cluster styles for '40, the Standard being a simpler design, all the gauges behind a single pane of glass (the most common style one that Classic Inst used for inspiration if you're meaning the one with the speedo and tach in the center portion). The Deluxe had a plastic cluster face with individual squareish openings for each gauge.

On stock dashes the '38/9 were effectively a flat panel all the way across with the two large round gauges as you mentioned. The '40 was a much more "complicated" style, being rounded top to bottom, protruding toward the front seat riders with more texture in it's design.

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thanks for the information.

this is what I have in the car now:

Attachment 68060

This is what I am looking at from Speedway or Bob Drake.. However I also found an Original on fleabay, so I might go that route, but they all appear to have the essentially the same mounting tabs/locations:

Attachment 68061



The only thing I haven't decided on is if I go with the speedway/drake version if I want the center "speaker" grille hole or buy the solid filled one to custom cut for the Vintage Air controls and/or a radio.

I've seen a few pictures online where there is no under dash for the AC vents, they are all in the upper dash and to me it looks cleaner and less busy than bolting up a piece under the dash for all the misc. vents and controls.

Both have goods and bads to me. A flat one made to work with different gauges, radio and such always looks like that to me, something kinda put together and hard to get it to flow. On the other hand I have vintage air in my 53 and I can never figure out why V/A vents looks as modern as ever with no flow. You would think they could at least put round vents in. He is a pic of mine in an earlier stage. Probably didn't help at all and just confused you more.:)

it's not the vents in the Vintage that restrict the air-flow, it is the under sized fan blower because of the all in one compact unit.. I recently R&R'd a 1995 4runner Blower for a buddy and the blower fan in that truck is 2-3 times the size of the Vintage Air, and the truck has about 1/3 smaller passenger compartment size vs. the '39. That thing will blow you out of your seat. the Vintage Air systems I've seen put out about as much air as my daughters hamster when it runs on it's wheel.

With flow, I meant with looks , it doesn't look vintage at all and doesn't match the rest of the dash :) For air flow, I can't complain about mine. On a 90 deg day I've had the fan to the half way mark for short times but otherwise about 1/4 is normal.

guess it depends on the age of your unit, I've seen about 8 different V/A vent designs from round to oval to square to rectangle, billet, plastic, etc:

Attachment 68064

I'm familiar with the aftermarket dash you have, it vaguely resembles the dash from a '40/1 Ford pickup.
It may be picture quality, but the repro '40 dash doesn't appear to have the openings at either end for the ash trays (online search for pics of originals you'll see what I'm referring to). There are vent outlets made to fit in those square ash tray holes to avoid the under dash apps.

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Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

I'm familiar with the aftermarket dash you have, it vaguely resembles the dash from a '40/1 Ford pickup.
It may be picture quality, but the repro '40 dash doesn't appear to have the openings at either end for the ash trays (online search for pics of originals you'll see what I'm referring to). There are vent outlets made to fit in those square ash tray holes to avoid the under dash apps.

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Correct no vents/ash tray locations.. there are 4 versions of that repro '40 dash..

1. no gauge or ashtray cutout (i.e.. you custom cut), with speaker and glove box cutout,
   
2. no gauge, speaker, or ashtray cutout, with glove box cutout
   
3. gauge, speaker, glove box cutout, no ash tray
   
4. gauge, speaker, glove, and ash tray (pre-installed with circular vents)

however Scooting offered me his Original 1940 Dash as he is installing a custom, if that works out then I will have an original with all the proper openings and I will likely fab speaker mounts into the ash tray locations, and then put the vintage air vents behind the original center "speaker" grille area.

When I was at goodguys earlier this month I was talking to some 37-40 Ford owners and all of them had newer VA setups because they replaced their old ones for lack of flow. They said their new design is much better. I hope they're right. I know a couple of guys with VA in their 71 and 72 chevy trucks. They are newer setups and both of them don't defrost well nor cool well. I just hope when I get one it works well. I actually was thinking of trying to install rear air into the system but those are just thoughts at this point.

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Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

When I was at goodguys earlier this month I was talking to some 37-40 Ford owners and all of them had newer VA setups because they replaced their old ones for lack of flow. They said their new design is much better. I hope they're right. I know a couple of guys with VA in their 71 and 72 chevy trucks. They are newer setups and both of them don't defrost well nor cool well. I just hope when I get one it works well. I actually was thinking of trying to install rear air into the system but those are just thoughts at this point.

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yeah I was thinking the same thing, piping some vents to the rear of the car.. with the unit I have now there is no way that will work it barely pushes any air through the 3 front vents..

Does anyone ever put a second evaporator in the back, with a second fan?

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Originally Posted by firebird77clone

Does anyone ever put a second evaporator in the back, with a second fan?

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Not saying it can't be done but wondering how one would balance the flow, or provide for varying demand between front & back with two evaporator units on a single compressor, single condenser system. I'd think the easier way would be to install a booster fan to push conditioned air to the rear area instead of trying to extend the pressurized coolant lines. That way if you had rear seat passengers they'd just energize the booster fan, multiple speed, to pull from the plenum up front.

Just thinkin'....

This is a pic of the dash in my '39 Deluxe. This dash has a/c controls, a/c ducts, air bag controls, and a back up camera. Attachment 68065

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Originally Posted by firebird77clone

Does anyone ever put a second evaporator in the back, with a second fan?

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I think it can be done without too much trouble. All semis' have a separate rear A/C and heater units in the sleeper and so did both of the vans I had. There is a separate expansion valve/ orifice tube for both units and I think they shared the dryer. I think the only difference was you needed a larger pump. When I was looking at new A4 pumps for my 53 there was the heavy pump for rear A/C option. As for the plumbing you need to double check but it seems to me they just tee off the high and low side lines for the rear. At least I know I've seen tees' capped off when the sleeper is removed.

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Originally Posted by robot

This is a pic of the dash in my '39 Deluxe. This dash has a/c controls, a/c ducts, air bag controls, and a back up camera. Attachment 68065

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That looks really nice! Is most of that stuff hidden behind the center vent? I got a hinge and storage compartment for my Deluxe so I can open the center vent to hide things behind it. Do you have any build thread or any other pictures of the car? A traditional looking hot rod with air bags?

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Originally Posted by 53 Chevy5

I think it can be done without too much trouble. All semis' have a separate rear A/C and heater units in the sleeper and so did both of the vans I had. There is a separate expansion valve/ orifice tube for both units and I think they shared the dryer. I think the only difference was you needed a larger pump. When I was looking at new A4 pumps for my 53 there was the heavy pump for rear A/C option. As for the plumbing you need to double check but it seems to me they just tee off the high and low side lines for the rear. At least I know I've seen tees' capped off when the sleeper is removed.

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You are correct. Suburbans, mini vans, and excursions all do it that way as well. I was actually thinking of using an ac unit from a sleeper of a truck. I just have to see if I can package it in there. The 56 New Yorker I ripped the Hemi out of had the ac blowing from the back. I was surprised it still worked so nice. Too bad that car was so rusty......

Here in Georgia, I'd be happy to have a dual evap unit in my silverado. You can't have too much cool when the humidity is 90% and the temp is 90+!

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Originally Posted by firebird77clone

Here in Georgia, I'd be happy to have a dual evap unit in my silverado. You can't have too much cool when the humidity is 90% and the temp is 90+!

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The more humid, the more the A/C sweats. I laughed the other day and the Mrs and I were riding along, she had flip flops on and all the sudden I heard Whoa, That was Cold! Apparently the low side hose on above her feet was sweating like crazy and dripped on the top of her foot :LOL: