Great find! If you've never owned a '40, you'll be surprised how nice a car they are. Just fix the basic things to make it road worthy, no need to go overboard, stock steering and brakes are fine if in good shape. Get it running, get it driving and enjoy! I put many thousands of miles on mine every year with all stock running gear and a '62 283.
in my opinion the 1940 ford is the best looking ford that henry ever made,keep the flathead if you can and never sell it you will regret it later if you do, ask me how I know...best of luck with it
Get it running and remove/preserve as many of those rust areas as you can. The longer you look at those, the harder they are to fix. After driving with the stock brakes, trans, rear and flathead for a while you'll know what you want to change, if anything. It looks like it may have a 4dr front seat. Great find.
Subscribed! I'm looking forward to seeing this one progress. What a great start. I was lucky with mine, and did exactly what you describe as planned (well, just getting around to patching floors, this winter). They are a nice driving car, right out of the box. My only advice is to keep it simple and work with what you have (my own mantra that gets challenged often).
I blew the motor in my '40 coupe back in 1959---I sold it right where she quit. I was going to go out and buy another one; RIGHT. I'm on no. 5 (Avatar) and no coupe since '59.
have had quite a few and won't be without one --my favorite Ford-good luck and pts aren't that difficult to find.
You will love it I had a deluxe all original. It drove light a dream. On top of it the 1940 Ford is an all time favorite.
Got a couple valves stuck in the flathead. If the engine needs rebuilt I'm wondering whether to rebuild it or drop a sbc in it... Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
who has the best fitting patch panels for the 40 coupes? needs door bottom's, bottom of the panels behind the door, and a good bit of flooring patched. I worked on it in my sleep all night long.
I always wanted a 1940 Ford but I did not get one until late in life. I was born in 40. I had several 39's but not a 40. Now that I have one I am happy now. Wish you luck with yours.
lothiandon1940, I was just watching Thunder Road, and Niles Pendlin drove the '49 Olds coupe. Jed had the '40 coupe... I can't wait to see this car get underway!
Floor pans are very rough. The bottom of the Rear door jams are rusted away from the body. Looks like I have more work ahead of me than I thought. It's all good... Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
The floors and quarter patches should be available through EMS, Dennis Carpenter, Bob Drake, etc... Really common rustout areas. Check under the cowl sides/firewall/front body mounts. The trunks and rear roll pan areas are also usually hammered in these cars, if they sat outside at all.
Was hoping the engine would just need cleaned up to run but that's not the case. Valves were stuck and very rusty. One piston journal is scared up pretty bad also. Gonna pull the engine and transmission this week. Being that I've gotta rebuild an engine, the question is whether to go with a SBC or stay with the flathead.. Decisions, Decisions...
Sbc is a great engine... But! Yblock it if the flathead is out. Or find a decent used flathead with some wear, install it, and wear it out.
Nice find there. When it comes to the rear body panel below the decklid, Drake's fit the best, and I've used them all. Everything else, I make myself, so I can't speak for.
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