Hot Rods Assembling a '40 pickup

I will be getting my 40 Ford pickup back from the paint shop this week.
Anyone have any good hints on how to re-assemble it? Should I start with the hood, inner fenders, fenders and grille? In which order? It's been a few years since I've done this.
I just hope it fits as well as it did when I had it mocked up.

 

First put on some music that calms you when you are frustrated. Bolt everything on nice and loose then fit the hood to the cowl. Then get the hood to fit the grill assembly. The fenders come next. Just keep adjusting things until they line up as close as yo can get them before going all out on tightening the bolts. I know that's a pretty simple and brief description but that's what you will most likely end up doing in the end. Oh and plan for it to take awhile,Take your time and take breaks when frustrated before you damage some of that new paint. Good luck.

 

Nailed It!!

 

Here's another HAMB thread I found helpful when starting assembly of mine. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/street-rodder-tech-article-1940-ford-sheet-metal.458224/
Lots of patience needed and yes, the body line established from hood to cab/doors is critical to get the right look.
Good luck!

 

Do you feel that the spacer blocks between the frame and cab are fitted well enough to help your alignment at the front fenders/hood?...

 

Cookie-I am excited to see this coming together! I would put the hood on first-just fold up a big towel on top of your rad for it to sit on-if you can get it to sit nice on the cowl-even better. Then loose fit the inner fenders.
I would get the fenders,grille all bolted together...loose. A little vaseline between painted parts will help them move around a little without stripping off that nice new paint when you start aligning everything. I would tighten up front fenders gradually from the running boards, lower cowl-and line up the grille,hood front fenders where they come together. I find myself going back and forth a bit-but the bolts in the middle of the fenders can be done later-it allows you to push them up and align the gap to the hood better.

 

All great advice! Thanks. I will definitely take my time. I have a tendency to get frustrated easily so this will be a lesson for me.

 

Here is some articles to help you through the process.

 

Thanks for the article. I'm printing it off now.

 

Those are good articles buzz4041! It is nice to have them bundled together like that. I have saved them to my documents file.

 

Yes, great info. buzz4041. Good for the files of any '40-'41 owner.