Projects Project 1946 Ford Tudor

Hard to see but taped zip ties to the fittings and hung them off an old stick. Scuffed them up with some wet sanding paper I had laying around to give it a little tooth.



Couple of coats of basic black rattle can should help them disappear a little more than the green.

 

Took a minute and mounted the throttle position sensor for the trans. Still a bit weirded out about getting the computer set up but its just one step at a time.

Still looking at the American Autowire kit for the car. I dont want to spend this much effort and money on everything else to have the wiring be the thing that makes this car unreliable. Luckily, I was able to take consign a gun I dont shoot anymore for almost the exact amount of the wiring harness. More sacrifices but if it gets me doing burnouts, I'm all for it.

 

Been busy doing little things. I made my first set of spark plug wires.... out of 2 sets of spark plug wires. Didnt matter how short I cut that #4, it just never fit ha ha. The way the plug wires are ran against the oil pan and under the manifolds was deceiving. I was short in #4 by about 2 inches once I actually got it routed the correct way.

Swapped out the thermostat housing for one that swivels to get around the belts.

Put the brake lines on and got them mostly mounted. I need to add to more clamps across the front cross member.

Not too much to really update.

 

Made a list today of all the jobs still to tackle. Some should go pretty easy and other may take a little more beard scratching.

Getting closer.

 

The early Chevrolet exhaust manifolds clear the steering box like they were made for it.i have run them on my 40 for almost 50 years.

 

Got the 46 up in the air today. Gonna finish up a few things on the exhaust, drill some holes in the front crossmember for the brake line brackets, and run some electrical.

 

Couple of shots up her skirt while she was in the air.

 

American Autowire kit arrived. Wow... this is hands down a better product without even installing it. Just the side by side comparison... heavier guage wires, clearly packaged wiring sections, and looks like good instructions.

Now I just have to wait for the shop gnomes to come out of hibernation and install the thing.

 

Spent a few hours last week getting the brakes finished and bled. Also got the front sheet metal set back in place.

 

Starting to look more like a car. Still can't wait for the springs to settle a bit more. I like the stance buuuuut I still wish it was a little bit lower.

 

The front end faded s bit sitting outside for the last little bit, but I imagine it will polish right back out.

 

Excited to get the radiator mounted, figure out some hoses, thrown some wiring at it and hopefully let it roar.

 

She's come a long way. Last big push... hopefully just in time to hit some car shows once everything gets back to "normal".

 

Looks much better with the chrome and the body closer to the weeds.

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Mounted the trans cooler under the passenger side back seat. Its a bit overkill but if helps keep the trans cool enough to live longer, I'm all for it. Need to finish the lines up the frame rail and over to the trans now.

 

Got the radiator and an overflow tube mounted up as well. Working on building a bracket to hold the AC condenser now... then figuring out where all the other pieces will fall.

Ended up moving the tranny cooler from the front to under the car... help keep some heat out and get more air across condesor.

 

Also got my new parking brake cable ordered up. Trying to figure out where to route it now since the original lived with the torque tube. I dont want it hanging too low since everything else is tucked up and looks pretty clean.

Seems like most of the work lately hasn't been too glorious but necessary. Once these few jobs are finished up its time to start wiring and hopefully get it fired off.

I noticed one of my front brake calipers is leaking and it seems to be from around the piston. Ill have to tear that apart and figure out whats going on there.

 

One of the other struggles I am having right now (besides not having enough time, energy, or money) is trying to figure out radiator hoses for the engine swap.

Its a small block Chevy with a radiator for a SBC. Anyone have any suggestions beyond roaming the parts store aisle and guessing? I've done the bent clothes hangar thing to find a match but keep coming up empty.

 

my buddy has a couple old Gates parts books ( thanks NAPA was pitching them out) They are old masters... They are super helpful .. They have pictures of the hoses with the old part numbers.. but the can cross ref... were able to find hoses for his A100 Dodge van with a 360.. try a see if a Napa has one of the old books around @DRUGASM .. cheers

 

I used tri-five chevy upper and lower hoses, worked great on my 40

 

Little update.... got the fan mounted with a shroud for the AC along with receiver dryer. Next step is laying out some lines.



Hood latch assembly ready to go back down and cover all of that work.

 

Also, battery box is mounted. Had to drop the fuel tank out to drill holes for mounting and cables, vent tube. Positive cable ran to the front and attached to starter. Doesn't look like much but consumed a few hours getting it in clean and routed and mounted inside the frame.

 

Have the rear tires off and brakes apart 1 more time for parking brake install. Waiting on that goofy oval shaped spring for the spreader bar and it should be wrapped up (inside the drums). Still doing some head scratching on where the cable will finally mount to stay out of the driveshaft.



Got a few ground straps in. Once I get some radiator hoses it should almost be ready to fire it off and hear it run.

 

Bracket finished to hold up the parking brake cables. Still works off the factory hand pull inside. Its a heavy duty piece but it should keep the drive shaft in place if it every gets silly. Still serviceable and bolts in, holds cables clear of the driveshaft but also keeps them tucked up nice and high.

 

Its not glamorous or sexy but it works and I will be glad to have it.

I think that pretty much wraps up anything under the car now besides fluids for diff.

Wiring and mounting AC components now.

Thank you for the recommendation on Tri 5 Chevy hoses... after playing the parts store mix and match game with a bent clothes hanger I ordered those hoses and they seem like they will get me what I need.

This parking brake seemed like a big hurdle for some reason and now that it's done I feel like its a big check mark off the list. Hopefully its a tipping point for the downhill slope.

This might be the longest I have ever held on to 1 car (daily or project) and I have never even driven it!

If we have a couple more strong days it should be ready to fire off soon. On pins and needles about the crate engine (I'm sure it's fine) and I really want to hear it run.

 

.. getting closer!

 

Few small things today. Got top and bottom radiator hoses trimmed and fitted finally. Cut excess off the clamps and it looks pretty good.

Noticed that the overflow for the radiator points to the passenger side.... which would mean running a piece of hose across the front of the engine bay.




Luckily it was a threaded plug.... Tracy dug through the fittings drawer and found a 90 degree adapter. Looks like its going to hard lined until its out of sight behind the shroud... then rubber to the overflow.

Lots of little jobs still. Next week will probably be getting temp, water, and oil pressure senders sorted out and maybe start on the inside floor boards for a good paint coat.

 

Toe boards finished and ready to be sealed.

 

Also finished the overflow and cover for the radiator.

 

IT'S ALIVE!!!!